The start button broke?!? I ordered another start button and it looked exactly like the one I had. I figured it would break as well, so I might as well try to fix the broken one.
I unplugged the power, removed the back of the dryer console, disconnected the start switch from the button and the dryer, depressed the 3 pop out tabs to remove the button from the dryer.
I put the switch back in place and reinstalled the back.
I clipped off the 3 projections that kept the button from being removed from the front of the dryer. I removed the small metal retainer inside the button, then trimmed some pencil eraser ends to fit down in the button slot, then replaced the little metal piece, set the dryer to on and gave the button a push.
Getting the right space from the eraser pieces took a couple tries. Once I had it right, I super-glued the little buggers in place and then reinstalled the metal piece. It should end up about flush with the hole it sits in.
I understand that if the dryer falls over, or it is turned upside down sometime, the start button may fall out. It's okay I have another.
Hotpoint is same as GE.