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Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the blower wheel on your Whirlpool dryer.

The blower wheel is a critical component that pulls the heated air through your dryer as it spins. It can be damaged by small pieces of laundry like socks or gloves that lodge in it and cause jams or breaks.

This guide will work for most Whirlpool dryers. This guide is written with a model WED87HED dryer. If you have a different model, you may encounter some minor disassembly differences, but the overall repair process will be the same.

What you need

  1. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Safety Precautions: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Before you begin your repair, unplug your dryer.

    • Your power cord may have four prongs rather than three. The additional prong is a ground connection.

    Edit

  2. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the top panel: step 2, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the top panel: step 2, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the top panel: step 2, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    FixMat
    $36.95
    Buy

    • Throughout this guide, keep track of each screw and reinstall it exactly where it came from.

    • Use a nut driver to remove the screws securing the top panel to the rear panel bracket.

    Edit

  3. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the top panel: step 3, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the top panel: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Grasp the top and slide it 1/2 to 1 inch toward the rear of the machine.

    Edit

  4. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the top panel upward to separate it from the chassis.

    • Remove the top panel from the machine.

    Edit

  5. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Disconnect the control panel: step 5, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Disconnect the control panel: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Disconnect the control panel cable from the main board.

    Edit

  6. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Disconnect the drum light connector.

    Edit

  7. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the control panel: step 7, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the control panel: step 7, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the screws securing the control panel.

    Edit

  8. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the control panel: step 8, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the control panel: step 8, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the control panel: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the control panel up and tilt it away from the chassis to remove it.

    • Make sure to thread the cable through the hole in the chassis.

    • During reassembly, thread the cable through its proper hole before reinstalling the control panel.

    Edit

  9. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Disconnect the door switch: step 9, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Disconnect the door switch: step 9, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Disconnect the door switch: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Use a small flat blade screwdriver or a spudger to unlatch both sides of the door switch connector.

    • Unplug the connector.

    Edit

  10. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the front panel: step 10, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the front panel: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the upper front panel sheet metal screws.

    • Tilt the machine backwards and prop it securely, or have a friend hold it.

    • Remove the sheet metal screws on the bottom edge of the panel.

    Edit

  12. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screws inside the door area below the drum opening.

    Edit

  13. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the front panel: step 12, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the front panel: step 12, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the front panel: step 12, image 3 of 3

    • The panel is heavy and awkward. You may want to have a friend help you with this step.

    • Pull the bottom of the panel away from the chassis about two to three inches.

    • Lift the front panel off the small tabs on the chassis near the top of the panel and remove it.

    • Make sure you don't snag the door switch wire harness as you remove the panel.

    Edit

  14. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the cover plate: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the cover plate screw.

    Edit

  15. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the cover plate: step 14, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the cover plate: step 14, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the cover plate: step 14, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the cover plate.

    Edit

  16. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Disconnect the cord: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screws securing the cord cables.

    • Mark the cables with a permanent marker if needed and take a picture or draw a diagram.

    Edit

  17. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the cord: step 16, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the cord: step 16, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the cord: step 16, image 3 of 3

    • Pull the cord carefully down through the round hole.

    • Make sure you replace the connections correctly when you reassemble.

    Edit

  18. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the cord terminal block: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the green ground screw.

    • Remove the cord terminal block screws.

    Edit

  19. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Move the cord terminal block: step 18, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Move the cord terminal block: step 18, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Move the cord terminal block: step 18, image 3 of 3

    • Move the cord terminal block behind the rear panel.

    Edit

  20. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the rear panel: step 19, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the rear panel: step 19, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    FixMat
    $36.95
    Buy

    • Remove the rear panel screws.

    • Throughout this guide, keep track of each screw and reinstall it exactly where it came from.

    Edit

  21. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the screw holding the main board bracket to the chassis.

    • Remove the screws from the top rear of the machine.

    Edit

  22. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the rear panel: step 21, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the rear panel: step 21, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the rear panel: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • Put on gloves before continuing, as the rear panel is sharp.

    • Lift the panel about 1/2 inch and tilt it to the rear to release it from the vent pipe.

    • Slide the panel off the vent pipe and remove it.

    Edit

  23. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Reassembly information: step 22, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Reassembly information: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • During reassembly, perform the following:

    • Make sure that the vent pipe is fitted into the collar on the panel.

    • Make sure the tabs at the bottom are aligned to the bottom rim of the chassis.

    • Position the panel so its screw holes match with the chassis.

    Edit

  24. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the lint filter: step 23, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the lint filter: step 23, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the lint filter: step 23, image 3 of 3

    • Pull the lint filter up out of the lint filter slot to remove it.

    • These photos show the front panel in place, but the procedure is the same if the front panel is already removed.

    Edit

  25. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the lint filter housing: step 24, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the mounting screws securing the lint filter housing.

    Edit

  26. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the lint filter housing: step 25, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the lint filter housing: step 25, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the lint filter housing: step 25, image 3 of 3

    • Pull the filter housing outward from the chassis and down to remove it.

    Edit

  27. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Unfasten the blower cover: step 26, image 1 of 1

    • The blower cover is the round plate that serves as the inlet to the blower.

    • Unfasten the blower cover screw.

    Edit

  28. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the blower cover: step 27, image 1 of 2 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the blower cover: step 27, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the blower cover slightly and slide it to free the tabs which hold it in place.

    • Remove the blower cover.

    • The photos show the lower front bulkhead in place. The bulkhead doesn't affect the blower cover removal and reassembly.

    Edit

  29. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Secure the blower wheel: step 28, image 1 of 1

    • Move to the rear of the machine to access the drive shaft.

    • Hold the drive shaft with an adjustable wrench on the hex portion of the drum drive pulley.

    • The threads on the blower wheel are left-hand threads. The wrench must be installed to the left of the pulley to keep it from rotating counterclockwise.

    Edit

  30. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the blower wheel: step 29, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the blower wheel: step 29, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement, Remove the blower wheel: step 29, image 3 of 3

    • Use a socket wrench with an extension bar and no socket to fit into the square hole on the blower wheel.

    • Turn the wheel clockwise (to the right) to free it enough to remove it by hand.

    Edit

  31. Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 30, image 2 of 3 Whirlpool Dryer Blower Wheel Replacement: step 30, image 3 of 3

    • Rotate the blower wheel clockwise by hand until it's free from the motor shaft.

    • Remove the wheel from the blower housing.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Ask our Answers community for help.

Author

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Bill Gilbert

Member since: 06/30/22

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