Is there an appliance repairman in the house?

[ampersat]

I picked up a used dryer from a buddy over the weekend. It squeals when you run it. Not all the time, though. Sometimes it's perfectly fine. Other times it chirps. When it really gets going it's a steady squealing.

I got it torn down tonight and one of the wheels that supports the back end of the drum is clearly the culprit, as evidenced by the rusty dust coating it. The wheel has a metal sleeve and it appears to be fine, but the shaft it rides on has a nasty rash where it has been worn into. The shaft is attached to a large plate at the backend of the dryer that supports everything else (heater element, etc.) and I suspect that it might be expensive.

My question is this: do you think I could pack the shaft area with grease and make the noise go away? I'm concerned that all the lint in a dryer will have the grease contaminated in no time. It doesn't appear to have been greased to begin with.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Amp, it is likely the nylon shims on the dryer drum.

Check with the fine folks at A-Best appliance in Hillsboro. They can get you parts and offer advice.

[trap50]

I'd worry about grease. I've heard of to many people haveing lint fires from not cleaning the dryer. Grease might get real hot???

[StickFish]

There are some really good appliance parts web sites that show pictures of the parts so you order them. Fixed our Dishwasher and ordered the parts for a couple bucks - Standard wanted $100 to install a $3 wheel.

[ryser]

So AMP- your problem sounds just like the one I had and it sounds like you may also have the same brand that I have for a dryer (maytag).
I had to replace the wheels that the drum rolls on about a year ago and the dryer is about 18 years old. I got the parts from the maytag repair shop in beaverton and installed them my self as I don't see the need to pay the repair guy big bucks when it is only a few dollors and a little bit of my time.
When talking with the shop they said it was a normal failure for maytag cause of the way they designed the heat senk for the heater with the wheel right their.
Also it should be a nylon bushing and the new wheels should come with all the new parts that are currently bad, well at least the ones I replaced did.
Also you may want to replace the belt at the same time cause it may be ready to go also. After I did the wheels about four months later the belt went.
Also I wouldn't use grease on the shaft it may cause more problems down the road.
The total that I have spent in parts is less than 25.00 for the wheels and belt.

[wthr4d]

DO NOT grease the squeaky wheel, it willonly ask for more...No thats mice and cookies. Right, the grease would be too much of a fire hazard, I would suggest replacing the wheel and belt as Ryser suggests. IF you must, lightly sand the post to knock off the rust and treat it with a dry lube like graphite. stay away from petroleum products in heat producing appliances.

Paul

[ampersat]

The part is currently on order and will hopefully be ready for pickup later today. Thanks for the replies folks!