The last thing you need on laundry day when you have a pile of laundry to dry is for your GE dryer to stop spinning suddenly.
While GE dryers are generally known for their reliability, quality, and ease of use, certain factors could compromise their spinning mechanism and cause the dryer to stop spinning.
In this guide, you will learn more about the potential problems that could be causing the dryer to stop spinning, as well as the most effective methods of dryer repair.
Why is your GE dryer not spinning?
A couple of common issues could be causing your clothes dryer to stop spinning all of a sudden.
Learning more about these issues could also help you prevent this GE dryer problem in the future and detect it all on your own without having to hire a professional.
Faulty drive belt
Your GE dryer has stopped spinning mainly because of a faulty drive belt. This is a common problem with older GE dryers.
The drive belt connects the motor to the drum, and if it has become worn out, it will no longer be able to rotate the drum.
You can check to see if the drive belt is the problem by opening up your dryer and inspecting it. If the belt is broken or frayed, it must be replaced.
A damaged dryer belt can also cause your GE dryer to overheat. If the belt cannot rotate the drum, the motor will have to work harder, and this can cause the dryer to overheat.
Damaged drum rollers
A damaged drum roller can also cause your GE dryer not to spin. The role of the drum rollers in your GE dryer is to keep the drum turning smoothly.
If one or more rollers are damaged, they may no longer be able to provide the proper support, causing the drum to become unbalanced and preventing it from spinning.
Over time, drum rollers become worn and can even become damaged. You may be able to tell if your drum rollers are damaged if you can hear a loud thumping noise when the dryer is running.
Damaged igniter in your gas dryer
A damaged or defective igniter may prevent your gas dryer from heating, which can also cause it not to spin.
The igniter in your gas dryer is responsible for igniting the gas that powers the dryer. If the igniter is damaged, it may be unable to create a spark, preventing your dryer from heating and causing it not to spin.
Malfunctioning idler pulley
If your GE dryer is not spinning, it may be due to a malfunctioning idler pulley, which provides tension to the drum belt, which rotates the drum.
If the idler pulley is defective, it can cause the drum belt to slip or break, preventing the drum from spinning.
Faulty dryer timer
If your GE dryer timer is not working correctly, it may cause your dryer not to spin. The easiest way to see if this could be causing an issue is to unplug the dryer and plug it back in.
This will reset the timer and hopefully get your dryer spinning again. If this does not work, you may need to replace the timer altogether.
How to fix a GE dryer not spinning
Determining the cause of the spinning issue is undoubtedly the first step to fixing your GE dryer, and here are some of the most effective methods for solving this issue.
1. Replace the drive belt
If your GE dryer isn’t spinning, it could be because the drive belt is worn or broken. You can check the drive belt’s condition by removing the dryer’s front panel and inspecting it.
If the belt is damaged, it will need replacing. Here are the steps to replace a faulty drive belt:
- Unplug the dryer and pull it away from the wall so you can access the back.
- Remove the screws that hold the back panel in place and take off the panel.
- Inspect the drive belt for signs of wear or damage. If it’s damaged, you’ll need to replace it.
- Remove the old drive belt by unscrewing the tensioner pulley and taking off the idler pulley.
- Thread the new belt around the drum and then the tensioner and idler pulleys.
- Tighten the tensioner pulley to secure the belt in place.
- Replace the back panel and screw it in place.
- Plug in the dryer and turn it on to test it.
If your dryer isn’t spinning, another issue could be causing the problem.
2. Replace the drum rollers
If your GE dryer isn’t spinning, it might be because the drum rollers are worn out. To fix this, you’ll need to replace the drum rollers. Here are the steps to replace a drum roller:
- First, unplug the dryer and move it away from the wall so you can access the back.
- Remove the screws that hold the back panel in place, and then remove the panel.
- Locate the drum rollers on the back of the dryer drum. There are usually two of them.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the retaining clip that holds each roller.
- Remove the old drum rollers and replace them with new ones.
- Reattach the retaining clips and screw the back panel back on.
- Plug the dryer back in and turn it on. The drum should now be spinning correctly.
3. Replace the igniter
If the drying cycle doesn’t start, it could be because the igniter isn’t working. The igniter’s job is to light the gas in the dryer, so if it’s not working, the gas won’t light, and the dryer won’t spin.
Here’s how to fix the igniter in a gas dryer:
- First, check the igniter to see if it’s dirty. If it is, clean it with a brush or a cloth.
- Next, check the igniter wire to see if it feels loose. If so, use a screwdriver to tighten it.
- Finally, check the gas valve to see if it’s open. If it’s not, turn it on and try the dryer again.
If these steps don’t fix the problem, you may need to replace the igniter. You can do this by yourself or call in a professional to do it for you.
To replace the igniter, follow these steps:
- Turn off the power to the dryer at the breaker box.
- Remove the back panel of the dryer.
- Disconnect the igniter wire from the gas valve.
- Remove the screws that hold the igniter in place.
- Pull out the old igniter and insert the new one.
- Reconnect the igniter wire to the gas valve.
- Turn on the power to the dryer at the breaker box.
- Try the dryer again.
4. Fix the idler pulley
If your GE dryer won’t, there’s a good chance that the idler pulley is to blame. The idler pulley is responsible for keeping the drive belt tight, so if it breaks or becomes damaged, the belt can slip, and the dryer won’t spin.
Luckily, this is an easy problem to fix yourself. To replace the idler pulley, you’ll need a new pulley and a screwdriver.
First, unplug the dryer and then remove the belt from the pulley. Next, remove the two screws that hold the pulley in place and then pull the pulley off. Finally, install the new pulley by reversing the process.
Once you’ve replaced the idler pulley, your GE dryer should start spinning again like normal.
5. Fix the dryer timer
If your GE dryer timer isn’t advancing, it might be because the power cord is unplugged or the door latch or lid switch is defective.
If the door latch seems to be the issue, open the dryer door and look for a small piece of plastic on the side of the door opening.
This is the dryer door switch. If the lid switch is broken, you will need to replace it. First, remove the two screws that hold it in place to replace the door latch.
Then, disconnect the wires from the door latch and remove them. Install the new door latch by reversing these steps.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
