Pro tip: A zip tie and a prayer fixed a weird dryer squeal for me

Got a call for a dryer making a high pitched noise, like a dying animal. Took the front panel off and saw the idler pulley arm was worn and wobbling bad. Instead of ordering the part and waiting, I put a small zip tie around the pivot post to take up the slack. The noise stopped right away and it's been running quiet for over a month now. Anyone else ever try a temporary fix that just never failed?

3 comments

3 Comments

diana2018d ago

Honestly that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. You put a plastic zip tie on a hot, moving part and called it a fix. That plastic can melt or snap and then you have a real fire hazard. It is not a repair, it is just ignoring the real problem. The right thing is to order the proper part and install it safely.

irismartinez18d agoOG Member

Yeah, my repair skills are basically just duct tape and wishful thinking.

riveradams18d ago

Actually, the zip tie trick can work for a while if you use the right kind. The heavy duty black ones made of nylon can handle a decent amount of heat, way more than the white ones. It's still a temporary fix, but it can get you by until the part arrives if you're in a pinch.