[RonD]

I have a 23yr old kitchenaid dryer heats fine,but is loud sounds like motor is making noise,like running hard. It has turned off itself twice,cleaned out vent,was clogged.tried turning drum by hand,goes good until it hits ahard spot.Then I have to turn harder,hits that hard spot every time I turn it.Belt has not been replaced.It seems to get louder when coming to the end of timed cycle.Any help would be great. THANKS!!!!!!!!

[bettyboop]

The motor should make a very lite hum, if it is old, bearings going dry of oil, covered with a coating of lint,and makes a growling sound, these are signs the motor is at it's end of life soon.

[denman]

Here is a parts breakdown
Whirlpool KEYE750VAL0

If the hard spot is at the same spot and happens only once per drum revolution, there is a good chance the front drum bearing ring or the felt seal is the problem.
All other parts turn many times per revolution. Open it up and take a look. May be a good idea to mark the drum and the front (at the hard spot) so after you get it apart you can tell where the drum is in relation to the other parts when the hard spot occurs.

Here is a good troubleshooting help site
Dryer Help Sections, repairing dryers, Kenmore, Whirlpool, Maytag, Inglis, GE, Frigidaire, White Westinghouse, Magic Chef, Norge, changing a 3 prong cord to a 4 prong cord, no heat, electric dryers, gas dryers, how to take apart my dryer, what can st

Your unit was probably made by Whirlpool
Check our #13 Whirlpool then on it's page #26 Motor problems

[RonD]

Thanks for the great advice and website I had aguy come over and he said it was the motor even causing the tight spot, I hope so I have not put it back together yet,waiting on new belt.Rollers and Idler look okay. The guy said the motor bearing was bad also. He Tapped the shaft with a hammer inward to move the bearing and now it seems to be spinning alot smoother without a load? Do you think the hard spot could have been from the bearing Before he tapped it we took off the belt, with the drum still in and it turned fine. Felt looks okay.

[denman]

Yes, it looks like you have found the problem. Looks like you will need a new motor.

[RonD]

Thanks for the help

[bettyboop]

Look around the pulley end of the motor, do you see oilly spots on the cabinet wall and under the motor? the bearings seize and get very hot, boiling out the bearing oil, a downhill motor