I just turned the knob on my GE dryer and the timer knob is just spinning and not turning. I pulled the plastic knob off and the piece that the timer shaft goes through is broken. How do i go about with a replacement? I have a bunch of wet clothes in the dryer that need to be dried ASAP. I need advice on fixing this! In the meantime, is there a way to make the dryer work just to dry the clothes that are wet right now?
Replacing your dryer knob is super easy. We will tell you how to go about ordering a new one below. But first, to get the dryer to work for now to dry those clothes, get a pair of pliers and grab the shaft of the timer. Slightly turn the pliers in the direction you usually turn to set the timer to the appropriate heating cycle. This should make it so it is possible to dry the clothing that you have that is wet.
To attempt to fix the cracked or broken plastic knob yourself, you can use epoxy glue. Apply the epoxy to the cracked area of the knob and hold it together while drying with a pair of needle nose pliers. Hold the plastic together for the amount of time the epoxy instructions advise you. Once the glue is dry, slide the dryer knob back onto the timer shaft. Test the knob by turning it to a dryer heating cycle. Whether this has worked or not, it is best to purchase a new one for your dryer as the repair you just made will not usually hold for long.
Click the image above to purchase a replacement knob for your dryer
Probably the easiest and cheapest way to buy a new dryer knob for your GE, Kenmore, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Electrolux, Hotpoint, or Maytag is through Amazon. The dryer knobs available are inexpensive and usually aftermarket but look the same and function the same as the original. The prices are relatively cheap ranging from $5 to $12 dollars depending on your brand of dryer. Click here to see the page where all of the dryer timer knobs are listed and available for your dryer.
Dryer Knob Replacement
Replacing the dryer knob should take merely seconds. The new one you purchase will slide onto the timer shaft with ease and your dryer should be as good as new. You can then begin using your dryer immediately. If your dryer timer is the issue, see below.
If the dryer knob is NOT cracked but the shaft on the timer has broken or will not turn, you will need to buy a new dryer timer switch. Replacing the dryer timer is not as easy as replacing the knob but by following the instructions it can be done by almost anyone.
Click the image above to purchase a dryer timer and repair your dryer yourself (DIY)
The easy way to buy a new dryer timer is through Amazon within the category of “Dryer Parts & Accessories”. Have a look here to find the dryer timer that will fit your model dryer. Most dryer timers will cost between $40 and $100 dollars depending on your brand. This may seem expensive but consider calling a repairman that will charge $100 just to show up! Doing this job yourself will save you money and get you more comfortable with doing home repairs.
Replacing The Timer On Your Dryer
Remember that replacing parts on appliances can have multiple steps where not all machines are the same. Please use caution and common sense when performing these repairs yourself.
Thank you so much for this information. It sounds too complicated for me to try and do myself but very repairable. I will hire a technician to come and fix it.
Nancy,
If the shaft that holds the knob onto your GE dryer broke off, that means that the controller the controls which heat cycle the dryer is using, is broken. This would be a repair where you would need to remove the front panel to get access to the control console and be able to replace it. This would involve unplugging the dryer, taking apart the front panel, and possibly the side panel to get to the part and remove and replace it. If you want to give us the model number of your GE dryer will be happy to assist further.
-RR
I have a GE dryer. The piece that held the shaft to the heat selector knob broke off and the shaft fell down into the dryer in a place I can’t get to it. The knob is unbroken but useless without a shaft to put it on. Can you advise if this is an expensive repair? The dryer works fine we just don’t know what heat setting it is on. It’s unclear how to take the front of the control panel (where the knobs are) so that we can fix it ourselves.
The knob that selects the time on my maytag broke off, it has long skinny wire on the back of it . is this the timer knob and do I need to replace the whole system?
I bought a new knob for my Frigidaire Central washer, for the dryer but It’s still not turning on. I don’t know if my roommate has been using pliers to turn It on but she somehow she gets It on and It can’t be with her hands, and I haven’t been using It. Is It possible to damage the part where the knob is supposed to go on by using pliers?
Finally, someone who knows what they’re talking about!
Yes, this makes sense; and you’re right….those knobs cost way more than $6. on Amazon.
The GE Dryer knob I need to replace is sold as an “add-on”, so you have to add $25. onto the $7. cost for the knob! Somebody is laughing, pocketing that $25.
We really need to learn how to fix stuff ourselves. So thanks for sharing your expertise!
The knob is not always 6 bucks on Amazon, The heavy metal knobs for my stove with the the same cheap plastic D shaft, on the back, are more like $45 a piece.They are all cracking and there are 5 of them. This is right after the same thing happened on my old dish washer timer knob that is $30 if you can find it but is mostly discontinued. I developed a repair technique that has worked very well ,so far. This is strictly home handyman stuff and not for the tool challenged. No glue, alone is going to fix those cracks. First I removed the spring clip. Then I glued and clamped the crack shut with Loctite 401 cyanoacrylate (industrial crazy glue). Then I cut off a piece of copper pipe that was a loose fit over the stem. I sanded the stem and the tube and pipe inside and out and wiped with alcohol, to insure a good bond. Next I mixed up some JB Weld epoxy putty and cemented it over the shaft and more on the outside so it would stay put. I made sure there were no voids between the shaft and pipe. 24 hrs later it was hard as a rock and the plastic shaft cannot open up again because it has no place to go. I pressed the friction clip back in and reinstalled it on the stove. They come off for cleaning and have plenty of friction to stay on. I saved a few hundred bucks and reviewers on Amazon are still only getting a couple of years out of their replacements. If the knob stems were thick enough, in the first place, they would not crack