GE Dryer Not Working in Tarpon Springs: A Snapped Drum Belt
- Symptom
- The dryer had stopped working. It wouldn't start, and the drum wasn't turning.
- Cause
- The drive belt that turns the drum had snapped.
- Fix
- Replaced the belt with a genuine GE part we had with us, cleaned out the lint inside, and checked that it tumbles and heats.
A client in the Woods at Anderson Park neighborhood of Tarpon Springs called because their GE electric dryer (model GTD65EBSJ3WS) had stopped working. It wouldn’t start, and the drum wasn’t turning. They’d tried taking it apart themselves before calling, but hadn’t gotten very far, so we picked it up from there.
A simple dryer with one weak spot
These GE dryers are simple and reliable. The part that does give out on them now and then is the drive belt. It wraps all the way around the drum and over the motor pulley, and that’s what turns the drum. When the belt snaps, the motor has nothing to pull on.
With the front panel off, we could get at the drum and the belt.
Sure enough, the belt had snapped clean through.
A new belt and a cleanout
We had a genuine GE belt (part WE03X29897) with us and put it on. While the dryer was open, we also cleaned out some of the lint inside.
Tumbling and heating again
Once everything was back together, we ran the dryer and checked the heat. The drum was reading about 135 degrees and turning like it should.
If your dryer stops tumbling, the belt is a good bet, and it’s a quick fix. We fixed a snapped belt on another GE dryer in Largo a while back. More on our dryer repairs.
FAQ
Why won't my GE dryer drum turn?
A broken drive belt is one of the most common reasons. The belt wraps around the drum and the motor pulley, and once it snaps, the motor can't turn the drum.
Is a broken dryer belt worth fixing?
Yes. It's an inexpensive part, and on a dryer like this one it can usually be replaced in a single visit.