Hotpoint TVM 960 Dryer

Are pattern bearing kits getting worse or is it me?

Self tapping screws that go into shaft flange seem to be made from a softer steel than the flange. Also on completion of this job – rear bearing kit, front pads, front and rear seals and belt – the drum was hard to rotate and caused the motor to stall. Stripped and checked everything but all seemed ok, reassembled and same problem. Tried a new capacitor but same problem.

Tried running it without a load and customer reports it now runs with a load although noisily in one direction. I’m currently guessing that the drum is dragging on the new plastic pads. Any ideas folks?

ps this is one of those drums with the welded in place shaft. I tried the chisel method of removal but just blunted my cheapo chisels in no time. Ended up drilling pilot holes through welded bits and then drilling out with much wider bit. Didn’t cause any damage to drum ie no rough edges for clothes to catch on.