I have a dryer that is currently not running. Guessing it's a dial issue, but not sure. Can I just wire the motor up directly somehow with a normal plug? All I want is a spinning drum.
Just assume I'm stupid about electric stuff when writing your answer!

Yes you can. Just keep in mind that the motor is more than likely 110 volt not 220. There should be a diagram on the motor for the 110 voltage to be hooked to. If not google will help you there.

I just found the wires to the motor and wired in a 110 plug. All other wires I snipped. You won't have a timer and only way to start it is to plug in.

This. Also tape over any openings inside the dryer.

When you guys are using a dryer for tumbling are you tumbling dried fur out critters like fox and coyote in it or are you just tumbling green skinned hides in them?

That's what I was thinking but then I thought it can't be that easy.
There appears to be about six wires coming off the motor, so I guess I just skip the ones that go to fuses, and other stuff?

I'm gonna use it to assist in tanning hides. It won't do all the work, but I think it will help.

thedude055 ... I'm tumbling everything in mine like skinned out coons and beavers. The dryer/ tumbler works great on wet, muddy coons. If they are really muddy, I do wash them off pretty good, then hang them to dry some, skin them, then tumble them. I go through them and comb them out before fleshing just to make sure there isn't any tumbling media caught in the fur that might cause a tear when fleshing. I have not not tumbled any finished fox or coyotes, so I can't tell you how those turned out.

PAskinner....I watched a video on Youtube to figure out what I needed to do. ADC did explain the process to me, but the video really helped me out. I watched; Converting a standard household dryer to 110 volts @1400 watts from 240 volts @ 5500 watts by Solar Power Electricity and Electronics The video is about 20 minutes long and that took longer to watch, than it did to convert my dryer. This is what worked for me as I have absolutely electrical skills or abilities. Hope this helps you too.

I doubt my method is OSHA approved. lol

I have parts collected to build a tumbler and then i started to see folks with the dryer idea and it seems so much easier just a little smaller than i was going. I dont think that will be an issue as i dont really stack massive amoutns of fur up on a daily basis.

I'm building a 4ft tumbler right now. Just needed a little more capacity than the dryer, although the dryer worked fine. Need to find the time to finish it, just need to mount the motor and buy a belt.