WED8540FW0 Whirlpool Dryer - Instructions

Took the dryer apart and replaced the idler pulley with bracket and the drive belt

The pulley is accessible from the back of the dryer. Disconnect the gas line. Remove all the screws. Also remove the small plate that secures the line cord. Lift the back up and out. I was able to avoid disconnecting the water line. Take a picture of the pulley so that you will have a record of the belt routing. Release the spring and remove and replace the pulley and bracket. Vacuum out the lint. Plug in the dryer to make sure that it works properly before reassembly.

Watched video & took my time. It went easy

Thought I could do it myself. Bought most parts recommended by this site
Took backoff thinking I could get to heating element. Noticed I would have to take out drum. Being in my 90's, decided to call repairman. He came and replaced the heating element I had purchased. He didn't have to come back
after he had purchased parts. That saved about half my bill. Worked Great!

I found a simple video on YouTube. I removed the front panel and door. I removed drum and belt drive. Heater element was then easily accessible. I removed all wires after taking pictures of wiring. Element was secured by one screw and one clip and was easily removed. Removed element from element cover. Checked thermostat and thermal overload. Put new element inside of element cover. Then replaced everything in reverse order. Removing lint from inside of dryer was probably the most difficult part of repair. Had to have assistance from my son to put drum belt back on but rest of replacement was simple.

Removed the top, removed lower front cover, removed the front, removed the belt, removed the drum and the back. Removed and replaced roller support shaft and drum roller’s. Completed all Front and rear support for drum. Replaced drum , replaced drum roller belt and replaced back, completed replacement of the top, front.

I checked continuity of all electrical points. I took the top off, then the back, and front of the dryer off so it was easy to inspect the whole dryer. I was also able to clean unwanted dust, and lent with a shop vacuum by doing this.
Keep track of different screws, and mark each screw location with a permanent magic marker. Taking pictures with camera phone is very helpful. Pay attention to electrical connections as well, some of those will need to be dismantled.
Try not to take apart anything more than needed. Watching some online video's can be very helpful as well.
If uncomfortable doing this, call a service repair technician.
I'm a farm boy, and repairs usually come easy to me, but not always.

Confirmed I had incoming 240V, checked continuity on element switch confirmed bad. Ordered replacement part. U have to remove drum to replace element

This could not have been easier. The hardest part was tipping the dryer over on its' side.
Instructions:
1. Tip dryer over onto a non-scratch surface. I used a tarp on the floor.
Insert leveling foot into the foot opening on the bottom of the dryer &
screw in with fingers until it is difficult to turn.
2. Use the adjustable wrench on the hexed foot (not the threads) to adjust to the desired level.
3. Tip dryer upright taking care not to exert pressure on the feet closest to floor. I used a folded-up tarp under the bottom edge of the dryer while lifting it to the upright position.
4. Use a level, back to front & side to side, to determine if feet need further adjustment.
5. Adjustments can be made with the dryer in the upright position, using the adjustable wrench on the hexed foot.

Before anything unplug the dryer
1) Remove the back panel to include electric cable. 2) Remove the lower front panel. 3) Remove top panel. 4) Remove control panel 5) remove door assembly to include metal frame and front panel of the blower housing. (much easier than trying to do this separately. 6) Remove drum belt by pulling back on the idler pulley (spring). 7) Remove drum. 8) Remove idler pulley retaining ring and pulley. 9) remove old seal on blower housing. 10) I added high temp grease to the pulley shaft and installed new pulley. 11) Install new blower seal. 12) Install drum and new belt. 13) Re-install all the panels.

Unplugged the Dryer first. Removed the two screws from the bottom panel using a 1/4 socket and removed the panel by pulling down and out. Reached behind the blower and removed the connectors from the old thermistor and then the thermistor itself by removing the two 1/4 inch hex head screws. Replaced with new part and after screwing back in, reconnected the wires and replaced the panel. From start to finish, it took me about 20 minutes.

I researched causes of the noise, zeroed it down to the idler pulley. I then got the dryer schematic and took the dryer apart after disconnecting the power and the vent. i did not have to remove the drum, the idler pulley was easily accessible once the top and back panels were removed. I simply removed the drive belt from tension off the pulley, removed the old pulley and installed the new one. Once finished the dryer was running whisper quiet.

I took off the back panel off the dryer. The idler pulley could be accessed on the bottom. It was a bit cramped but not too tough to replace.

Remove top, remove two front panels, remove rear panel to access drive motor release tensioner. Remove drum to access to heating element enclosure. Replace and reinstall after vacuuming all accumulated lent.

Took door off with a Phillips screwdriver went to hardware store with door so he could match up the 6pt screwdrivers that were needed.
No more then 1 hour to do.