Tumble dryer drum not turning
A broken or dislodged drive belt is by far the most common cause of a tumble dryer drum that does not turn. If the machine sounds like it is running but the drum is not moving, the belt is the first thing to check. If the machine is silent or making a gentle hum with no drum movement, a motor or capacitor fault is more likely.
Tumble dryer start capacitors can retain a dangerous electrical charge after the machine has been unplugged. Do not touch any capacitor or components near it without waiting at least 5 minutes after unplugging. See our guide on electric shock risk from unplugged appliances.
Diagnosing the Fault: What Can You Hear?
| What you observe | Most likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Machine sounds like it is running, drum not moving, drum feels free by hand | Drive belt broken or come off | Remove the lid and inspect the belt |
| Machine sounds like it is running, drum not moving, drum feels stiff or seized | Belt tangled and causing resistance, or drum bearing seized | Inspect belt and check drum turns freely with belt removed |
| Gentle humming, drum not moving, machine otherwise silent | Motor attempting to start but unable – motor fault or capacitor fault | Check capacitor and motor – call an engineer if not confident |
| No sound at all, lights on, no drum movement | Motor not receiving power – wiring, PCB, or motor fault | Check wiring and connections to the motor – call an engineer |
Checking the Drive Belt
With the machine unplugged, remove the lid and look down at the drum. The drive belt runs around the circumference of the drum and connects to the motor pulley below. If the belt has come off or broken you will see a clear area around the drum where it normally runs, or you will see the belt lying loose inside the machine.
Belt broken
A snapped belt needs replacing. Before fitting a new one, check the drum turns freely by hand – if it feels seized, there is a secondary fault that must be resolved first or the new belt may break again. Tumble dryer belts are available from Spares4Appliances – specify the model number for the correct part.
Belt still present but possibly snapped
A belt that has snapped can sometimes remain in place around the drum rather than falling loose. Try lifting the belt clear of the drum surface – if it is intact you will not be able to lift it off. If you can lift it off, it has snapped and needs replacing.
Belt intact and in place
If the belt is on, correctly positioned, and not broken, the fault is in the motor or its starting circuit rather than the belt. See the motor and capacitor section below.
What Causes the Belt to Break?
In most cases a belt simply wears out over time – this is the expected end of its service life rather than a sign of another problem. Before fitting a new belt, confirm that the drum turns freely by hand. A seized drum bearing is one of the less common causes of belt failure and will break a replacement belt just as quickly if not addressed first.
Replacing the Drive Belt
On a washing machine the drive belt is accessible by removing the back panel. On a tumble dryer the drum sits between the front and rear panels – accessing the belt almost always requires removing the front panel and sometimes the side panels too. Some modern dryers require a specialist tool to refit the belt around the motor pulley. Unless confident with appliance dismantling, this repair is better left to an engineer.
The drum must be supported while the panels are removed and during reassembly – it sits on rollers or a bearing that can shift if the machine is handled roughly. Reassembly is often the harder part of the job, particularly routing the belt around the motor pulley under tension.
Warming a new belt with a hairdryer for a minute or two just before fitting it creates a small amount of additional stretch, making it easier to seat around the motor pulley. This is particularly useful on belts that require significant force to fit.
Motor and Capacitor Faults
If the belt is intact and the drum turns freely by hand, the fault lies in the motor or its starting circuit. Tumble dryer motors are simple induction motors that typically use a start capacitor to initiate rotation. A faulty capacitor produces symptoms very similar to a faulty motor – distinguishing between them requires some testing.
Faulty start capacitorThe motor hums but cannot start on its own. A useful diagnostic: with the machine running, manually spin the drum through the open door and quickly close it. If the motor then runs normally until it next needs to reverse direction – at which point it stops again – this strongly suggests a faulty start capacitor rather than the motor itself. Capacitors are significantly cheaper than motors to replace.
