WED8500BR0 Whirlpool Dryer - Instructions

Videos are excellent to open and access internal parts. It turned out a rat was killed in the blower fan when we first encountered the problem. This prevented the blower from turning which interfered with motor function.

This required removing drum & belt, disconnecting motor clips, blower belt, and blower housing. The blower housing needed to be disassembled. Having a 5/16” & 1/8” ratcheting nut driver makes this process much easier. Don’t try this with a wrench.

After getting rid of the rat and decomposition, we sanitized the entire housing with soap & chlorine bleach.

Reassembly was uneventful and relatively easy. We ended up replacing 4 rollers, 2 belts (drum belt & blower belt), the thermistor which was damaged as a result of the blocked blower.

I was not able to find a video (or other specific instructions) that showed how to access the insides of this particular machine, but eventually figured out that all it takes is popping 2 clips, one on either side of the door by wedging a flathead screwdriver in the space between the top of the machine and the bottom piece that surrounds the door opening. The top then pivots up and can be moved back beyond vertical so that it hold itself in position.

After removing the dryer door, getting to the drum itself was not too difficult and only involves removing half a dozen small bolts. I was able to move the pieces off to the side without disconnecting any of the wiring. Without looking at the parts diagram I can't name any of the pieces involved, but there were only a couple. The drum can then be lifted right off its rollers.

The replacement felt for this dryer has to be fastened with adhesive, and I would recommend running the bead of glue around half of the drum, setting the new felt in place, letting it sit for a few minutes to let the glue set up, then repeating for the other half. I tried installing the entire piece of felt at once, but after getting about 3/4 of it on, pulling the remaining unattached felt taut to fit around the drum ended up removing the first part of the felt because the glue did not have time to set up. If you've ever changed a bicycle tire, you'll know about reaching that point where the tire doesn't seem big enough to fit around the rim, but it just needs to be muscled into place. Same idea here, but trying to muscle the felt over fresh glue while the just installed part comes loose is frustrating and in my case almost resulted in ruining the entire new felt strip. Once the felt is anchored it's easy to pull taut over the remaining part of the drum.

Took back panel of dryer off completely disconnected the drive belt to drum of dryer took off old idler pulley reinstall the new pulley and belt works like a brand new dryer

Pliers and screw driver to pop out the old door catch and pop in the new one. Saved $69.95 service charge for a tech to come to the home.

1 screw to replace.

Followed video instructions using flat scraper & pliers (easy).Tried to remove "SPARE" latch on other side of door. Even removed door myself (Easy).Tried for (45) minutes without success. Ordered part @ 11:30 pm. Replaced door easily by myself by leaving bottom screw for each hinge in place & replaced broken latch. Received new latch in (5) days. Removed broken latch without tools & replaced new latch in (15) seconds. Need help from any "Ladies" who can remove second latch so it is available for next replacement. This "Engineer" was too lazy to remove the screws around the door because he was going to "Follow the Video". Overall it was an "Easy Fix". Keep the 'Videos"coming.

Raised the front of top panel with the putty knife and the front panel was unscrewed as the video showed. The drum slid out after the belt was released.

My machine had 4 rollers, which was not shown in the schematics. So I replaced the back, cleaned the front ones and works great for now. Plan to replace the front later.

Removing the tri rings is much easier if cut w wire cutters. Otherwise waist lots of time to get them off. Just buy new ones.

new part came in a day or two. took part out of package and it easly snaped in place. very nice

(Always unplug dryer before making any repairs) I opened the dryer and checked the heating element. Making sure that the connection was good and nothing was damaged, I determined the problem was overheated wires. They melted and lots connection. I replaced them with the heating element wire connection kit. Easy to install and simple to get right. I cleaned the dryer again with a vaccum cleaner, removing all the lint, and checked the vents, making sure they were clear...I turned the breaker on (it was tripped when the dryer overheated)and everything worked great.

Removed rear cover. Released tension on spring to pulley to remove belt from pulley. Used a socket to remove idler. Did the reverse to install.

had to take front off of Dryer then was able to replace drum roller

Simply removed back cover on dryer and the idler pulley wheel and arm was right there and only had one screw to remove after relieving tension on belt by removing spring. Very simple

1) Unplugged unit & used the 5 in 1 tool to disengage top panel clips from top of front panel & tilted top panel up & out of the way, .
2) Disconnected electrical connection @ upper right of front panel, Used drill & 5/16" socket & adapter to remove 2 upper front panel screws on backside of panel & removed panel.
3) Removed 4 screws from lint screen duct, unplugged elect. con.@ the right & removed lint screen & duct from dryer bulkhead..
4) Loosened 2 top screws & removed 2 bottom screws from bulkhead & lifted bulkhead up & out & set aside.
5) Slid drum belt off the back of the drum & removed the drum
6) Ceaned the blower moter drive shaft threads & threads inside the shaft pulley. Used a file to clean up any burrs on shaft pulley, coated treads of pulley & shaft with red lock tite thread dressing & re-instaled pulley back onto shaft with ajustable pliers while holding blower fan blades steady from inside the blower motor housing. with other hand. note: (pulley is left handed thread)
7) Looped new belt onto drive motor pulley then worked it back onto blower moter pulley with one hand while turning the blades of the blower from inside the blower housing with other hand until it was back in place & ribs on belt were seated in the mating ribs of the pulley.
8) Put everything back in reverse order with the exception of removing the back panel to reinstall the drum belt onto the drive motor shaft pulley and tensioner @ bottom left in back of the dryer.

Hope this instructional is able to help some one else & good luck with your projects!

Replaced power cord, terminal block, and all melted wiring. Checked the thermal fuse for zero resistance.

we received the two heating element wires in 3 days and connected the heating element with no problem works great.