Riccar 8955 Upright Vacuum
How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?
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You would need significant mechanical knowledge to change a timing belt yourself. The main challenge is accessing the old timing belt, which – depending on the model – may involve the removal of fan/drive belts; front motor mount; water pump pulley; timing belt cover; crankshaft pulley; and idler pulley.
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.
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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!
.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!
Read Full Q/A … : Riccar 8955 Upright Vacuum
Dirt devil vacuum cleaner–trouble vacuuming dirt and pet hair on carpeting –is the problem with the spinning brush which contacts the floor, not contacting the carpeting?? I thought (when I bought this vacuum) that the aforementioned brush was adjustable to various heights of carpeting. Sometimes, it seems like nothing is being vacuumed up –unless I have just put a new bag on the vacuum… Do I need or can I replace the spinning brush on the bottom of the vacuum so it kicks up and vacuums
ANSWER : Try replacing the belt. Rubber belts stretch out after about a year.
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Replace belt i need to replace the belt on an upright dirt devil 086310 vaccume but do not have a manual and can not find how to open the assy to replace the belt
ANSWER : On the bottom, there should be a few screws to remove to remove the plate covering the brush roll. However some may have screws on the top housing to remove the top.
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Smoking belt Hey I have a Eureka 2961 avz bagless vacuum, and if it’s on for a few minutes i can smell the belt burning. If the vacuum is left on any longer the belt starts smoking. I took the case off and there was a little debris but not much. Is there a cause and fix or just time to replace the belt?
ANSWER : Belt is slipping because the bearings on the beater brushes, which it turns, are jammed or full of dust.
.Alternatively the belt has stretched after being overheated and needs replacing because it now slips.
.Alternatively the belt has stretched after being overheated and needs replacing because it now slips.
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Belts I have a Hoover self-propelled windtunnel, purchased 6-04. It gets light use. I have replaced the v belt 3 times, once under warranty, and it must be replaced again. It appears to be in very good condition, but is stretched too big. When I purchased 2 v belts a year ago, one was already too stretched,but when my Dad took it back, the salesman put it on another model and said it was fine (Dad never mentioned this to me). Is there a way to adjust the vacuum to hold the belt tighter? Do t
ANSWER : It is the flat belt that gets stretched and should be replaced at least every 6 months. The V belt wears down so it won’t it right in the brush roll V. Maybe the belt tensioner wheel has a problem, sometimes they get hook up and won’t engage the V belt. Check the brush roll also, if where the V belt rides in is covered up with belt, replace it. There is no adjustment, doesn’t need it if everything is working the way it should.
Read Full Q/A … : Riccar 8955 Upright Vacuum
Hi my proheat bissell 7901 stopped pumping water to the floor, but it pumps water from the hand hose. I read the manual and followed how to check belt and the flat belt on right side of shampooer is fine and I turned on and it turns and so do the brushes at the bottom of the machine. I was reading online and I guess there’s two belts on this machine? where can I find the other belt to see if it needs replacing. I guess it’s a ribbed belt? that is the water pump belt?
ANSWER : Just taken ours apart with the same problem… found it was caused by the 2 halves of the main casing coming apart in the area where the upright pedal release is. I found this to be due to the upper casing having broken in 2 places – the bottom of the screw wells..This means that the water tank cannot exert sufficient pressure on the valve to release the water..Only solution is a new top cover assembly
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How to replace belt on Riccar – Riccar 8955 Upright Vacuum
ANSWER : Greetings from GoVacuum,
.
.I will attempt to walk you through the belt change on your Riccar 8955 upright vacuum cleaner. I have taken pictures for you for each step to ensure that it’s done properly. What you’ll need to have handy for this repair;
.
.- Phillips Head Screw Driver
.- Riccar 4000 / 8000 Series Belt
.- Riccar 8000 Series Roller Brush With Clutch Assembly (only if the brushes have worn down, not necessary if brushes are still long)
.
.Step 1: Make sure the vacuum cleaner is unpluged, and turn the vacuum cleaner upside down so the bottom plate is upwards. It’s easiest to do on a work bench or counter top.
.
.
.
.
.Step 2: Unsrew the two metal screws on the metal bottom plate with your Phillips head screw driver, and remove the bottom plate from the vacuum cleaner so the belt is completely exposed with the roller brush.
.
.Step 3: Remove the belt guard that sits to the left of the roller brush, and is a metal part that protects any dirt & debris from going over to the belt. Here’s a picture of that part being removed;
.
.
..
