Introduction
Use this guide to fully disassemble a brown-top Kenmore dryer for repair, inspection, or lint cleanup. This procedure exposes the timer, switches, control panel, top panel, front panel, drum, belt, idler pulley, motor, blower wheel, and heating-element assembly. It was written for a brown-top Kenmore dryer, but similar Kenmore models may have small differences in panel layout and fasteners.
What you need
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Step 1 Prepare the dryer
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Move the dryer so you can reach both the rear panel and the front of the cabinet.
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Step 2 Open the timer access panel
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Pull the timer knob straight off the timer shaft.
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Turn the dryer around so the upper rear panel faces you.
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Remove the screws securing the upper rear panel with a 1/4 inch nut driver.
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Lift off the upper rear panel to expose the timer.
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Step 3 Remove the timer
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Disconnect the wires from the timer terminals.
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Remove the two timer screws with a 5/16 inch nut driver.
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Lift the timer out of the control panel.
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Step 4 Remove the control switches
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Disconnect the wires from the start switch.
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Remove the two start-switch screws with a 5/16 inch nut driver, then lift out the switch.
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Disconnect the wires from the temperature-selector switch.
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Remove the temperature-selector switch screws with a 5/16 inch nut driver, then lift out the switch.
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Step 5 Remove the control panel
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Locate the ground wires connecting the control panel top to the dryer top.
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Remove the screws securing the ground wires to the control panel.
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Remove the two control-panel screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
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Lift the control panel up and pull it forward.
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Remove the control panel from the dryer.
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Step 6 Remove the top panel
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Pull the lint filter out of the top panel.
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Remove the two screws under the lint-filter cover with a Phillips screwdriver.
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Pull up on the rear corners of the top panel to release the front clips.
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Lift the top panel like a lid.
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Remove the top panel from the dryer.
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Step 7 Remove the front panel
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Remove the two front-panel screws with a 5/16 inch nut driver.
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Disconnect the two door-switch wires.
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Hold the side panels down and lift the front panel upward.
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Lift the front panel off the lower hooks and remove it.
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Step 8 Remove the drum and belt
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Reach under the drum and release the belt from the motor pulley.
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Lift the drum and belt out of the cabinet together.
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Step 9 Disconnect the motor wiring
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Disconnect the motor wiring.
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Turn the dryer around so you can reach the blower housing.
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Remove all rear-panel screws with a 1/4 inch nut driver.
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Move the rear panel out of the way.
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Step 10 Remove the blower housing
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Remove the four screws securing the blower-housing cover with a 5/16 inch nut driver.
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Remove the four upper screws securing the rear drum panel with the same driver.
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Pull the rear drum panel forward to create working room behind the dryer.
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Work the blower housing out from behind the dryer.
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Step 11 Remove the blower wheel
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Clamp large locking pliers onto the motor shaft.
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Fit a 13/16 inch open-ended wrench over the square section of the blower wheel that sticks through the rear panel.
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Push the wrench down to break the blower wheel loose from the motor shaft.
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Turn the dryer back around to the front.
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Spin the blower wheel off the shaft by hand.
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Remove the blower wheel from the housing.
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Step 12 Remove the motor
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Grab the end of the front motor retaining clip with pliers.
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Pry the front retaining clip off the motor bracket.
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Pry the rear retaining clip off the motor bracket with pliers.
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Lift the motor out of the bracket and remove it from the dryer.
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Step 13 Remove the heating element assembly
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Disconnect the wires from the heater and thermostats.
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Locate the upper heater-bracket screw through the fixed hole in the rear panel.
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Lift the dryer top and look down at the bracket so you can see the hidden screw.
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Remove the upper heater-bracket screw with a long 1/4 inch nut driver or a long flathead screwdriver.
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Lift the heating-element assembly up and out of the dryer.
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Step 14 Remove the heating element
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Remove the screw securing the heating element with a 5/16 inch nut driver.
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Pull the heating element out of the housing.
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