[ophelious]

Any help would be appreciated!

I am trying to replace the belt on my Kenmore front loading washing machine. I assumed there would be some sort of tensioner, but there was not. It goes straight from the end of the motor around the wheel that spins the drum. I saw no way to get the belt back on the end of the motor as I couldn't stretch the motor hard enough to get it around both. I removed the motor, and was then able to get the belt around the end of it, but now have the same problem...there is so much tension in the belt I can't get the motor back into it's slots. If you look at the attached picture, notice how the motor slides in with 4 screws. What am I doing wrong? Is it just brute force that stretches the belt enough, or am I missing something?
Thanks for any help!
Matt

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

Did you verify you have the right belt?

[ophelious]

Thanks for the reply! Yes, it is the right belt. It is the same belt that has been on there. One of the (for lack of a better term) shock absorbers broke during the wash, the load became unbalanced, and the belt slipped off. It would just seem that there would be some way (like on a car) to adjust belt tension. For the life of me, I can't see it. The belt forms one simple loop from the motor to the wheel on the back of the drum. The motor is held in by 4 screws. Brute force is the only way I can think of, but I am not strong enough and I cannot see why they would think that was a good way to design the washer. I don't seem to be able to put enough force on the motor to slip it back onto it's mounting while the belt is on it. Maybe I will have to bite the bullet and pay Kenmore for the reapir manual (I was trying to avoid this as it looked like a simple repair, and Sears wants to charge a fortune for the thing!)
Matt

[sonny]

Originally Posted by ophelious

Thanks for the reply! Yes, it is the right belt. It is the same belt that has been on there. One of the (for lack of a better term) shock absorbers broke during the wash, the load became unbalanced, and the belt slipped off. It would just seem that there would be some way (like on a car) to adjust belt tension. For the life of me, I can't see it. The belt forms one simple loop from the motor to the wheel on the back of the drum. The motor is held in by 4 screws. Brute force is the only way I can think of, but I am not strong enough and I cannot see why they would think that was a good way to design the washer. I don't seem to be able to put enough force on the motor to slip it back onto it's mounting while the belt is on it. Maybe I will have to bite the bullet and pay Kenmore for the reapir manual (I was trying to avoid this as it looked like a simple repair, and Sears wants to charge a fortune for the thing!)
Matt

im having same problem belt seems to short

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

Use an independent servicer like me, am fair,honest and CAN be reasonable on price.