Appliance Spares
Motor hums but the drum will not turn: the drive belt has snapped — the single most common failure on these Kmart and Stirling heat pump dryers, and a repair well within reach of a patient DIYer.
Difficulty ModerateTime 45-60 minutesTools Phillips screwdriverPart $15.95 in stock
Before you start: Unplug the dryer before removing any panel. Heat pump dryers carry a sealed refrigerant circuit at the base — the belt job never touches it, and nothing in these steps should either. Keep track of which screw came from where; the panel screws differ.
What you will need
- The correct drum drive belt for the SHPD80W family
- Phillips screwdriver
- A helper hand for the panel reassembly is useful but not essential
- 45-60 minutes
Step by step
- Confirm it is the belt. Classic snapped-belt signature: the motor hums when you press start, the drum stays still, and the drum spins far too freely by hand with no resistance. If the drum resists a hand-spin or the motor is silent, diagnose further before ordering.
- Unplug and open the machine. Access on this family is from the top and front: lid screws at the rear, then the front panel screws behind the door rim. Rest panels somewhere soft and photograph each connector before unplugging it.
- Recover the old belt and note the routing. The belt wraps the drum and drops down to the motor pulley, with tension held by an idler. Fish out the old belt pieces and study them — the rib side faces the drum, and the old belt’s path is your routing map.
- Loop the new belt around the drum. Sit it on the drum’s belt track, ribbed side against the drum, and keep it square to the track all the way around — a twisted belt squeals within a week.
- Route the belt onto the motor pulley against the idler tension. Compress the idler to gain slack, seat the belt in the motor pulley grooves, and ease the idler back. Rotate the drum two full turns by hand and watch the belt track stay centred.
- Reassemble and test. Panels back in reverse order, plug in, and run a short cycle empty. The drum should turn immediately and smoothly, with no squeal and no rubbing.
Finish check: Drum turns on start, tracks centred through two hand rotations before closing up, and a short empty cycle runs without squeal. A brief rubber smell on first run can be normal; squealing is a routing or twist problem — open it back up.
Questions along the way
My drum turns but squeals badly — same fix?
Usually the belt is glazed or the idler bearing is dry. Since you have the machine open for either, inspect both: a squealing belt with visible shine or cracking is due for replacement anyway.
Does this fit the Kmart-branded version?
The SHPD80W family covers the Stirling-badged and equivalent Kmart heat pump dryers listed on the part — check the model sticker inside the door frame and confirm with the Part Finder if the number differs.
Is a heat pump dryer belt different from a vented dryer belt?
Belt lengths and rib counts differ between families — a vented dryer belt will not fit. Match the belt to your model number, not to appearance.
