MDE21PRAYW Maytag Dryer - Instructions

We inherited this dryer three years ago upon purchasing our current house. At that time I found this website to purchase and install a couple of the baffles that were missing. This time, I checked the troubleshooting for my current problem and ordered all of the parts I felt I needed to resolve the problem. Once I received the parts, I followed the great how-to videos by Steve to disassemble the front of the dryer and remove the drum. I could not get to the repairs right away since the interior of the dryer was quite dirty and I took a lot of time to clean it out. Once I got to removing and replacing the drum rollers, idler pulley, rear drum felt shaft, and drum belt, everything went smoothly and was just as easy as Steve described in the videos. If I didn't have such a dirty machine interior, removing the old parts and installing the new parts would have taken less than an hour. I had to hold off on installing the front glide kit and front drum felt seal since I forgot to order two of each (I'll install these at a later date. I proceeded to putting everything back together and testing the dryer. The dryer now runs quietly and works great.

replaced

I ordered the wrong motor for my dryer PN PS3500892, the right one was PN PS11741125, the motor specs were the same but the shaft were different lengths and different blower fan and fasteners. Since I had the wrong motor in hand I worked with Parts Select to order the correct blower fan and fasteners for this motor. Got it all installed and everything fit as it should. even though this was a different part than I had before it saved me $100 by doing it this way, Thanks to Parts Select for helping me through this maze with me asking many questions about part sizes and fasteners. They did this all for my savings. Most parts places would not have gone this far for the customers benefit. Thank you very much Parts Select !

repairmen said to buy a new dryer! or replace the motor! DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

It was the spring washer that was rubbing against the metal that was causing the very loud noise. The fiber washer that is used on the shaft on both sides of the roller had worn though and allowed the metal-metal contact. The fiber washer wore out! The fiber washers are very cheap!!!! in comparison to a motor or new dryer!


The drum rollers that support the rotating drum eventually wear out the fiber washer.
UNPLUG THE DRYER, DISCONNECT THE VENT
Remove the two screws on the lower front of the dryer panel, probably after you have tilted the unit backward. Remove the front panel by tilting out the bottom as there are two clips at the top. AFTER DOCUMENTING the CONNECTIONS - Disconnect the wires from the switch which is mounted on the front panel.
Carefully put the dryer on its back - be careful of the dryer vent to avoid damaging your floor or dryer vent!
Carefully pull the dryer drum up out of the dryer - as this is done the belt which moves the drum will fall away from the drum. I suggest before you remove the drum to eyeball the way the belt is tensioned and wrapped around the motor driveshaft, guard and tensioner. This will be the most difficult part of reassembling the machine. Some visual understand, maybe even pictures will help you later to get it installed correctly back into proper position... and it is NOT intuitive!
Once the drum is removed, the rollers are accessible. Rotate each and find the squeaker!
I recommend you replace the fiber washer on both, even though only one may be squeaking at this point (the other will be close to being worn out as well!).
I will not document the replacement of these parts as the assembly seems well documented elsewhere. I suggest you remain using the spring washer if there - as the after factory replacements do not seem to provide spring washers.
I would also suggest replacing the dryer drum belt, it is worn, after this many years, and putting in a new one will keep the dryer running for many more years. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER - USE IT

Unplugged the dryer (don't forget this step guys!!!)

Pulled the front off the dryer (4 screws) and swapped the motor out - take off the belt, pull the blower wheel (by removing the snaprigs and squeeze collar), then pull off the motor retaining clips... unplug the motor and install the new one in reverse. Took me less than 2 hours and my dryer works like new.

WAY CHEAPER than a new dryer!!!

Read the instructions included with the parts, removed the 2 screws on the front of the dryer. Removed a couple of wire connections and 4 screws that held the drum in place. Moved the drum enough to have access to the roller supports. I removed the nut from the back of the supports with a 1/2" wrench. Placed the new supports on the old support pins and reinstalled them. Put it all back together. Probably the most difficult task was getting the drive belt back on the drum correctly. I was done in just over 1 hour.

Watched the videos for the repairs on the site. Took the back of the dryer off after unplugging the appliance. Removed the failed fuse and thermostat and replaced them both per the video steps. It took about 25 minutes for both parts and the dryer now works well.

Just follow the video. The hardest part is getting the top to disengage from the clips.

I followed the YouTube video for pulling the heating element to remove and place the thermostat. The actual thermostat removal and replacement was pretty simple. Most of my time was spent removing the front panel, pulling and reinstalling the heating element.

Changed motor

I removed top control panel and then the old power cord that been damaged by a small fire and the just attached the new power cord and control panel. Unblievably simple and I saved myself a lot of money. Where I live in a NYC suburb this type of simple repair could easily cost $100.

replace motor as per utube supplied with parts order

I made the mistake of repairing my old maytag neptune dryer with cheap eBay rollers and they crumbled apart and made a ton of noise within a month. I replaced them with quality OEM parts from partselect.com and my dryer is running like new. It's easy to do with common household tools and there are even easy to follow instructions available online.

Followed the video. Hardest part was getting the belt around the ideler pulley and motor pulley without seeing. But I got it! Thanks to this site you rock!

I use U Tube watched Video, you have to take apart the dryer, but pretty simple to do. The drum rollers were very easy to install, make sure to have snap ring plyers, installing belt was easy too, make sure to put it back on it the way it came off, mine was ribbed side down on drum. Take a picture if necessary. Getting the belt on the pulley right is the most important part, the rest is just reassembling,