Mike a bit late for you but as this site has more questions than answers this may help others.Elsewhere someone says changing a belt is easy but doesn't say how! I thought as the drier is a simple design-no tensioning pulley-belt simply round the single motor drive spindle and drum-it might be possible to work it on from the door end but couldn't see how ( someone else will now probably explain how though this site says it is generally necessary to split the case halves) . So here's how I did it using just a 7 and 8 spanner, a large screwdriver and a hammer! Note I take no responsiblity in any way for anyone following what I did. It took an hour to do working it out myself.
Unplug drier.Remove top by undoing two rear self tapping screws and sliding lid back. Old belt may have dropped into bottom but find it now or later on before ordering a new one as this model seems to have been fitted with different belt lengths depending on the Part Number on the label inside the door. Even with the PN, some websites quoted the wrong length as suitable. Mine needed an 1830 mm length which is printed on the belt together with the fact that it was 8H -(8 humps?)-this may be a lesson generally on buying poly vee drier belts for other site users.
Cut the cable tie holding the cable up from brushing the top of the drum to allow room to move later-you'll need a replacement
Lay drier on its back on foam or similar to avoid damaging fan housing on back.
Remove screws holding on the bottom plate-mine had three.Now the hard bit -removing the four plastic feet-brute levering force with the screwdriver and try to remove with a screwing action.Remove bottom panel.
From the bottom look inside for a screw on each side panel a few inches in holding the two half panels together where they overlap-remove. Do the same with the two screws visible from the top in a similar place.
Now from the top remove three screws on one side and two on the other through the silver brackets joining the two halves of the case together. These fit through the top half of the case only. Note the position of the casing lugs relative to the brackets and that two of these screws are 8's not 7's like all the others.
You can now lift up the top half of the drier an inch or two and separate it from the bottom half allowing you to drop the new belt over the drum accessing from the bottom and maybe with your hand through the door-the three way air ducting simply pulls apart near the top as you do it.
Its probably easier with two people to lift it up square but despite my misgivings about damaging the dust seal round the drum front,I managed this on my own quite easily.I could have changed the seal at this point fairly easily too if I'd wanted Once the belt is on drop the top half back down into place and reverse all the above till you get to the lid fitting.
I couldn't get the belt over the drive spindle so removed just the two screws on the motor mount on the drive spindle side-eased this mount outwards in the direction of the spindle which pops out of three lugs in the top casing allowing the belt to be slipped on then reverse the procedure. Refit a cable tie and bang the lid on! If you are licensed to work on unguarded machinery you might want to check it spins over and the belt run centrally first!
I found it easier than adjusting the handlebars on my lads bike and wouldn't hesitate to tackle another-done for ÂŁ13-30 Spares for Home delivered the belt the day following ordering Part number 10712 for mine but CHECK THE BELT LENGTH FIRST!
http://www.sparesforhome.co.uk/displayProduct.asp?id=10712
Nick Hale
September 2007
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