Is the motor (model #S58NXMKE-6674) on my Kenmore Dryer, broken?

I have taken my dryer apart, after finding that the motor had difficulty starting to spin the drum of the dryer. It seemed that the drum felt "stiffer" or harder to turn than normal, and the motor was "labouring" to get it started.

Without the drum attached, there is still a "curious" sound on start-up, and it appears that some sort of "clutch" mechanism engages on the inner axel of the motor once it starts to spin. It does not sound right on start-up, but once spinning, everything seems fine.

I was told there may be a problem if the motor was a "capacitor" motor, which it seems not to be, but this "clutch" mechanism doesn't seem quite right to me.

The belt is fine. The drum is sitting fine, and the problem seems to now be isolated to the motor.

If it is the motor, would there be a replacement available?

Any thoughts?

Peter Power, March 2007

Hi David O. Just found the same problem last night. After exhausting all searches for the part, I drilled a small hole through the part near where the spring slips on and instead threaded the spring through the hole. Reassembled and works like a charm.
Why have the part stamped 291853 if you can't replace it by itself?

Frank G., December 2014

i have similiar problem ,motor buzzes when u hit the button,motor turns freely,it squeeks alittle but turns freely,my question is how to seperate the attached fan on opposite side of pully? is it pressed on? or...

geoff from snohomish washington, September 2013

In my dryer (motor S58NXMKE-6844) there are two small springs that pull the motor solenoid back to the 'start' position when the motor stops. One of the tabs that holds a spring broke and the remaining spring did not have enough strength to pull the solenoid back. When the start button was pushed the motor would buzz and would start if i rotated the drum by hand. I'm going to try gluing a part for the spring to attach to and see if that works. If not, I'll need to try to find a replacement for the part to which the spring attaches (p/n 291853-003).

David O, April 2010

Hi
Of course you should unplug the dryer before attempting any work on it

It is likely a lubrication problem or a worn bearing on the belt side of the motor. See how freely the motor turns over when the belt is removed. If it turns hard – it is likely lubrication or a worn bushing. Check for play on the bushing in the direction of the belt tension. Generally all of the wear will be on the side of the belt tension – but there is no easy way to turn the motor or the bushing (to move the tension to an unworn area). Unfortunately as well – the motor is hard to lubricate – there is no good place to oil it. There is a lubrication pad just inside the main frame on each end – however these are sealed and the only way to put oil is to drill a small hole

The “clutch” that you are referring to is a centrifically operated switch that is used to switch off the starter windings once the motor gets up to speed. Electric motors take much more power when starting – and in part that is why it may have a hard time starting if it needs lubrication.

Murray Jacklin, March 2007