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On a Martel dryer, a new noise is most often a worn belt or a dry idler pulley rather than a drum felt seal that has worn through. Wear comes first, because a conventional dryer in an older room has been running long enough for the moving parts to be the oldest thing on the list. All three checks below are owner work, and not one of them needs a part.
What the owner observes
- A rhythmic thump slow enough to count — One beat per drum revolution is the signature of a flat on a roller.
- Something loose rolling round inside the drum — The cheapest fault there is, and it takes one look to confirm.
- A squeal that is loudest at start-up and eases as it runs — Warming up changes a dry bearing, so a noise that eases points at the idler.
- NEAR MISS — noise and the cycle stops early — Stopping partway is a cycle fault and belongs on that page.
Why this happens, likeliest first
- A worn belt or a dry idler pulley — The drive belt runs over an idler pulley. As the pulley bearing dries out it squeals, loudest at start-up and often easing as it warms, and a frayed belt adds a regular slap on top. It leads because a squeal that changes as the machine warms has essentially no other explanation. They are found in older kitchens and utility rooms where the services around them are as old as the machine.
- Drum support rollers that have worn flat — The drum rides on rollers. Worn, they develop flats, and the drum thumps once per revolution — a steady rhythmic beat that is slow enough to count and gets worse with load. It sits here because the rhythm identifies it without a tool, and the rhythm is distinctive.
- A drum felt seal that has worn through — Felt seals at the front and rear of the drum keep air where it belongs. Worn through, the drum edge contacts metal and gives a continuous scraping that is present from the first second of the cycle. It is last because the noise varies, which rules out constant contact.
What to check first, second, third
- Note whether the squeal eases as the machine warms — A dry bearing changes as it warms; a contact noise does not. First, because it is the likeliest to end the job.
- Count the beats against the drum's rotation — One thump per revolution is a roller flat and nothing else. Second, once that is clean.
- Listen for a scrape that is there from the very first second — Immediate and unchanging means constant contact. Third, and by now the answer is usually in hand.
The steps, with tools and times
- Note when the squeal is loudest and how it changes — The observation is yours; the belt and pulley are behind the cabinet.
About 10 min
- Count the thumps, note the rhythm, and stop — Rollers sit inside the cabinet and are not owner work.
About 10 min
- Note that the scrape is constant, then stop — A worn felt seal needs the drum out, which is not owner work.
About 10 min
- STOP — describe the noise and when it happens — A described rhythm is worth more to a technician than a guess at a part.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Never reach into a drum that is still turning, and never run the machine with a panel off to find a noise.
Where the owner fix ends
Call when the noise is a rhythmic thump, a squeal that will not clear, or a constant scrape — all three are inside the cabinet. Loose objects, levelling, the filter and the outside flap are owner work and account for a good share of these calls. On this brand parts are conventional and mostly generic, which keeps a repair sensible.
Where to go next
Generalized information
This page is written for the appliance class, not for one Martel model line. Where a family- or model-specific page exists it is the better answer and it is linked below — go there first if your model is named. Not here: roller and belt sizes, seal profiles, cabinet teardown order, or part numbers.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
