What is a blower wheel?

The blower wheel is what actually moves air through the machine. Its vanes pack with compacted lint over years, and a clogged wheel starves the dryer of airflow even when the vent to the outside is completely clear. That produces long drying times and overheating that trips the high-limit thermostat — the machine "stops mid-cycle" and works again once cool. If the exterior vent flows well but the dryer runs hot, the restriction is inside the cabinet.