Eureka WhirlWind 4381 Upright Vacuum

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced Vacuum Technicians :

Remove the brushroll and clean all hair, string, and lint from the brushroll bearings. If the vacuum cleaner brush still doesn`t spin after you clean the brushroll, consider replacing the brushroll.
Belt powerfully rotates the brusher bars in your upright vacuum. For optimum performance, change the belt at least every 12 months.
Replacing broken or stretched drive belts is one of the most frequent repairs for canister vacuums. Inside the motorized carpet-cleaning head, a rubber drive belt connects a small motor to a spinning brush that beats the carpet pile and loosens dirt to be sucked up into the machine.
Vacuum belts work to spin a vacuum`s brush roller and/or, on some self-propelled models, to turn a vacuum`s wheels. Whatever the style of vacuum, this repair will take placein the machine`s brushroll area.
Next to the motor, the belt on your vacuum is just about the most important part of your vacuum. Without the belt to spin the brushroll, most vacuums won`t pick up on carpeting at all! If your vacuum uses a rubber belt, check it once a month for cracks, melting, and especially, slippage.
You should replace the belts on your vacuum at least every three to six months if the vacuum is regularly used. This is very important for proper cleaning.
Check for a plugged hose:

Plugged vacuum hoses are sometimes the reason for a loss in suction. Hoses can get clogged with hair, dust bunnies, string, or anything else that can`t pass through the other end of the hose. Airways inside the machine should be looked at as well. Wherever there is an air passage, check it.

Serpentine belt replacement is easy because today`s automatic drive belt tensioners eliminate the need to loosen bolts or pry components into position for retensioning. Just rotate the tensioner, remove the old belt and install a new one.
Luckily, you can replace a washing machine drive belt on your own using only a few tools. Start by disconnecting your washing machine and removing the access panel so you can find the belt inside. Take the old belt off of the motor and drum before securing the new one in place.
Durable – Vacuums made by Eureka are known to last for many years, maintaining the same level of quality cleaning power as the day they were first put into use.
Eureka vacuums are known for their superb suction power at an affordable price. As a matter of fact, our executive lifestyle director recently tried one and was shocked by how thoroughly the vacuum cleaned her floors.
When the engine is running, the crankshaft pulley turns, allows in drive belt to turn all of the other pulleys it is attached to. There are two kinds of drive belts: V-belts and serpentine belts.
Before you spend your time trying to go back over the same areas, hoping you`ll get it all cleaned up the second time around, check out your brush roll and belt. If you`ve cleaned your brush of any sticky stuff and hair, and it all looks fine, you`re likely dealing with a stretched belt.
Because vacuum manufacturers do not share a standardized naming system for vacuum belts, using your vacuum`s model number is the best way to ensure an accurate belt order.
Belt powerfully rotates the brusher bars in your upright vacuum. For optimum performance, change the belt at least every 12 months.
Because vacuum manufacturers do not share a standardized naming system for vacuum belts, using your vacuum`s model number is the best way to ensure an accurate belt order.
Before you spend your time trying to go back over the same areas, hoping you`ll get it all cleaned up the second time around, check out your brush roll and belt. If you`ve cleaned your brush of any sticky stuff and hair, and it all looks fine, you`re likely dealing with a stretched belt.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

The original belt on my upright Kenmore Progressive broke and I replaced it with the spare that was in the vacuum. The vacuum and spare belt are about 10 years old. Then the spare broke after one vacuuming session and there was a burning smell coming from the vacuum. I ordered new belts and replaced it with the new belt. It seems to be working fine with no smell. I checked the belt after I vacuumed the family room and although it was in tact, the belt was very hot. Is that normal? Should t
ANSWER : The belt heats up due to the friction, as well as being in contact with the shaft of a hot motor. It is normal.

I’m using (or WAS using) a Eureka ”the boss” model 8803. The belt broke, no biggie, so I replaced it with a Eureka model U belt, the problem is when I put the new belt on and turn on the vaccuum, the belt breaks again. I am also having trouble getting the brush roller to fit right when the belt is in place. I can’t find any sharp edges that would cut the belt,nor can I find where any small bits may have broken. Anyone have a solution for me?
ANSWER : First, make sure you have the right belt, second, i am thinking that you are not lineing the roller up right, it will only fit one way. look at the ends of the roller and the grooves where it slides in, you should be able to see clearly how it goes.

