The following is a reprint from our Ask the Expert feature on AcmeHowTo.com

Question: I have a Kenmore electric dryer. When I press the start button, you can hear a slight hum and the drum starts to move slowly, but it won't start the dryer completely to rotate the drum quickly. I can smell a burning smell around the back of the drum. What do you think the problem is?

Thanks

Answer: If you can turn the drum by hand without any problem, check to see if the belt is too tight or too loose and check the belt for signs of damage or wear. If it checks okay then the motor is probably bad. One other thing, check the blower wheel on the motor to make sure nothing is jamming it.