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Customer Questions and Answers for Belt Tension Pulley by Whirlpool

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Manufacturer Part
4.89 (64)
By: Whirlpool
Part Number: OEM18029586
Manufacturer Part Number: WP6-3700340

The Belt Tension Pulley is an OEM part for Whirlpool dryers. It is crucial for maintaining the correct tension on the dryer belt, ensuring that it runs smoothly and the drum turns properly during operation. This pulley helps to keep the belt aligned and prevents it from slipping, which is essential for the efficient performance of your dryer.

Symptoms of a bad Belt Tension Pulley include:

  • Unusual noises, such as squeaking or grinding, coming from the dryer when it is running.
  • The dryer drum failing to turn, even though the motor is running.
  • Excessive wear or damage to the dryer belt.

Causes of a bad belt tension pulley can include wear and tear from regular use, accumulation of lint and debris which may impede the pulley’s movement, or a failing bearing within the pulley assembly.

This OEM part is also compatible with Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Magic Chef, Admiral, Norge, Roper, and Kenmore models.

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Questions & Answers

For Whirlpool Belt Tension Pulley (Part Number: OEM18029586)

1 Answer

Hello Chad, the motor pulley is part WP8066184, if you click on the part link it has a repair video showing how to replace it.

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1 Answer

Hello Melissa! You're on the right track, a squeal could be caused by a bad tension pulley WP6-3700340 as well as the rollers 12001541. The rollers would also cause a thumping sound as the drum rolled. Hope this helps!

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1 Answer

Joe, for your model dryer, the idler pulley is only available as an assembly WPW10547292 so you should be fine replacing it. You may want to order some turbine oil TJ93240 and apply a few drops to the idler pulley bearing and shaft, as well as the drum rollers, and blower wheel bearing. It'll help "break in" the new idler and help keep the rollers and bearing running smooth and quiet.

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D for Model Number WED9400SW1

The idler pulley on my Whirlpool Duet dryer seized itself to the shaft, and the motor kept spinning until the pulley snapped; breaking into two halves. So, I put on a new pulley after very carefully cleaning with steel wool the shaft and the inside of the pulley. Applied dry graphite lubricant to the shaft also. It continues to seize to the shaft a couple times a week. I tried a household-type oil, and it still seizes after a few loads. What would cause this to seize as it does? The cabinet is pretty darn clean, and the only "dirt" seems to be some fine black dust (rubber?) around the motor. If this is significant, what is it, and could it possibly be the culprit that is heating up on the shaft to cause the seizing? Hope you can help! Thanks!

1 Answer

Hello D. You will need to order and replace the bracket W10837240 and replace the pulley again on the unit. The old bracket has damaged the new pulley. This should resolve your issue.

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1 Answer

Hello Dick, This can be caused by a restricted ducting system in the home, a shorted heating element, or a stuck cycling thermostat.

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Kevin for Model Number MDE9206AYW

It's funny to come back to this site and found my note from previous visit to be useful. http://forum.appliancepartspros.com/dryer-repair/167200-how-replace-dryer-belt-mde9206ayw.html Now it's back to the same problem. The dryer belt some how came off the tension pulley. I hooked it back in place and turn on the dryer. The tumbler spinned, but I noticed that this tension pulley was not spinning. It stuck in place and belt and get pulled around it. I can't imagine this is correct, right? This pulley should spin also right? I specifically tried to spin the pulley before hooking the belt back on it and it wasn't budging. Do I need to replace this? do I need the pulley arm (AP4373246) and these other parts? ( AP4290980, AP2996314). Thanks in advance for your insights.

Paul for Model Number MDG6200AWW

My dryer has been having trouble tumbling. When the dryer starts, the drum will turn 3/4 way and then almost come to a complete stop, then repeat that motion. As first I thought the belt might have slipped into one of the grooves on the drum, that however was not the case. Under normal operation, does the idler pulley itself turn freely, or is it fixed in a certain position? If indeed the pulley has to move, then I can say that the pulley in my dryer has seized up. The idler pulley on the dryer is a little odd in its design. Instead of having a complete circle groove around, the pulley has a angled cutout that only goes around a bit less than half way around. The rest of the pulley is flush with no groove. Here is what I think is happening. After I repositioned the belt back into its proper alignment on the drum. I believe the idler pulley is causing excessive rubbing on the belt (hence it being seized up) thus causing the sudden rotation slowdowns. Will replacing the idler pulley be sufficient enough? Or will the idler arm with washers and c-clamp also need to be replaced? Thanks.

1 Answer

Hello Paul, The idler pulley (AP4373393) should in no way be stationary. If it is seized, you should probably replace the belt (AP4043963) and both drum rollers (AP4008534), (two of these), at the same time since they tend to fail within 3 months or so of each other. Be sure to clean the sticky residue off of the roller shafts for both the idler pulley and the drum rollers with rubbing alcohol and paper towels. If flat spots are worn on the drum roller shafts you can loosen the 1/2 inch nut on the back of them and rotate them to a position that is round and they will not have to be replaced yet. Be careful doing this since they can be tight and you can get a nasty cut when they break loose. WEAR GLOVES! The idler arm will not need to be replaced unless a flat spot is worn on it also.

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1 Answer

Hello Shane. You will need to check and see if there is any lint stuck inside the fins of the blower wheel. If so, this will cause the issue with the vibration of the unit.

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1 Answer

Hello Deborah, it sounds like you may be describing the belt tensioner WP691366 or you can get the tensioner with this dryer repair kit 4392065 unless you already have these parts. Thanks!

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