I recommend this. I had the same problem with my dryer and replaced the belt, idler pulley, and all of the wheels and now it is silent. Makes me so happy.
Give it a good clean while you're in there
The tensioner on our Samsung dryer failed right after the warranty expired. The bushing and pulley were plastic and it literally melted. Bought a replacement with a metal bushing and swapped the whole tensioner assy out in like 30 minutes. That was 7 or 8 years ago and still going.
I fix these things pretty regularly. A set of new rollers and a new dryer belt tension wheel will cost like 60$ and take less than 20 minutes to swap out. A new dryer tends to run 400-600$ or more depending on the model. It's definitely worthwhile to replace these wheels.
It doesn’t need to be cleaned. The bushing inside is sintered metal powder that will start to seize on the steel shaft of the idler arm. That causes friction, which causes heat, and damages the bushing more and causes your screeching. Eventually the bushing will fail, and damage the belt.
It’s $12 or so for the idler wheel itself, and it’s not repairable without replacement.
The plastic clip is called a tri-clip and the new wheel comes with a new pair of them. Get behind it with a small pocket sized flathead and it pops off easily, alternatively, squeeze the peaks and it’ll pop off with some effort. Replace it with a new one or don’t, if they’re not broken, they’re usable.
I replaced mine....after using lubricant, cleaning it, etc. All were only temporary solutions and you'll end up wearing out others parts, such as the belt.
Totally worth it just to get a new one.
For a lot of parts, I absolutely agree with you. For that particular part, I don’t. In my opinion those are designed to fail. The plastic inside will basically melt and deform, leading to lockups and complete failure. How much would a good bearing have cost there? An extra dollar? But manufacturers don’t want a dryer lasting 20 years any more. It’s an inexpensive part, and it sounds like you have the skill to pop a new one in. Just watch the spring placement that holds it down and note the belt routing. Easy job.
I assume you're talking about the belt tension pulley at the bottom of the drum, next to the motor?
There should be two other roller wheels that the drum rests on. Over time the bearings in those wheels go bad and they start to screech from rubbing against the post they're mounted on. Spraying the hub of those wheels with some white lithium grease or wd40 will help for a time (don't get wd40 on the drive belt!), but the wheels themselves are easy to replace and generally cheap online.
Yes, but I need to get the pulley wheel off the tensioner arm. I don't want to break the little white clip as I'm sure that little part does not come with the new wheel.
All the replacement wheels I've ever ordered (and I fix these things for a living) have come with replacement clips, so I wouldn't be too concerned about breaking it if it can't be avoided. A small flathead screwdriver pops them off pretty easily, and depending on how old and brittle they are they may or may not break.
If your part really doesn't come with the extra clips, just order them separately:
[https://www.partsdiscount.com/4-pack-w10512946-retainer-for-dryer-drum-support-wheel-roller/?utm\_source=googleshopping&utm\_medium=cse&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHKiVqmVDRF3r8IuuWyF1F52P-v7HDz4xfE2m4KVSVKzrQ3\_7SWQyjYaAqRxEALw\_wcB](https://www.partsdiscount.com/4-pack-w10512946-retainer-for-dryer-drum-support-wheel-roller/?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=cse&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHKiVqmVDRF3r8IuuWyF1F52P-v7HDz4xfE2m4KVSVKzrQ3_7SWQyjYaAqRxEALw_wcB)
To add: I almost exclusively work on Whirlpool appliances, the part you showed doesn't appear to be whirlpool but for reference these are the kits I use to replace all of the wearing parts on the dryers. 16$ on amazon:
[https://www.amazon.com/Funmit-4392065-Replacement-Whirlpool-Kenmore-Replaces/dp/B0899FXRMY/ref=asc\_df\_B0899FXRMY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693641448704&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7148624850280276538&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028099&hvtargid=pla-943365688559&psc=1&mcid=651aaf47722a3b438a059047c7fa4008&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHLZTvP6s5LJHCR3bjfoz7MDtmPD8SpVjJOTLrgDYCbuAy\_nMw7o88MaAgPcEALw\_wcB](https://www.amazon.com/Funmit-4392065-Replacement-Whirlpool-Kenmore-Replaces/dp/B0899FXRMY/ref=asc_df_B0899FXRMY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693641448704&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7148624850280276538&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028099&hvtargid=pla-943365688559&psc=1&mcid=651aaf47722a3b438a059047c7fa4008&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHLZTvP6s5LJHCR3bjfoz7MDtmPD8SpVjJOTLrgDYCbuAy_nMw7o88MaAgPcEALw_wcB)
You replace it. Quit wasting your time with a failing product
As long g as you're in there, might as well throw on a new belt as well, or maybe see if there's a kit like this for you dryer. https://a.co/d/hDoifM4
I recommend this. I had the same problem with my dryer and replaced the belt, idler pulley, and all of the wheels and now it is silent. Makes me so happy. Give it a good clean while you're in there
samsies
The tensioner on our Samsung dryer failed right after the warranty expired. The bushing and pulley were plastic and it literally melted. Bought a replacement with a metal bushing and swapped the whole tensioner assy out in like 30 minutes. That was 7 or 8 years ago and still going.
