Keep us posted on what you find out. I have no idea.

OH, that is good news for your dryer, but I'm sorry this is in the design. Did you have to pay for the repair, or is it under warranty?

Yes it was under warranty so no payment. Also not so impressed with design. Seems a little bit like an afterthought. Must have been there for a reason though?

Probably for sound/resonance deadening. In what way would it function as a spacer?

dadoes, good point. It could have been to dampen resonance on that top panel.

I was thinking since the drum is so close to the top panel that if you placed something heavy on the top that the panel could flex making metal to metal contact with the drum. This rubber would prevent the contact. It looked like the drum did routinely make contact with the rubber.

Thanks so much for getting back with the results. I now know not to panic if my 617 ever develops the same problem.

The drum reasonably should not make contact with the pad during operation, else it would be abraded or pulled loose. Failed adhesive would cause it to sag, make contact and get pulled loose, as is what happened on your machine.

@cfillyaw...

Thanks for the update. Glad it was an easy fix.

I bet that same spacer is on my WaveTouch model.

It's kind of careless that a better heat resistant glue wasn't used.

I never use really high heat (usually use med-high) so maybe mine isn't getting as hot and I only use the dryer like once or twice a week.

I am pretty certain it was making contact. Looking at the material after it was removed I could see rubbing marks across the entire face of it. Yes, part of the adhesive had failed which was overall a small percentage of it. Most of the material still remained adhered.

I am not an expert, but just reporting on the evidence and what the repair man told me. I agree that the main purpose is probably to dampen the resonance. I question if heat really had much to do with it vs. the drum making contact with it and eventually pulling it off causing the jam. Who knows for sure in my case.

I also noticed my wife had some rugs piled on the top of the machine as well which could cause the top panel to deflect toward the drum.

The rugs could also help hold heat in on the top section.jmo

I am having the same problem with my electric - Electrolux 617 dryer... sad thing is we've only had it for 1 week. I feel like it has seized, as when I try to start it, the motor engages, and it pulls the dryer drum about 1/8", then promptly shuts off and 'start' button begins blinking... there is no 'error code' or anything. Technician will come tomorrow to check it out, so sad to have this problem already since the Electrolux w/d pair were so highly rated! Fingers crossed it's a simple fix!!

Keep us posted Ouiallo41.

Sorry to hear people are having issues. We've been good so far with both Washer and Dryer.

So.... it was a minimal visit by the repair guy... he even said he was surprised that the reason the drum was seized was so simple... there's a piece of thick rubber stuck to the top middle of the lid right above the drum... perhaps to prevent the 'lid' from coming into contact with the drum... however... it appears that with the heat, bad design, the piece was sagging in the middle, and it was just enough that the drum caught it and it started to rub and wear with use. Once the dryer stopped, it completely hardened and stuck to the drum thus preventing it from spinning... he cut the piece of rubber off and we're back in business. Bad design? Unnecessary piece? Regardless.. I'm back in business, with my fingers crossed that there are no further issues. ;)

Exact same issue as mine and the rubber looked identical where it had torn.

It's a shame that brains at product development/design didn't see this coming.

Now if Electrolux (or any manufacture) was smart they would have repair technicians out in the field report design flaws back to them so they can fix stupid things like this in the current production line. Nip it in the bud FAST.

@georgect
I actually asked the repair person if he would be reporting this back to Electrolux, and he said absolutely he would, as it is a warranty issue. ;)

I am having this issue as well and have only had the dryer 2 weeks.

I have to wait a week for a repairman.

So frustrating, I just want a duff model replacement at this point.

Two screws in the back to pop the lid off. Rip off that piece of rubber and you should be good to go.