Appliance Spares
Quick answer: If your heat pump dryer hums or the fan runs but the drum won’t turn, a snapped or stretched drum drive belt is almost always the cause. On the Stirling SHPD80W (and the matching Esatto and Hisense models) it’s a $15–$30 part and about a 45-minute DIY job. A new heat pump dryer is well over a thousand dollars, so the belt is one of the cheapest fixes you can do.
Stirling heat pump dryer drum belt — SHPD80W · find your model
Why the drum stops tumbling
A heat pump dryer has a motor that drives a single long belt looped around the drum and a small pulley. When that belt fails, the motor still spins and the fan can still whir — but nothing reaches the drum, so it sits dead still. Here is how to read the symptoms:
| Cause | How to spot it |
|---|---|
| Snapped drum belt | Motor hums, drum won’t move at all, sometimes a thud when it broke |
| Stretched / glazed belt | Drum turns weakly, slips under a wet load, squeals on start |
| Belt off the pulley | Drum free-spins by hand with no resistance |
| Seized drum bearing | Drum very hard to turn by hand — belt is a victim, not the cause |
| Failed motor or capacitor | No hum at all, completely dead — not a belt job |
Confirm it’s the belt
- Unplug the dryer and open the door. Reach in and turn the drum by hand — if it spins freely with no resistance, the belt has snapped or jumped off.
- Listen on a start attempt: a hum with no movement points to the belt or motor; total silence points to power, the door switch or the control board.
- Check the drum still turns smoothly by hand. If it grinds or barely moves, suspect the drum bearing — a seized bearing chews belts, so fix that first.
- With the lid off, look for the old belt lying in the base or hanging loose. A clean break or a shiny, cracked, stretched belt both mean replacement.
Before you order: check the drum spins freely once the old belt is off. If the bearing is dragging, a fresh belt will only stretch and fail again — sort the bearing at the same time.
Order the right belt for your model
Heat pump dryers from several brands share the same chassis but use different belt lengths, so match the model on your sticker:
- Stirling SHPD80W / GGSHPD80W / STR-HPD80W — $15.95
- Esatto 8 kg EHPD80 — $24.99
- Hisense HDFY80H / HDFS90HAB and more — $29.95
These are hard-to-find belts most parts counters don’t carry. Not sure which you have? Run your model number through the Part Finder — model in, exact-fit belt out.
Replace the drum belt (about 45 minutes)
- Unplug at the wall and pull the dryer out so you can reach the back and top.
- Take the top and rear panel off (a handful of screws) to expose the drum and motor.
- Note the belt routing before you remove anything — photograph how the old belt loops around the drum and the motor pulley.
- Lift the old belt off the drum and pulley, or clear away the snapped pieces.
- Loop the new belt around the drum in the existing track (the ribbed side faces the drum), then around the motor pulley and tensioner.
- Rotate the drum by hand a full turn to seat the belt and confirm it tracks straight and stays in the groove.
- Refit the panels, restore power and run a short cycle empty to confirm the drum tumbles smoothly before loading it.
Repair cost summary (Australia 2026)
| Path | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| DIY: replacement drum drive belt | $15–$30 | 45 minutes |
| Professional repair: part + call-out | $180–$280 | 1-hour booking |
| Replacement heat pump dryer | $1,000–$1,800 | — |
Frequently asked questions
My heat pump dryer hums but the drum won’t turn — is it the belt?
That is the classic snapped-belt signature. Unplug it and turn the drum by hand — if it spins freely with no resistance, the belt has gone.
The drum still turns but slips on a wet load — same part?
Yes. A stretched or glazed belt slips under load and squeals on start. Replace it before it snaps completely.
Will the Stirling belt fit my Esatto or Hisense dryer?
They are similar chassis but use different belt lengths, so order the one matched to your brand and model. Check with the Part Finder if you are unsure.
My drum is hard to turn by hand — should I just fit a belt?
No — a stiff drum usually means a worn bearing, which will wreck the new belt too. Sort the bearing first.
Where do I get heat pump dryer parts?
These brands have no parts counter, but we stock the range. See our heat pump dryer parts.
Related
- Heat pump dryer parts — full range
- Hard-to-find appliance brand parts — full index
- All dryer drum belts in stock
Ready to fix it?
- Run your model number through the Oz Appliance Spares Part Finder — model in, exact-fit belt out.
- Browse 3,000+ parts in stock
- Order before 12pm Sydney time → ships same day from our Sydney Northern Beaches warehouse, Australia-wide.
Disclaimer: this article is general information only and is provided without warranty of any kind. Appliance designs vary between models and production runs — always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, switch off and unplug the appliance before starting any work, and confirm parts against the model number on your appliance’s model sticker. Any repair is undertaken at your own risk and Oz Appliance Spares accepts no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from work performed after reading this guide, to the maximum extent permitted by law. If in doubt, use a qualified technician.
