Whirlpool Cabrio

[benzonaruckus]

I have a customer (i'm a tech) that has a whirlpool cabrio (WED6400SW1) and the heating element is bad. They do not really wanna pay for a brand new element at the price so my question is, is there a way I can use the old style (279838) even with a little modification to save them some money? the cabrio style element is made pretty weak apparently

[whirlpooltech]

I looked up WED6400SW1 and see it takes element part # 8573069.

That is one expensive dryer element!

They do not really wanna pay for a brand new element at the price

It is what it is.

so my question is, is there a way I can use the old style (279838) even with a little modification to save them some money?

Not that I know off and unless the modification come from Whirlpool I would not even try to modify it to work.

If something went wrong down the road after you modified the element it would no longer be worth the $50 you tried to save them.

If you really want to save them money and cover your ass just offer to sell them the part for cost.

[JPG]

I looked up WED6400SW1 and see it takes element part # 8573069.

That is one expensive dryer element!

They do not really wanna pay for a brand new element at the price

It is what it is.

so my question is, is there a way I can use the old style (279838) even with a little modification to save them some money?

Not that I know off and unless the modification come from Whirlpool I would not even try to modify it to work.

If something went wrong down the road after you modified the element it would no longer be worth the $50 you tried to save them.

If you really want to save them money and cover your ass just offer to sell them the part for cost.

The cabrio element gets much hotter than the  279838 so I would use the correct one only.........

[whirlpooltech]

I did not know this element got hotter. Good to know. thanks!

[JWWebster]

Some of the older style dryers had a 3 wire heater set up. The older newer replacement dryer element came along a little later and fit 3 or 4 dozen different models; came with a set of heavy red wires and 2 yellow wire nuts. I wonder if maybe this fancy element has 3 wires for 2 different sets of heater elements like the old ones did. Probably so. I bet you could sub out the element ok but the fancy mexitronic controls probably won't act right.

[jumptrout51]

The Tech Service manual specifies 155 degree max temp on high heat.
That is the same as any other dryer.
If you have one getting hotter,you have failed parts.

[appdoc]

Anyone know what the wattage is on the cabrio heater?

[jumptrout51]

HEATER ELEMENT Single Element 5400W Dual Element (2) 2700W