How do i increase belt tension on whirlpool lew0050pq3

You likely have a broken or slipped drive belt or broken spring on the belt take up arm on the drum. Appliance Parts.com has a lot of DIY instructions on how to get at the belt and make repairs.

Hello,
I would think you are on the right track, possibly a belt, I would also check all the rollers or idlers while you are replacing the belt.
Enjoy and best wishes

Hello there:
If your dryer doesn't tumble, check these:
Belt Dryers have a drive belt that turns the clothes drum. If the belt breaks, the drum stops rotating. Then you need to replace the belt, and often the idler pulley, because the pulley tends to wear out at the same time. Click here for a belt installation diagram Motor If the dryer motor only hums when you press the Start button, the motor may be burned out. Here's how to test the dryer motor: Remove the belt. Check for obstructions in the blower fan housing. Manually rotate the shaft of the motor. If the motor is very stiff, or impossible to rotate manually, and the blower fan housing is clear, you need to replace the motor. If the motor rotates freely, run the motor momentarily with the belt removed and the blower in place. If the motor runs fine with the belt removed, there may be a problem with the idler pulley or the clothes drum. Try to rotate the drum by hand. If it is very difficult to move, correct any problem with the rollers or pulley, and then reassemble the dryer and try it again. If the motor hums but doesn't rotate on its own even with the belt removed--yet you can turn it freely by hand--you usually need to replace the motor or the motor start capacitor. Door switch Your dryer can't operate at all if the door switch is defective. It's inside the dryer main housing near the door frame. Sometimes you need to raise or open the top or front of the dryer to reach the switch. If it's defective, you need to replace it.

Hello. The belt goes around the tub and the tension pulley. In fact, it is always a good idea to replace both the belt and the idler/tension pulley at the same time. J.

If you want a schematic go to searsdirect.com and enter your model number. J.

Most likely the belt popped off the tensioning pulley when you turned the drum backwards.

Since your dryer is "new" it is under warranty. I will explain the possible reasons why it will not spin. Then you can decide whether to make the warranty call or not.

If your dryer doesn't tumble, check these:

Belt
Motor
Door switch
Belt Dryers have a drive belt that turns the clothes drum. If the belt breaks, the drum stops rotating. Then you need to replace the belt, and often the idler pulley, because the pulley tends to wear out at the same time.

Click here for a belt installation diagram.

Motor If the dryer motor only hums when you press the Start button, the motor may be burned out. Here's how to test the dryer motor:

• Remove the belt.
  
  
• Check for obstructions in the blower fan housing.
  
  
• Manually rotate the shaft of the motor.
  
  

If the motor is very stiff, or impossible to rotate manually, and the blower fan housing is clear, you need to replace the motor.

If the motor rotates freely, run the motor momentarily with the belt removed and the blower in place. If the motor runs fine with the belt removed, there may be a problem with the idler pulley or the clothes drum. Try to rotate the drum by hand. If it is very difficult to move, correct any problem with the rollers or pulley, and then reassemble the dryer and try it again.

If the motor hums but doesn't rotate on its own even with the belt removed--yet you can turn it freely by hand--you usually need to replace the motor or the motor start capacitor.

Door switch Your dryer can't operate at all if the door switch is defective. It's inside the dryer main housing near the door frame. Sometimes you need to raise or open the top or front of the dryer to reach the switch. If it's defective, you need to replace it.

If your dryer doesn't tumble, check these:
Belt,
Motor,
Door switch.

Your dryer can't operate at all if the door switch is defective. It's inside the dryer main housing near the door frame. Sometimes you need to raise or open the top or front of the dryer to reach the switch. If it's defective, you need to replace it.
Dryers have a drive belt that turns the clothes drum. If the belt breaks, the drum stops rotating. Then you need to replace the belt, and often the idler pulley, because the pulley tends to wear out at the same time.
If the dryer motor only hums when you press the Start button, the motor may be burned out. Here's how to test the dryer motor:

Remove the belt,
Check for obstructions in the blower fan housing,
Manually rotate the shaft of the motor.

If the motor is very stiff, or impossible to rotate manually, and the blower fan housing is clear, you need to replace the motor.

If the motor rotates freely, run the motor momentarily with the belt removed and the blower in place. If the motor runs fine with the belt removed, there may be a problem with the idler pulley or the clothes drum. Try to rotate the drum by hand. If it is very difficult to move, correct any problem with the rollers or pulley, and then reassemble the dryer and try it again.

Go here to see a diagram for your model:
one of two types. "H" or "J"

http://www.repairclinic.com/0079.asp#DiagramH

Motor Brushes

The spin cycle activates the fast mode on the motor, squealing normal occurs due to belt slippage. I would check your belts (look for cracks. Check the belt tension as well, most washers have an adjustment, normally on the motor that allows you to increase the tension of the belt.