Faulty motorA motor fault produces similar symptoms to a capacitor fault. If the machine hums but the manual-spin test does not result in the motor running, the motor itself is more likely to be the cause. Motor replacement is a more involved and expensive repair – confirm the capacitor is functioning before replacing the motor.
Not Sure or Not Confident? Book an Engineer
Tumble dryer belt replacement and motor diagnosis are jobs that many engineers find straightforward but that can be very difficult to reassemble correctly without experience.
Related Guides
Tumble Dryer Not HeatingCauses of a tumble dryer that runs but produces no heat – heating element, thermostat, and thermal fuse faults.
Washing Machine Drum Not TurningThe same belt, motor, and capacitor diagnostic approach applied to washing machine drum faults.
Electric Shock Risk From Unplugged AppliancesWhy capacitors can retain a dangerous charge after unplugging – and the waiting time required before touching internal components.
DIY Appliance Repair SafetyEssential safety rules for anyone working on tumble dryers, washing machines, or any large appliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my tumble dryer running but the drum is not turning?
The most common cause is a broken or dislodged drive belt. If the machine sounds like it is running normally but the drum is stationary and feels unusually free when turned by hand, remove the lid and inspect the belt. If the machine hums but produces no drum movement, a faulty start capacitor or motor is more likely.
Can I replace the tumble dryer belt myself?
Possibly, but it is significantly more involved than the equivalent repair on a washing machine. The drum on a tumble dryer sits between the front and rear panels – accessing and refitting the belt almost always requires removing the front panel and sometimes the side panels too. Some machines require a specialist tool. If you are not confident with full appliance dismantling and reassembly, an engineer visit is the safer option.
How do I tell if the capacitor or motor has failed?
With the machine running and humming, open the door and manually spin the drum in the direction of rotation, then quickly close the door. If the motor then runs normally until it next needs to reverse – at which point it stalls again – this strongly suggests a faulty start capacitor. If manual spinning does not result in the motor running at all, the motor itself is more likely to be at fault. Always check the capacitor before replacing the motor.
Why did the drive belt break?
In most cases a belt simply reaches the end of its service life through normal wear. This is expected and does not indicate another fault. Before fitting a replacement, confirm the drum turns freely by hand with the belt removed – a seized drum bearing can cause premature belt failure and will break a new belt in the same way.
3 Comments
Grouped into 2 comment threads.
1 reply If my tumble dryer intermittently refuses to start tumbling at all, but other times works just fine, is it likely a capacitor problem? Sometimes during a cycle it also starts tumbling briefly and then stops and starts in quick succession and will do this a few times before getting properly going again, making me think this is more likely a problem with the motor itself?
0 replies it sounds a bit like your dryer has a load sensor in it, my washing machine does this if im washing towels or pillows. it stops ans turns the other way or stops and allows the laundry to settle before restarting
it sounds a bit like your dryer has a load sensor in it, my washing machine does this if im washing towels or pillows. it stops ans turns the other way or stops and allows the laundry to settle before restarting
If my tumble dryer intermittently refuses to start tumbling at all, but other times works just fine, is it likely a capacitor problem? Sometimes during a cycle it also starts tumbling briefly and then stops and starts in quick succession and will do this a few times before getting properly going again, making me think this is more likely a problem with the motor itself?
Likely replying to KR
KR, sorry I missed your question. Chances are you’ve solved it by now but if so please let us know what you found. It’s unusual for it to be so intermittent, the starting capacitor is suspect but as you said also the motor unless there’s something physically stiffening up the drum to make it hard for the motor to turn. Sometimes with a faulty starter capacitor when the drum just hums instead of turning I’ve been able to open the door, give the drum a forceful turn and quickly shut the door and sometimes the motor has run. It often then stops to turn the other way and won’t turn again. This method is a bit hit and miss though and not an exact science.
Ella, thanks, on washing machines they have an out of balance system which will stop it spinning until it’s balance the load properly. It can cause a lot of problems for people trying to wash small loads. There isn’t anything similar on dryers though as they only turn very slowly.