How to Troubleshoot & Replace Ge AP2043227 / WE12X83 Idler Pulley

We disassembled the dryer and found three obvious things that needed fixing. The felt seal was wadded up and out of its track and old, the tension pulley was worn out and one edge missing and the rear bearing sleeve was worn thin and broken off inside the bearing race. The video's on appliancepartspros.com showing how to replace the parts was great. We had it half taken apart before we found this site but it helped a lot in reassembly. The parts we received were high quality parts as well. The only problems we struggled with were threading the holes in the parts that did not have threads already cut for the screws, trying to sandwich all the pieces together to install the rear bearing, and removing the keeper nut that's pushed onto the tension pulley shaft. (Keeps the pulley from coming off). The video makes it look easy but we had a hard time lining things up in our dryer drum. The chrome plate that goes inside the dryer drum with the outside bearing part. The video showed the tech using a nut driver to thread the screws into the parts but the screws provided were philips pan head screws. Be careful you don't jab a hole in your palm trying to put those screws in the first time. Make SURE you thread the screws in perfectly straight or you'll have a nightmare trying to get them started when you put the parts together later. Get your vacuum with hose attachment ready, now's the perfect time to completely clean all the lint out from around everything and prevent a fire. We used 2 sizes of philips screw drivers (medium and large), a medium flat screw driver, a torx driver, needle nosed plyers, rag, vacuum and a few drops of oil. They don't tell you to do this and some may say it's not a good idea but I put about three drops of oil on the tension pulley shaft to prevent wear on the pulley (it's plastic on metal). I also did the same with the plastic rear bearing sleeve (between the sleeve and the shaft the sleeve is permanently mounted on). Without that, I don't see how this would ever keep from wearing out the plastic. If you do the same, just use it sparingly on the rear bearing sleeve and don't get any on the heating coils. Any small amount of plastic-safe oil or light grease would go a long way to prevent you having to replace these parts again. 

I called in to the Appliance Parts Pros customer service number to ask questions about how many of the slides I would need - I wasn't sure whether it was 2 or 4. The guy I talked to recommended getting the Dryer Bearing Kit, Part No. AP5806906, as it was only a few dollars more than ordering the slides individually - and the kit had all the slides, the belt, duct trap felt and the top bearing. I also ordered the Idler Pulley separately. It was easy to follow the How To Videos on the Appliance Parts Pros website for each part in the kit. I just had my laptop with me as I worked on the dryer on all of the work progressed smoothly - except putting the drum back into the dryer. I didn't pay close attention to the video at this final point of reassembly. You need to watch carefully during the video how the technician is orienting/supporting the drum (i.e. how high he is supporting the drum while guiding it back into the recessed hole for the bushing on the back center of the drum). It was the first time I used this site, and I am incredibly pleased with how well the self-servicing went on my dryer. By doing the work myself I am sure did a few things more thoroughly than a service technician would have done because they are pressured to get to their next job as quickly as possible. I used my Shop Vac to clean out lots of lint, dust and other debris inside my dryer. I also cleaned and lubricated the needed areas for the Idler Pulley and Drum Bushing on the back of the center of the dryer drum. I also did a much better job of installing the Duct Trap Felt than what I found on the parts I removed. Also, I got all the parts in 1 Day, instead to the 2 days they quoted to me. 

After taking off the top and front panels to access the drum, it was easy to see what the problem was. The front drum support was worn through and the 3 drum support glides were gone. The rear drum bearing was also completely worn out. And while I had the dryer apart I also replaced the idler pulley and drive belt. The only hard part was putting the drive belt back on the motor shaft and idler pulley. The dryer is back to drying clothes like a new machine. 

I removed the drum unit and replaced the rear bearing and the front drum sliders. Since the dryer is 20 years old, I also replaced the drive belt and idler pulley. After 20 years of use they were worn. Also, I got enough lint out of the dryer housing to build a sofa cushion! 

Went ahead and replaced the pulley as well the drum bearing sleeve and O ring, drum belt and the front drum bearing slides. Put the unit back together and she ran like a top! 

I replaced the dryer belt drying to resolve a loud squeak. After the belt change the dryer still had a loud squeak. After reviewing the videos on Appliance Parts Pro I decided it was not the expensive to replace the rear drum bearing, front drum support, bearing slides, and the idler pulley. With the guidance provided by Appliance Parts Pro it was easy to rebuild the inside of the dryer. It took me about an hour to do everything. The dryer now works great. 

I ordered your rear drum bearing kit, and replaced the bearing. Also replaced the idler pulley and drum drive belt. Dryer running like new. 

Took it apart ... put in the new parts and put it back together. 1 mysterious screw remains ... 

Used the web site videos to show how to take the dryer apart and replace the belt. While it was apart I decided to replace the main bearing on the back of the drum and the slides at the front of the drum along with the idler pulley. The only problem I encountered was that the idler pulley supplied was a different design than the original and did not align properly with the motor drive pulley without some modification. I ended up cutting off one end of the idler center shaft bearing with a hack saw to allow proper alignment. Without doing that, it might have caused another belt failure. All other parts fit well. Videos on the web site were very helpful I also found a couple on You Tube for my specific dryer model that were helpful. 

Replaced the bearing slides. All four were bad. Two wore through into the front drum bearing and replaced that also. Very easy job. Did not replace pulley as the original was still good and so was the back drum bearing. I have ordered the back drum bearing and a new belt and four bearing slides for future. I see the slides as needing replaced probably in our case every three years.