[Tude]

Dryer was working fine. Opened it up to get something out, closed it 10 mins later. Nothing.

I have checked the door switch and push start. Both are working.

The timer will activate when the start button is pushed, no motor. When you release the start button, the timer quits timing.

The thermal limit switch on the back of the heating element is good. Measuring zero resistance.

My suspicion is the timer. It appears to be the 'brains'. I am curious why the timer will activate when the start button is pushed, but then stop. It seems that the timer should activate and latch the start button. Assuming the start button is just a momentary switch. The motor never tuns over. I put a meter on the two wires that I believe go to the motor and I was getting no appreciative voltage and moreover, it never changed voltage when any button was pushed to activate. This lead me to believe that the timer was not telling the motor to start?

So, I am knowledgeable about electronics, own a meter, am reasonably mechanically inclined. The repair man can not make it until Friday so I have a couple days to try to figure this out. Please advise.

[kayakcrzy]

No No No No Timer yet. Unplug the dryer, and take the back off, and you will see a white piece about an inch and a half long, and a half inch wide. Take the two wires off, and put them together, and put a little tape on it so it does not hit metal, and then plug the dryer in, and see if it runs. If so replace that part. Do not run the dryer without it I can be reached at my web site at ApplianceEducator.com Tom

[denman]

A Model Number would help
Did you find a wiring diagram? It may be in the control console.
Is it gas or electric
The thermal fuse usually is in the Neutral line so you just have power to the heater (240 V) on an electric dryer
Quite often in a gas unit the thermal switch is in the motor line so the timer still works, drum light works.

[Tude]

I do have a schematic.

It is electric.

Sounds like you and Kayakcrzy are suspecting a thermal switch. Although, it must have failed completely because the unit will not reset.

[denman]

Great!!! Unfortunately I do not have a schematic but still may be able to help a little
You should be able to figure it out using the wiring diagram and the timing chart
Is it a mechanical timer?
I will assume it is

Unless this dryer is different from the norm your thermal fuse is OK
Just trace the wires
Neutral
Thru the thermal fuse
Thru the door switch
Thru the motor's thermal cutoff
Thru the Run and Start windings of the motor
Thru the start switch
Thru one set of timer contacts (I suspect these)
To Line

Timer Check
Unplug unit
Remove one of the wires to the suspect contacts
Measure the contacts
Should be 0 ohms as long as you are in one of the run modes

[kayakcrzy]

Mr Denman, I gave this good gentlemen my mobile phone #, on a personal e-mail. In fact he was a nice gentlemen from the Seattle area. Of course I was right on my prognosis, of the white thermal fuse, and he thanked me a million times. I just find it hard to believe why you come behind me on a obvious eloguent explanation of what the problem is, and confuse the person with a whole lot of jargon. Tom

[Tude]

Well, still in the investigation mode. I believe what you describe as the white thermal fuse could in fact be the problem, although I was having a hard time identifying it as such. You see, the color codes on the wires and schematic are a little confusing to me because I am color blind.

What I am going to do now, is take the two wires off the little white plastic thing that is near the bottom of the dryer. It is not measuring zero ohms so if I am onto the right thing it looks to be open. There is a blue and violet wire connecte to it (I think).

[kayakcrzy]

Put the two wires together my engineering buddy. Tom

[Tude]

OK Sparky

You don't sell life insurance too do you?

[Tude]

Tom. You Da Man !!!!

Thermal Fuse is blown.