Proud of myself for presumably fixing my dryer…..bought my first multimeter in the process!

[Carnos Jax]

Gas dryer stopped heating last weekend. Did some research on YouTube and it sounded like something I could diagnose and fix myself. 24 year old Maytag dryer, never gave us problems. Last year we had the bearings and belts replaced for about $200. Had I not done that, would’ve just got a new dryer. Multimeter helped me do continuity checks on several components (thanks to the YT vids I was easily able to remove the door and front panel of the dryer).

The multimeter was an inexpensive analog model made by Gardner Bender (GMT-312, $10 shipped on Amazon). Within 5 minutes I was able to determine it was a faulty igniter. Ordered a new one off Amazon for $15. Should come in tomorrow. Both the multimeter and igniter were/will be delivered in less than 18 hours. Amazing what we can do with the kind of information provided on the Internet. I was proud of myself. Really happy not to throw another item into the junk pile.

[space-time]

Congrats!

but, you got an Analog Multimeter in the Digital Age?

[sekker]

Analog and iron pointer for the win!

[GGD]

Good for you. You probably should have done the bearings/belts yourself first to build up confidence. That's an easier job, nothing to diagnose.

Dryers are very simple devices, if you can keep getting repair parts you should be able to keep it running until the cabinet rusts into a pile of dust.

[Carnos Jax]

space-time wrote:
…but, you got an Analog Multimeter in the Digital Age?

LOL, yeah. I was actually excited on the prospect (I had predetermined in my mind it was going to be some kind of digital model from Fluke). But I was in a hurry and didn’t have time to do any research, so I figured the analog one would suffice for $10.

GGD wrote:
Good for you. You probably should have done the bearings/belts yourself first to build up confidence. That's an easier job, nothing to.

Did not realize that, I thought that would be a more intimidating job.

[testcase]

DIY Repair LEADER! :boink:

[freeradical]

space-time wrote:
Congrats!

but, you got an Analog Multimeter in the Digital Age?

Check out the price of a brand new Simpson 260. ;-)

That was my favorite meter when I was fixing vacuum tube transmitters 40+ years ago.

[Dennis S]

I fixed a washer for $5 in parts and about 30 minutes labor.

Never give up that dryer.

[mrbigstuff]

Usually it's the thermal fuse that goes as the dryer gathers too much lint.

[Racer X]

mrbigstuff wrote:
Usually it's the thermal fuse that goes as the dryer gathers too much lint.

Or if its gas, the ignitor coils.