If the drum inside your Candy tumble dryer is no longer turning, it could mean that the drive belt has failed. When this happens, the drive belt will need to be replaced to get your appliance working properly again. Read on to find out how to carry out this replacement for yourself with our step by step guide.
What you will need:
Safety first!
Always make sure your appliance is turned off and disconnected from the mains before carrying out any work.
How to replace the drive belt step by step
Let's get started. To learn how to replace the drive belt in your Candy tumble dryer, watch our video or read the step by step guide below.
Step 1: Find the correct drive belt for your model
To make sure you find the correct replacement drive belt for your tumble dryer, you need to find the appliance's model information. You can usually find this in the corner of the door panel as pictured below. However, it may also be on the tumble dryer's door, or on the side or back of the appliance. The model number usually consists of a combination of letters and numbers and could also include characters such as a dash (-) or a slash (/).
Step 2: Remove the top panel
Once you have your replacement drive belt, you can begin the repair. Start by removing the top panel of the tumble dryer. To do this, you will need to unscrew the two screws keeping the panel in place with your screwdriver. These screws can be found in the top corners at the back of the appliance. Once you've done this, you can lift the lid away.
Top Tip: There are quite a few screws that need removing during this replacement, so it's important to keep them safe and remember where they all go. We recommend placing them in an ice cube tray. That way, you'll have the screws organised and at hand when you need to put the tumble dryer back together again. To be extra safe, you can even put a piece of paper into each cube square with a note letting you know which screws go where.
Once you've removed the top panel, you will be able to see if the drive belt has failed. If this is the case, the drive belt will no longer be around the drum and will have fallen inside the tumble dryer.
Step 3: Remove the control panel
Next, you'll need to remove the control panel. This is the panel at the top of the front of the machine which has all of the buttons used to operate the tumble dryer. Start by disconnecting the electrical connections with multi-coloured wiring.
Then you will need to remove the two screws that hold the panel in place on either side.
Step 4: Remove the door seal
Once the control panel has been removed, open the tumble dryer door and remove the door seal. The door seal is the rubber casing around the frame, and it can be removed by simply pulling it away.
Step 5: Remove the kickplate
You'll also need to remove the kickplate which can be found at the bottom of the tumble dryer beneath the door. You can also remove this by simply pulling it away.
Step 6: Remove the front panel
Next, remove the front panel of the tumble dryer. To do this, you will need to unscrew the eight screws that hold the panel in place. There are two screws at the top corners...
Four more around the door frame...
And two under the bottom corners of the panel.
Once the screws have been removed, disconnect the two electrical connections that are connected to the door lock and move the panel away.
Step 7: Remove the front ring assembly
To remove the front ring assembly that's behind the front panel, start by taking out the electrical TOC connection at the bottom.
Remove the four screws that hold the front ring assembly in place, this time using the nut spinner. The screws can be found in each corner of the assembly.
Once the screws are removed, lift away the front ring assembly. Start by gently lifting up the assembly from the bottom to unhook it, then carefully angle it out and lift it away.
Step 8: Remove the heater cover
Next, remove the heater cover that can be found at the back of the tumble dryer. To remove it, unscrew all of the screws that hold it in place.
Step 9: Remove the heater
You will then find the heater beneath the heater cover. To remove the heater, unscrew the two screws at the top.
Then take out the rubber ring grommet which can be found where the heater wire enters the tumble dryer.
Step 10: Remove the drum screws
With the heater removed, you can then unscrew the two upper and lower screws that hold the drum in place from the outside.
Step 11: Remove the fan front cover
Next, you need to access the fan which can be found in the bottom corner at the front of the tumble dryer. To do this, you will first need to remove the fan front cover. To remove the cover, unscrew the two screws holding it in place.
Step 12: Remove the fan
Now you will be able to access and remove the fan. First, remove the thin ring-shaped cover in front of the fan.
Using your nut spinner or a pair of pliers, unscrew the fan's central nut with one hand whilst holding the fan in place with the other. Once you have unscrewed the nut, put it to one side along with the small washer (the metal ring). Then pull the fan out.