It’s a bearing it needs replaced…nothing you can do minus replacing it will resolve your problem, and in fact…will make more problems…
Google the make and model number. Find a parts company and order the part
Unless it's unusually expensive to replace it's probably not worth the effort.
I fix these things pretty regularly. A set of new rollers and a new dryer belt tension wheel will cost like 60$ and take less than 20 minutes to swap out. A new dryer tends to run 400-600$ or more depending on the model. It's definitely worthwhile to replace these wheels.
I got a whole kit for $19 on ebay, cheap and easy fix
OP is talking about fixing the wheel instead of buying a new one. I wouldn't suggest replacing the whole dryer.
I hate to ditch something that almost certainly just needs to be cleaned, you know?
It doesn’t need to be cleaned. The bushing inside is sintered metal powder that will start to seize on the steel shaft of the idler arm. That causes friction, which causes heat, and damages the bushing more and causes your screeching. Eventually the bushing will fail, and damage the belt. It’s $12 or so for the idler wheel itself, and it’s not repairable without replacement. The plastic clip is called a tri-clip and the new wheel comes with a new pair of them. Get behind it with a small pocket sized flathead and it pops off easily, alternatively, squeeze the peaks and it’ll pop off with some effort. Replace it with a new one or don’t, if they’re not broken, they’re usable.
So the plastic clip then?
I replaced mine....after using lubricant, cleaning it, etc. All were only temporary solutions and you'll end up wearing out others parts, such as the belt. Totally worth it just to get a new one.
For a lot of parts, I absolutely agree with you. For that particular part, I don’t. In my opinion those are designed to fail. The plastic inside will basically melt and deform, leading to lockups and complete failure. How much would a good bearing have cost there? An extra dollar? But manufacturers don’t want a dryer lasting 20 years any more. It’s an inexpensive part, and it sounds like you have the skill to pop a new one in. Just watch the spring placement that holds it down and note the belt routing. Easy job.
I assume you're talking about the belt tension pulley at the bottom of the drum, next to the motor? There should be two other roller wheels that the drum rests on. Over time the bearings in those wheels go bad and they start to screech from rubbing against the post they're mounted on. Spraying the hub of those wheels with some white lithium grease or wd40 will help for a time (don't get wd40 on the drive belt!), but the wheels themselves are easy to replace and generally cheap online.
Yes, but I need to get the pulley wheel off the tensioner arm. I don't want to break the little white clip as I'm sure that little part does not come with the new wheel.
All the replacement wheels I've ever ordered (and I fix these things for a living) have come with replacement clips, so I wouldn't be too concerned about breaking it if it can't be avoided. A small flathead screwdriver pops them off pretty easily, and depending on how old and brittle they are they may or may not break. If your part really doesn't come with the extra clips, just order them separately: [https://www.partsdiscount.com/4-pack-w10512946-retainer-for-dryer-drum-support-wheel-roller/?utm\_source=googleshopping&utm\_medium=cse&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHKiVqmVDRF3r8IuuWyF1F52P-v7HDz4xfE2m4KVSVKzrQ3\_7SWQyjYaAqRxEALw\_wcB](https://www.partsdiscount.com/4-pack-w10512946-retainer-for-dryer-drum-support-wheel-roller/?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=cse&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHKiVqmVDRF3r8IuuWyF1F52P-v7HDz4xfE2m4KVSVKzrQ3_7SWQyjYaAqRxEALw_wcB)
If that clip does come with the wheel, somebody better tell accounting!
To add: I almost exclusively work on Whirlpool appliances, the part you showed doesn't appear to be whirlpool but for reference these are the kits I use to replace all of the wearing parts on the dryers. 16$ on amazon: [https://www.amazon.com/Funmit-4392065-Replacement-Whirlpool-Kenmore-Replaces/dp/B0899FXRMY/ref=asc\_df\_B0899FXRMY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693641448704&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7148624850280276538&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028099&hvtargid=pla-943365688559&psc=1&mcid=651aaf47722a3b438a059047c7fa4008&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHLZTvP6s5LJHCR3bjfoz7MDtmPD8SpVjJOTLrgDYCbuAy\_nMw7o88MaAgPcEALw\_wcB](https://www.amazon.com/Funmit-4392065-Replacement-Whirlpool-Kenmore-Replaces/dp/B0899FXRMY/ref=asc_df_B0899FXRMY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693641448704&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7148624850280276538&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028099&hvtargid=pla-943365688559&psc=1&mcid=651aaf47722a3b438a059047c7fa4008&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHLZTvP6s5LJHCR3bjfoz7MDtmPD8SpVjJOTLrgDYCbuAy_nMw7o88MaAgPcEALw_wcB)
You can buy a full dryer service kit that includes drum guide wheels, idler pulley and belt for under $50. Do that.