.Step 4: Remove the Rug / Floor actuator arm from the clutch on the right hand side of the roller brush. Simply pull the metal actuator arm to the left of the brush and out of the circle that it sits in. Here’s a picture of that;
.
.
.
.
.Step 5: Once you have removed the actuator arm for the clutch, as well as the belt guard, lift staight up on the roller brush and remove the roller brush from the vacuum cleaner:
.
.
..
.Step 6: Once you have removed the roller brush, and the old belt from the vacuum cleaner, take one new belt and wrap it around the metal pin in the back of vacuum cleaners agitator housing. Here’s a picture of where that pin is located with the belt wrapped around it;
.
.
.
.
.Step 7: Once you have the belt wrapped around the metal pin (this is the shaft to the motor that actually spins the belt), but the other end of the belt through your new roller brush;
.
.
..
.Step 8: There is a specific way that the roller brush has to be inserted. If the roller brush is not put in properly, this can cause all sorts of problems including the brush not spinning, and continously having to replace belts. You can see on the end cap of the roller brush (the right side where the belt rides) that there is two little teeth that protrude out of the end cap as well as an indentation on the opposite side;
.
.
..
.Step 9: With the roller brush inserted through the belt, posistion the two teeth facing downwards. You can see in the vacuum cleaner where the roller brush sits, a little groove down inside of the housing. These two teeth need to straddle that groove. Also make sure that the little ring, or circle that the clutch actuator arm sits into, is facing upwards completely. It should be directly on top of the two teeth. Stretch the belt using the roller brush as leverage down into the agitator housing of the vacuum cleaner, making sure that the two teeth are facing downwards straddling the little groove. After the brush is back into the vacuum cleaner, take the metal actuator arm from the rug / floor switch, and insert it back into the metal ring (or hole) on the roller brush;
.
..
.Step 10: Replace the metal belt guard that rests to the left of the belt. You’ll notice on the belt guard that there are two little 90 degree notches on both sides. These notches need to face towards the belt or to the right. Here’s a picture of the belt guard being put back into place;
.
.
.
.
..
.Step 11: After inserting the belt guard back into the vacuum, turn the vacuum cleaner over so the top of the agitator housing is facing you. Change the the rug / floor switch from bare floors to the carpet setting, and the turn the vacuum upside again so the brush and belt are exposed:
.
.
..
.Step 12: With the vacuum set to the carpet setting, pull the belt forwards to ensure that the brush is spinning freely. If the belts do not spin freely, repeat steps 2-10.
.
..
.Step 12: There is a flap that can be opened after the metal bottom plate has been removed, that will give you more access to the motor shaft. Make sure that this flap is closed;
.
.
..
.Step 13: The last tricky part can be reinstalling the metal bottom plate. There is a little lip on the front of the vacuum cleaner that the edge of the bottom plate has to slide under for it to be installed properly. A lot of people just install the bottom plate over top of this lip, and this prevents the brushes from hitting the carpet as low as if the bottom plate is correctly installed. Here’s a picture of the lip with the bottom plate in the backgroud;
.
.
..
.Step 14: Slide the metal bottom plate into the lip on the vacuum cleaner, and fasten the screws back into the bottom plate to secure it. The lip is a little tricky, but after doing it just once, you’ll have no problems in the future changing your belt.
.
.Here’s a picture of the bottom plate installed INCORRECTLY with the bottom plate over top of the lip;
.
.
..
.Here’s a picture of the CORRECT way to install the bottom plate:
.
.
.
.I hope that this repair solution is helpful to you in installing the belt properly. If you found this helpful, please be sure to click the 4 Thumbs Up Icons in the top right hand corner of the solution. Feel free to send me an email, or request a clarification of the repair if you have any questions about this repair, or other repairs. I’m always happy to answer any questions. Be sure to check out our website for any Riccar parts that you may need, including; Riccar Vacuum Bags, Filters, Belts, and Parts.
.
.Thank you very much,
.
.Chris Jones
.GoVacuum.com
.
.I will attempt to walk you through the belt change on your Riccar 8955 upright vacuum cleaner. I have taken pictures for you for each step to ensure that it’s done properly. What you’ll need to have handy for this repair;
.
.- Phillips Head Screw Driver
.- Riccar 4000 / 8000 Series Belt
.- Riccar 8000 Series Roller Brush With Clutch Assembly (only if the brushes have worn down, not necessary if brushes are still long)
.
.Step 1: Make sure the vacuum cleaner is unpluged, and turn the vacuum cleaner upside down so the bottom plate is upwards. It’s easiest to do on a work bench or counter top.