Then remove the large washer from the motor spindle behind the fan too.
Step 13: Remove the upper fan cover
The upper fan cover, which forms the top half of the opening where the fan can be found, needs to be removed next. To do this, slide the upper fan cover out and lift it up. Be careful when you remove the cover, making sure not to catch any of the wires nearby.
Step 14: Remove the drum
Now, remove the drum from the tumble dryer by simply lifting it out. You may need to manoeuvre it around a little as you remove it from the cabinet.
Step 15: Replace the drive belt
Remove the broken drive belt from the bottom of the cabinet before fitting the new one. We recommend soaking the new drive belt in warm water before fitting it, as this will help stretch it out and make it easier to fit over the drum.
To start fitting the new drive belt, first loop part of it around the motor shaft. Then, with your free hand, separate the two wheel pulleys and pull the drive belt further up the shaft until it's between them. Be careful when you do this, as the pulleys can be quite tight and you don't want to trap your fingers.
Make sure the belt is firmly between the pulleys as pictured below before continuing.
Next, slide the drum most of the way back into the machine, leaving a little space so you can wrap the drive belt around it comfortably.
Then manoeuvre the drum all the way into the machine, making sure you have the replacement drive belt wrapped around the centre.
Step 16: Refit the drum
To refit the drum, lift it up through the small access hole at the back of the tumble dryer, making sure you line it up with the screw hole. Then, holding the drum, screw the bottom screw into place.
Once the bottom screw is in place, return the top screw too. You may need to lift the drum towards you from the inside as you do this.
Step 17: Refit the heater
To refit the heater, first screw it into place at the back of the tumble dryer with the two screws you removed earlier.
Then return the rubber grommet back into the small hole where the heater wire enters the tumble dryer.
Step 18: Refit the heater cover
Next, refit the heater cover over the heater and return all of the screws to secure it back into place.
Step 19: Refit the upper fan cover
To refit the upper fan cover, simply slide it into place in the bottom corner of the front of the tumble dryer.
Step 20: Refit the fan
To refit the fan, start by placing the large metal washer back onto the motor spindle.
Then slide the fan back into place, turning it until it sits comfortably on the motor spindle.
Finish by refitting the small metal washer and the nut onto the spindle in front of the fan. Tighten the nut using your nut spinner or a pair of pliers.
Step 21: Refit the fan front cover
Before refitting the fan front cover, first slot the thin ring-shaped cover back in front of the fan.
Then screw the outer cover back into place over the fan opening.
Step 22: Refit the front ring assembly
To refit the front ring assembly, first slot the top of the assembly into place at the front of the tumble dryer.
Then, angle the assembly so that you can get the bottom into position too.
Once the front ring assembly is firmly in place, secure it by returning the four screws with the nut spinner.
Finish by refitting the electrical TOC connection at the bottom of the assembly.
Step 23: Refit the front panel
When refitting the front panel, first reconnect the electrical connections to the door lock.
Then screw the panel back into position with the eight screws you removed earlier.
Step 24: Refit the door seal
To refit the door seal around the door frame, start with the bottom first. Then work your way around the frame, securing the seal with your hands as you go. Once the seal is in place, open and close the door to make sure the seal is secure and is not obstructing the door.
Step 25: Refit the kickplate
Simply slot the kickplate back into place at the bottom of the tumble dryer.
Step 26: Refit the control panel
Screw the front control panel back into place with the two screws you removed earlier.
Then reconnect the electrical connections on the inner side of the panel.
Step 27: Refit the lid
Finally, refit the lid by slotting it back on top of the tumble dryer.
Finish by returning the two screws to the top corners at the back of the dryer, securing the lid in place.
And that's it! How to replace the drive belt in a Candy tumble dryer. Your tumble dryer should now be as good as new and spinning once again.
While you're here, make sure you're using and maintaining your tumble dryer safely to keep it in working order. Our article on tumble dryer safety advice provides helpful tips on what you should and shouldn't do with your tumble dryer, helping you safely make the most out of your appliance for years to come.
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