dryerelectrical
When I try to screw in the dryer power cord, the screws make contact with the square plate behind the contacts. The screws, however, will not screw in all the way and are leaving a gap which is preventing Full Contact of the three pieces. Is there supposed to be a gap? How can I fix this?
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Maybe the screws are the problem? Should I get a smaller screw that goes all the way in?
They make Dryer Vent Cleaning Kits for this very purpose:
As to why there is water in there - hopefully it's just condensation.
I don't know much about combination washer / dryers, but are you sure you've identified the problem correctly? Why would there be so much soap residue in the dryer exhaust. I don't recall ever seeing any soap residue on a dryer. And why is there a heating element in the on the exhaust side of dryer?
To answer your question, though: if this part is subject to high heat, which it sounds like it is, I would use an oil paint designed for radiators, or some high-temperature Rustoleum.
Best Answer
Test screw length with nuts removed
With the cord terminals out of the way and the nut removed, test inserting the screw through the appliance terminal. Does the screw go in easily and contact the appliance terminal? If so then the screw length is OK. (Threads on the screw and/or nut may still be damaged, but at least you'll know whether the length is good.)
Turn the cord terminals over
Look at the picture below. Notice that the appliance terminals are rotated so that the crimp is "up" ie facing the viewer. The crimps on the cord are facing "down" away from the viewer. Because the crimps stand proud of the terminal face they may be hitting the plastic barrier piece and preventing the screw from being tightened correctly. Twist each conductor 180 degrees to eliminate the interference between the crimp and the plastic.
Replacing the hardware
If you do decide to replace screws and/or nuts, be aware that it's easy to make a mistake. When you have your final selection, ensure that the nut spins onto the screw easily (that the thread pitch is correct) and also ensure that the screw doesn't wobble in the nut (ie, that the screw's diameter is correct). It's easy to get an 8-32 screw and a 10-32 nut, for example, but the combination won't hold reliably.