.
.
.
..Step 2: Unsrew the two metal screws on the metal bottom plate with your Phillips head screw driver, and remove the bottom plate from the vacuum cleaner so the belt is completely exposed with the roller brush.
.
.Step 3: Remove the belt guard that sits to the left of the roller brush, and is a metal part that protects any dirt & debris from going over to the belt. Here’s a picture of that part being removed;
.
.
.
..Step 4: Remove the Rug / Floor actuator arm from the clutch on the right hand side of the roller brush. Simply pull the metal actuator arm to the left of the brush and out of the circle that it sits in. Here’s a picture of that;
.
.
.
..Step 5: Once you have removed the actuator arm for the clutch, as well as the belt guard, lift staight up on the roller brush and remove the roller brush from the vacuum cleaner:
.
.
.
..Step 6: Once you have removed the roller brush, and the old belt from the vacuum cleaner, take one new belt and wrap it around the metal pin in the back of vacuum cleaners agitator housing. Here’s a picture of where that pin is located with the belt wrapped around it;
.
.
.
..Step 7: Once you have the belt wrapped around the metal pin (this is the shaft to the motor that actually spins the belt), but the other end of the belt through your new roller brush;
.
.
.
..Step 8: There is a specific way that the roller brush has to be inserted. If the roller brush is not put in properly, this can cause all sorts of problems including the brush not spinning, and continously having to replace belts. You can see on the end cap of the roller brush (the right side where the belt rides) that there is two little teeth that protrude out of the end cap as well as an indentation on the opposite side;
.
.
.
..Step 9: With the roller brush inserted through the belt, posistion the two teeth facing downwards. You can see in the vacuum cleaner where the roller brush sits, a little groove down inside of the housing. These two teeth need to straddle that groove. Also make sure that the little ring, or circle that the clutch actuator arm sits into, is facing upwards completely. It should be directly on top of the two teeth. Stretch the belt using the roller brush as leverage down into the agitator housing of the vacuum cleaner, making sure that the two teeth are facing downwards straddling the little groove. After the brush is back into the vacuum cleaner, take the metal actuator arm from the rug / floor switch, and insert it back into the metal ring (or hole) on the roller brush;
.
.
..Step 10: Replace the metal belt guard that rests to the left of the belt. You’ll notice on the belt guard that there are two little 90 degree notches on both sides. These notches need to face towards the belt or to the right. Here’s a picture of the belt guard being put back into place;
.
.
.
.
.
..Step 11: After inserting the belt guard back into the vacuum, turn the vacuum cleaner over so the top of the agitator housing is facing you. Change the the rug / floor switch from bare floors to the carpet setting, and the turn the vacuum upside again so the brush and belt are exposed:
.
.
.
..Step 12: With the vacuum set to the carpet setting, pull the belt forwards to ensure that the brush is spinning freely. If the belts do not spin freely, repeat steps 2-10.
.
.
..Step 12: There is a flap that can be opened after the metal bottom plate has been removed, that will give you more access to the motor shaft. Make sure that this flap is closed;
.
.
.
..Step 13: The last tricky part can be reinstalling the metal bottom plate. There is a little lip on the front of the vacuum cleaner that the edge of the bottom plate has to slide under for it to be installed properly. A lot of people just install the bottom plate over top of this lip, and this prevents the brushes from hitting the carpet as low as if the bottom plate is correctly installed. Here’s a picture of the lip with the bottom plate in the backgroud;
.
.
.
..Step 14: Slide the metal bottom plate into the lip on the vacuum cleaner, and fasten the screws back into the bottom plate to secure it. The lip is a little tricky, but after doing it just once, you’ll have no problems in the future changing your belt.
.
.Here’s a picture of the bottom plate installed INCORRECTLY with the bottom plate over top of the lip;
.
.
.
..Here’s a picture of the CORRECT way to install the bottom plate:
.
.
.
.I hope that this repair solution is helpful to you in installing the belt properly. If you found this helpful, please be sure to click the 4 Thumbs Up Icons in the top right hand corner of the solution. Feel free to send me an email, or request a clarification of the repair if you have any questions about this repair, or other repairs. I’m always happy to answer any questions. Be sure to check out our website for any Riccar parts that you may need, including; Riccar Vacuum Bags, Filters, Belts, and Parts.
.
.Thank you very much,
.
.Chris Jones
.GoVacuum.com
Read Full Q/A … : Riccar 8955 Upright Vacuum
