Whirlpool WP9703438 Dryer Drum Support Roller Retaining Ring OEM Part

The blower wheel had been previously “repaired,” but the repairman did not install a retaining clip or clamp, so the new part was destroyed in about a year and a half, as the motor shaft rounded all the square edges in the plastic hub. The old blower wheel came off easily and the new part was a perfect fit. The center clamp that comes with the blower wheel kit would probably hold it in place by itself, but I also purchased and installed the retaining clip (#35) as well, because the end of the motor shaft is grooved for it. Everything is solid now, and I don’t expect the new wheel to strip. The drum belt was very worn and needed replacement. The new belt was a little tricky to install at first, but I figured out the easiest way was to drape it over the drum, while the drum was already in place, then feed the lower part of the belt through the pulley system (much better than trying to feed the belt through the pulley system first, then insert the drum through the remaining loop). This requires you to do a little bit of the pulley threading by feel, because you can’t always see it very easily with the drum installed, but it seems the easiest way. I think the belt requires a twist when you install it. When it comes out of the pulleys, the flat side of the belt would naturally lay against the drum, but this doesn’t seem like it would have the proper friction, so after it was in place, I gave the belt a turn so that the ribbed face of the belt was against the surface of the drum. The belt now does a twist before entering the pulleys, and it has worked very well like this. If I got this detail wrong, perhaps someone here can correct it. An unassociated video on this site showed the belt installed with the ridged side against the drum, but it won’t feed properly into the pulley system like this, so the twist seems necessary to make it all work. Perhaps a specific belt install video would be a helpful addition to the site. Belt routing: https://forum.appliancepartspros.com/posts/t25960-dryer-belt-diagrams

I removed the front panel of the dryer by removing 2 screws and lifting it up and out. Then I removed 4 screws from the bracket holding the tub in place. I had previously removed the 4 screws from the rear inspection cover so I reached in and released the spring loaded belt that turns the tub and then removed the idler pulley wheel. The tub just lifts out at that point, exposing the 2 Drum support rollers in the rear. I removed the 2 rear drum support rollers and decided to order 2 of those plus 1 new retaining clip, an idler pulley wheel and a new idler arm. I also ordered 2 new tumbler bearing kits, the plastic and cork strips the front of the drum rides on. I placed my order online and was told I would have the parts the next day. I received an email the parts had shipped about an hour later and they arrived the next morning at 9 AM. After I placed my order I decided to ask a technician if the bearings on the 3 rollers needed to be greased as I installed them. I sent an email and received my answer in minutes. "No grease is advised because they would gather lint and wear out even sooner." Full Disclosure: I did apply some dry spray lube to the shafts and let it dry before installing the rollers. In my 80 year old world, metal to metal always needs some sort of lubrication. It was a little difficult for me to reach back inside of the dryer to replace the retainer clips on the drum support rollers so I laid the dryer down on it's back on a couple of 4" x 4"'s and let gravity give me a hand with the clips as well as placing the drum into the opening and replacing the tub bracket. (Replacing the plastic and cork tumbler bearing kits in the tub bracket requires a pop rivet gun.) I stood the dryer up, reached back in at the top on both sides to position the belt in the proper place and went around to the back to hook up the new idler arm and pulley wheel. After checking by hand to make sure everything was turning properly, I put the front back on, plugged it in and turned it on. The machine was, once again, running silently, good as new. Outstanding service and support from Appliance Parts Pros.com!

This was a Maytag DE312 actually a Whirlpool labeled as Maytag) and is 27 years old. Replaced motor, drive belt and drum rollers. One tricky part was the motor because the new motor comes with integral starter and it was necessary to cut off existing female spade connectors on some wires and crimp on new connectors. Instructions were adequate but need to be carefully followed and a decent electrical stripping and crimping tool must be at hand. I bought a new motor drive pulley because another user indicated the hex set screw was difficult to remove and all went well. The belt installation always gives me fits but if you are patient and look carefully at the supplied instructions it can be completed with some effort. Note that the grooved side of the belt mates with the pulley and the flat side runs against the drum. It is also very helpful to have the right snap ring tool because they are very difficult to remove without the proper device both for the fan removal and the drum rollers. I used a Dremel tool with sanding disk to reduce diameter of the pins on my snap ring tool to fit holes in snap rings which worked OK. This is the second repair on this dryer (replacement of heating element & drive belt) and all went well and she is up and running again.

Checked out You tube video. Easy tune up. One gasket was damaged and I did not notice that the brush holders has no brushes. I believe a quick call to Appliance parts pros will fix this, besides I need a few more parts. I expect to get another 20+ years from this KitchenAide mixer, once repairs are competed. Watch out for the single lock washer located on the rear upper housing screw, you don't want to lose this!

I replaced drum rollers, axle shafts and front bearing kit. Still had noise. Ordered Idler Arm, Belt Tension Pulley & Washers. I ordered parts at 3:30 pm on a Wednesday, received new parts at 11:30 am Thursday. The instructions & videos were very simple to follow and provided excellent tips. Back up and running with silence in an 1/2 hour. My 13 year old dryer is running like new again. Way cheaper than calling a repairman.