I have a Eureka 4870GZ. It turns on, but the brush roller doesn’t move. The belt looks fine. I do have an extra belt and would try replacing the old belt, but I can’t get the old one off the motor shaft or the new one on. I called Eureka customer service. The lady said there’s supposed to be a small space between the motor shaft and the outside edge of the vacuum where I can slip the old belt off and the new one on. I don’t see it. It looks like the motor shaft goes into a recessed place in the
ANSWER : Remove the top cover so that you can access to belt, You’ll find 2 rows of 4 decorative holes on the top cover, In two of the holes you’ll find the screws, Please use a flash light to see in that., Once the screws are removed, you’ll be able to take out the top cover. Pull the belt so that it should rotate the shaft and look for small space in between from where you can take off the old belt and new belt on. remove the agitator from its drive shaft, put new belt in, put the agitator back into place.

Changing the belt
ANSWER : Just in case you’re still having this problem…. you don’t need to fit the belt around the motor shaft. Only wrap it around the brush roller and the piece near the back that you are able to put the belt around, and snap the brush back into place. It didn’t look like it would work (it looked like my cat could have done the same thing and gotten the same result) but it works gloriously now!

Hope this helps.

The belt wont turn…i cant get in to the inside to check to see if the belt isnt on the roller…how do i get up in there..i took the bottom plate off and you still cant get inside…
thx
Peggy
ANSWER : The following site has some great info on your machine:.
.www.dysonmedic.com

Hoover WindTunnel Self-Propelled V Belt
ANSWER : I had this same problem with the V belt on my Hoover Vaccuum..
.There are three (3) basic things that will cause the brush roll not to spin..
.1. When handle is upright, brush roll is OFF..2. When switch is set for HARD surface, brush roll is OFF..3. Broken/worn FLAT belt or V Belt, brush roll will not spin.
.
.I noticed that the brush roll was not spinning when my vacuum was set for CARPET. After removing the cover I noticed that the V belt was loose, I thought the belt was worn so I purchased a correct replacement belt and installed it, but the new belt was also loose and when I turned the large flat belt pulley it did not turn the V belt pulley at the same time..
.I double checked the surface setting and I had the vacuum switch set for carpet, but still when I released the handle out of the upright position the brush roll would still not spin..
.My aggravation finally led me to this posting on FixYa’s website..
.The first thing I did was checked the screw to the left of the V belt as suggested by ejmjr5 and this did nothing to solve the problem or create more tension on the V belt, even when the upright handle was not in the upright position..
.After playing around with the surface setting control switch/nob I notice that when I moved the switch out of the HARD surface setting and over to CARPET, I had thought that the switch was set for CARPET as it visually appeared, but I was not pushing the switch over hard enough to click it into the CARPET setting mode..
.VOILA, the brush roll now spins correctly even though the V belt seams to be too loose for the pulley..
.You really have to force the switch into the CARPET setting. Be sure that you hear the switch/nob click into place..
.Now you can effectively clean up after that hangover of a party!.
.Burp!

Eureka 5843 belt keeps slipping off of drive spindle.
ANSWER : Tough one. Typically the only 2 things that the belt contacts is the motor drive spindle and the brush roller. Anything else would only be there to protect the belt from debris. Can you turn the brush by hand and see why the belt is coming off? Is the spindle wobbly? If so, you may need another motor as I don’t think it is easy to get parts for the motor. Hope this helps and good luck!

Changing belt
Please advise how to change the belt. I wasn’t the person who took the belt off, didn’t watch. Now it’s just me and the belt. I had 2, but 1st one burnt right off. Apparently I didn’t have in the right spot! don’t want to waste the only other new belt I have. Pictures would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!! Thanks Tammy Can call 920-660-0680
ANSWER : Step 1: Lower handle to floor to change belt
Step 2: Remove the two screws from the top hood on the foot
Step 3: Lift hood to remove
Step 4: Lift right end of brushroll (the belt end)
Step 5: Remove and discard belt.
Step 6: Place new belt around motor shaft.
Step 7: Place new belt around brushroll pulley.
Step 8: Align left end cap with base. Push end cap securely into
place. Make sure the square on the brushroll cap is in
place
Step 9: Pull right side of brushroll to stretch belt. Secure right
end cap into base.
IMPORTANT
Step 10: Rotate brushroll by hand several full rotations to properly
position belt.
Step 11: Place hood back on cleaner. Replace and tighten
two screws.
Step 12: Return vacuum to upright position.

You can also download your user manual here which has instructions on how with diagrams