Maytag dryer drum roller deformed

[Adam/]

Maytag dryer model LDE9804ACE. The lower right drum roller wheel which sits right above the heater element about every 18mo starts to get noisy due being deformed by the heat. I have just been replacing it but this time came up with the idea of making a second heat shield just below it. It will be a while before I know if this helps but what I am checking in on is this a good idea as in am I missing something and this will cause a problem? Below is a photo, I secured it into place with the screws already there for the blower. When running I do not hear any rattle or rubbing noise.

[adambarnes]

Your idea of adding a second heat shield sounds practical, especially if it's securely mounted and not causing noise. As long as it doesn’t restrict airflow or contact moving parts, it shouldn’t cause issues. Keep an eye on performance over time to confirm it's helping with heat deflection.

[machinist]

No idea how this will work out, but since it's not rattling or rubbing it seems okay for now. Just keep an eye on it, make sure airflow isn't blocked, and keep the venting clean so the heater area doesn't run hotter than normal.

[Adam/]

Will do, I clean the lint trap after each load and pull the machine apart to clean each qtr along with cleaning the very short (18") dryer exhaust outlet to outside.

[machinist]

Sounds good. Just keep an eye on the shield over time.

[Adam/]

I have another question on this dryer. The blower fan wheel which is plastic cracks where it goes over the D shaped drive shaft. The blower wheel has a squeeze clamp that goes over the part of the blower to pinch it to the shaft. I keep the fan clean so I do not think it gets out of balance. The shaft does not have any play and appears to be straight to not interduce wobble to the fan. Any idea why this might happen or a way to figure it out?

[machinist]

It’s hard to say for sure, but plastic blower wheels can crack over time from stress, heat cycles, or slight misalignment even if the shaft looks straight. Make sure the clamp is snug but not over-tightened, and check the hub for small cracks when replacing. Using a new clamp or a more robust wheel can sometimes prevent recurring cracks.

[Adam/]

Had not considered the heat/cool cycles as a possibility. Good info! I have looked for a more robust wheel but did not find one that mentioned it was built differently. Each fan comes with a new squeeze clamp so the tension is preset. At one time I considered adding epoxy to build up the fan but felt I most likely would just make it out of balance and create a different problem. Thanks for all the replies now I must move on to our fridge problem that was pointed out to me last night....I beginning to think all my appliances are ganging up on me!

[machinist]

Hope the fridge is an easier fix.