Appliance Spares
Quick answer: If your Simpson Sirocco dryer runs but the clothes stay damp, or you hear a squeal, a perished fan belt is the usual cause. Fit the Simpson Sirocco Clothes Dryer Fan Belt (Heavy Duty), which suits Sirocco 350, 355, 450, 455, 500, 550 and 555. $16.95 for a 2-pack, same-day dispatch from our Sydney warehouse.
Last updated June 2026
The Simpson Sirocco is one of those tough old Australian dryers that just keeps going, which is why so many are still spinning in laundries decades after they were sold. The part that doesn’t last forever is the flat fan belt that drives the blower wheel. Rubber perishes with age and heat. Once the belt stretches, glazes or snaps, the blower stops moving air properly. The drum still turns and the element still heats, but the airflow drops off and your clothes come out warm and damp. It’s a cheap, common part and an easy DIY job.
How do I know it’s the fan belt?
The Sirocco uses a fan (blower) belt to drive the wheel that pulls hot air through the drum and pushes the moist air out the vent. When that belt fails, you get a familiar pattern:
- Dryer runs but clothes stay damp. The motor and drum work and the cabinet gets warm, but airflow at the vent is weak because the blower isn’t being driven at full speed.
- Squealing or chirping. A glazed belt slips against the pulley and squeals, usually on start-up or as the dryer warms.
- A snapped or perished belt. Pull the back panel and you may find the old belt cracked, stretched off the pulley, or lying in the bottom of the cabinet. These belts harden and crack with age. On a 20 or 30 year old machine, perishing is the most common failure of the lot.
- Reduced airflow at the vent. Because the blower isn’t shifting air, the dryer feels hot inside but the exhaust airflow is poor.
If the drum doesn’t turn at all, or the dryer is dead with no hum, that’s a different fault (drum belt, motor or capacitor), not the fan belt. For the “runs but won’t dry” and “squealing” complaints on a Sirocco, the fan belt is the first and cheapest thing to replace.
Which fan belt fits my Simpson Sirocco?
The part you want is the Simpson Sirocco Clothes Dryer Fan Belt (Heavy Duty), the flat poly belt that drives the blower wheel. It fits the whole 350-to-550 range: Sirocco 350, 355, 450, 455, 500, 550 and 555. We sell it as a 2-pack for $16.95. These belts are cheap and they perish with age, so it’s worth keeping a spare on the shelf for a machine this old. A single belt commonly sells for around $9.95, so the 2-pack is the better buy.
| Part | Fits these models | Genuine/Compatible | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Simpson Sirocco Clothes Dryer Fan Belt (Heavy Duty), 2-pack | Sirocco 350, 355, 450, 455, 500, 550, 555 | Compatible heavy-duty | $16.95 (2-pack) |
If your model badge reads anything in the Sirocco 350/355/450/455/500/550/555 family, this is your belt. The number is usually on a sticker inside the door rim or on the back of the cabinet. If you can read a Sirocco number anywhere on the machine, this heavy-duty fan belt fits. Not sure which Sirocco you’ve got? Use our part finder and we’ll confirm it.
How do I replace the Simpson Sirocco fan belt?
Tools: screwdriver (plus a nut driver or small socket set for the back-panel fasteners) and a torch. Time: about 20 to 30 minutes. This one is beginner-friendly.
Safety first, and don’t skip this. Dryers run on mains power. Before you touch anything, unplug the dryer at the wall. Don’t just turn it off, pull the plug. If the dryer is wall-mounted, take it down and lay it where you can reach the back comfortably.
- Unplug the dryer and move it so you can get clear access to the back panel.
- Remove the back panel. Undo the screws around the rear cover and lift it away. On the Sirocco the fan belt, motor pulley and blower are all reached from the back. Drop the screws in a cup so you don’t lose them.
- Find the old belt. It’s the flat belt running between the motor pulley and the blower wheel. If it’s snapped, you may find the pieces in the bottom of the cabinet. Note how it routes around the pulley before you take it off (a quick photo on your phone helps).
- Slip the old belt off. Ease the perished belt off the motor pulley and the blower, working it over the edge by hand. It usually comes off easily once it’s stretched or broken.
- Fit the new belt. Loop the new heavy-duty fan belt over the blower wheel first, then work it onto the motor pulley, following the same path the old one took. It should sit flat with no twists.
- Check the tension. The belt should be snug, firm enough that it grips and doesn’t slip, but you should still be able to deflect it slightly with a finger. It shouldn’t be drum-tight or hanging loose. Getting the tension right is what stops the squeal and restores full blower speed.
- Spin it by hand. Rotate the blower and pulley by hand to confirm the belt tracks properly and stays seated.
- Refit the back panel with all the screws, return the dryer to position, plug it back in, and run a short test cycle. You should hear the blower spin up smoothly and feel strong airflow at the vent again.
If the belt slips straight back off or squeals after fitting, re-check the routing and tension before you assume anything else is wrong.
Genuine or compatible: what should I buy?
The Sirocco fan belt we stock is a heavy-duty compatible belt built to the same dimensions and spec as the original. For a flat drive belt, a quality compatible part performs the same as the factory belt. It’s a wear item, not a precision electronic component, so there’s no point paying a premium for “genuine” branding on a belt. Our heavy-duty version is made to take the heat and tension of long-running dryers, which is what you want on a machine that’s already lasted decades. Buying the 2-pack at $16.95 means you fit one now and keep the spare for next time, which makes sense on a part that perishes with age.
Parts that fix this
In stock now and dispatched the same day from Sydney (order before 12pm). Not sure which one fits your model? Find your model number and match it against the fitment list on the part page before you order.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Simpson Sirocco dryer fan belt?
The heavy-duty fan belt is $16.95 for a 2-pack, which fits Sirocco 350, 355, 450, 455, 500, 550 and 555. A single belt also commonly sells for around $9.95, so the 2-pack is the better-value option.
Will this belt fit my model?
It fits the whole Sirocco 350/355/450/455/500/550/555 range. Check the model sticker inside the door rim or on the back of the cabinet. If it reads any of those Sirocco numbers, this is your fan belt. Still unsure? Use our part finder.
Is it genuine or compatible?
It’s a heavy-duty compatible belt built to the original spec and dimensions. For a flat drive belt it performs the same as the factory part and is made to handle the heat and tension of these long-running dryers.
Why does my Simpson Sirocco run but not dry the clothes?
The most common cause is a perished or slipping fan belt. The drum still turns and the cabinet gets warm, but the blower isn’t being driven properly, so airflow drops and clothes stay damp. Replacing the belt usually restores full airflow.
Can I replace the fan belt myself?
Yes. It’s a beginner-friendly job, around 20 to 30 minutes with a screwdriver. The one rule is to unplug the dryer at the wall before you remove the back panel. No special tools or wiring work needed.
How long does delivery take?
We dispatch same-day from our Sydney warehouse on orders placed before cut-off, so your belt is on its way fast.
Get your Simpson Sirocco drying properly again with the heavy-duty fan belt that fits the whole 350 to 550 series. It’s a cheap, fast fix, and the 2-pack means you won’t be caught out next time the old belt perishes. Browse all our dryer parts and dryer belts, or grab the exact part below. Same-day dispatch from our Sydney warehouse.
