electric dryer woes

 I have a Kenmore electic dryer that went on the blink this weekend.
I set the timer (which I can hear running) and push the START button.
I hear a humming sound whilst pushing the button but nothing happens.
I took the back off and wiggled the wires. Still doesn't work.  I
couldn't see the belt very good from the back but it look attached. I
can move the drum one way manually.

I have limited tools (my trusty swiss army knife is alls I have used
thus far if this gives you an idea). Should I just bite the dust and
call a repair person, or are there a few things I can still check.

Thanks in advance.

  bj_weller@yahoo.com (bj) wrote in news:60fa7de5.0408091442.286d6b22
@posting.google.com:


Is the motor turning when you hear the humming sound? Does the heating
element turn on?

If the motor is running, check the belt that drives the drum. They somtimes
break, and can pop off the idler pulley as well.

If the motor is humming but not spinning, then you need to replace the
motor. Sometimes, depending on what part of the motor has failed, you can
get a little extra life out of it (i.e., you can use it while waiting for
replacement parts to arrive :-) by turning the motor shaft by hand a
quarter turn or so (with the power off, obviously). If the problem is a bad
motor winding, it may start on it's own when you turn it back on.

If the dryer is 10 years old or older, it may be cheaper (or at least, more
economical) to replace it rather than repair it, especially if you have to
call a repair service.