Hi!
My dryer "ate" a shirt and a few socks over the weekend, they had holes chewed in them, with little black marks around the holes, but the dryer was still drying. They got stuck in the top part of the drum. I could turn the drum by hand when I pulled them out. Then I went to try it yesterday and the drum would not turn at all. It still runs, but no turning. There is a piece of silver hanging out- thin and circular? HELP! Do I need a new dryer? Thanks!

Hello clshaw67

... Then I went to try it yesterday and the drum would not turn at all. It still runs, but no turning.
What "runs"? The motor only? What about the belt or coupling?

There is a piece of silver hanging out- thin and circular?
WHERE does that "hang out" ?

Do I need a new dryer?
Depends...
What brand, what type, how old?
Have you opened the dryer and can you look inside?
Have you checked the belt or coupling?
Does the dryer has a belt of a coupling?
Is the motor running, while the drum fails to rotate?
Can you move the drum by hand at this moment?

Please post your findings here. Once you have done that, please contact me by private message (click on my name and follow instructions) and I will check back here to comment.

:>)

Thanks for answering! It is a Whirlpool dryer, about 4 yrs old. The drum is now very hard to turn by hand. The silver piece is hanging out of the very back-the circular part. The motor runs when it is turned on, it sounds like it is working, then you can tell the drum is not turning. It gets warm like it should too. I am not sure if it has a belt 0r coupling, or where I would look for these.:confused:

Thanks for answering! It is a Whirlpool dryer, about 4 yrs old. The drum is now very hard to turn by hand. The silver piece is hanging out of the very back-the circular part. The motor runs when it is turned on, it sounds like it is working, then you can tell the drum is not turning. It gets warm like it should too. I am not sure if it has a belt 0r coupling, or where I would look for these.:confused:
Fortunately I saw your email at last, so here I am again to reply to you.

And there is the "magic" word also : Kenmore - Whirlpool!!
These brands do not use a belt, but a coupler located between the motor and transmission.
If the motor is running, but the drum is not , that means that the coupler is faulty and has to be replaced !

When you do, also check the rollers and/or gliders that hold the drum at the window on the front. They may have to be replaced too .

Success !

:)

My dryer "ate" a shirt and a few socks over the weekend

A dryer does not have a coupler nor transmission