How do I replace the Drum Drive belt on a Zanussi TC481W drier

Andrew Scott, March 2005

Hi,

Yes I do, I had the very same problem, black drive belt broke, went to the store for a new one, tryed to fit it back on & at first it appeared too slack, the way to get the belt to tighten up is as follows:

Take the screws etc & back plate off the dryer

Slide the back plate & drum ( which are still connected ) out so you can place the new drive belt around the drum

You need to pull the motor down & to your left which allows even more slack on the belt. ( The Motor Is On A Steel Spring Which Allows It To Move From The Left To The Right ), Its a tricky job you are trying to keep the belt on the drum while pulling the the motor over to give you the slack you need to get the belt on the fly wheel & drive arm the correct way, I was able to fit the drive belt to the drive arm & fly wheel 1st & then pulled the motor to my left as hard as it would go, & then with my left hand I pulled the belt onto the drum, I was a nighmare & I cut my arm doing so I suggest having someone to help you as the metal is sharp in there !

The trick to getting the belt to tighten up is in the way you wrap the belt around the fly wheel & motor arm grooves.

I have uploaded two images of the correct way the new belt should be fitted to my Yahoo account, & as soon as the folder is made public you can download the diagrams

Also make sure the machine is pluged out, my Dad got a shock while trying to make out which way the belt goes on the motor he he !

Good luck

N.Kelly

email me if you still have trouble

http://uk.briefcase.yahoo.com/nkellyn

N. Kelly, May 2006

I just managed to fit the drive belt and it took about 1 hr max. I found the best way was to leave dryer in upright position, remove the top by removing two screws on rear left and right (these are hex which can be removed with screw driver). Top then slides back and off. Then remove all rear bolts around the edge of the white casing - NO others. Remove the plastic cover of the plastic casing around fan belt by removing screw and gently levering and sliding. Remove the belt. Then gently slide the whole drum away from the front to leave enough clearance for the belt - I found lots of lint from the housing which can be removed. Place belt around and replace drum in housing. For belt fixing place belt around motor axle first then inside the tension drive. Start by feeding the belt around the drum and turn slowly by hand anti-clockwise whilst holding belt in position on the tension drive. Eventually with some trickery this flicks into place. Turn by hand a few times to ensure the belt is in its correct position. Replace bolts on rear, replace belt and cover of fan drive, replace top and test. Mine worked no problem. Look at the picture here: http://uk.f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bjgrain
for the correct drive position.
Cheers and good luck
Brian

Brian Muxworthy, October 2005

To remove the back simply by lying the dryer on it's front, the drum was supported by the front bearing, allowing the retaining clip on the rear bearing to be removed, and the back lifted far enough up to reach in and place the new belt around the drum. Then, the back can be refitted, and the dryer stood upright, but the plastic cover in the bottom right hand corner - which protects the secondary drive belt to the fan - has to be off. The belt needs to come from the under side of the drum (LHS) across to the guide wheel, route clockwise around it and then down to the ribbed drive rotor, anti-clockwise around that and the up the RHS of the drum. In order to achieve that, the motor casing (DON'T FORGET TO UNPLUG THE DRYER!) needs to be rotated anti-clockwise against the spring tension putting the guide wheel in about the 10 o'clock position, rather than the 12 o'clock position that it naturally sits in.

stevo, April 2005

Basically the back has to come off to allow the belt to be passed round the drum, then in through the cover at the bottom for the motor end of things.
Does the back cover have a white cap thingy in the center of it?

jonny, April 2005