Vacuums

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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

To explain why, let`s talk about what a vacuum belt actually does. The drive shaft of the motor, inside the vacuum cleaner, rotates the belt causing the brush roller to turn, which provides the necessary agitation to clean dirt, dander, and other detritus buried deep in your carpet.
Luckily, changing a vacuum belt is a very simple repair on most vacuum cleaners. Vacuum owners should never have to take their machine to a shop just for a belt replacement. The first step in this (and any) part replacement is to accurately order the needed part for the repair.
The engine drive belt is located on the front of your engine and is used to rotate the engine accessories. The belt is driven by the engine crankshaft, and while the engine is running, the belt turns with the crankshaft, which in turn rotates any pulley that the belt wraps around.
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.
Serpentine Belts

Your car`s serpentine belt is a long continuous belt that drives all your engine components. Newer cars use serpentine belts because they are easy to replace. Most serpentine belts need to be changed at least every 50,000 miles.

The serpentine belt goes by a couple of different names: accessory belt and drive belt. The belt is long and snakes through several pulleys. That`s why it`s called a serpentine belt. You can find the serpentine belt on the front or side the engine.
Belt repair can be complex, as each job is custom and completed by hand. Often, our craftsmen must sew through thick layers of leather to make a delicate repair.
(All full-sized machines, upright vacuums and canister vacuums, typically have a belt.) A vacuum will still create suction with a bum belt, but without a rotating brush roller, it won`t collect much in the way of dirt and debris, especially on carpets.
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.

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Vacuums

We have a Hoover upright vacuum cleaner, model Core 7. There is a switch that turns on and off the brush drive. This operates via a cam with a bearing putting pressure on the final drive belt to engage the brush head.

My brush head is not turning and with the lever set to engage the drive there is still considerable slack in the final drive belt.

There appears to be only a bearing deflecting the belt, should there be a pully or other device mounted on this bearing? There is so much slack a

ANSWER : Yes, there should have been a white plastic sprocket on top of the bearing – in its channel the belt would sit. Unfortunately no parts are available for this unit that can be bought retail – only available by order to dealer repair shops....
Unfortunately to fix it you must send it to one and that would be more expensive than a new one. Just junk this chinese POS and buy another chinese POS.

Read Full Q/A … : Vacuums

The belt on my vacuum cleaner model 6596 bissel powerforce bagless turbo keeps breaking. As soon as I put on a new belt and start it up the belt snaps. It is the durabelt meant for this vacuum model. Also, my son has been having the same problem with his. He has the same model and same belt. This problem is occurring even after a thourough cleaning.
ANSWER : I would guess you aren’t centering the belt correctly, thus it’s edge is caught between the brush and another solid object, causing the breakage.
.When you get the belt on the the brush and the brush back in place, turn the brush a few times by hand to make sure it’s not catching on anything. After you get the powerhead put back together, do this again. It’s a common problem if the powerhead isn’t assembled correctly.
.
.Here’s a video clip from the Bissell site demonstrating changing the belt.
.
.http://www.bissell.com/how-to-videos/replace-brush-belt-vacuums/

Read Full Q/A … : Vacuums

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Vacuums

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Vacuums

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!

Read Full Q/A … : Vacuums

Dyson DC07 drive belt replacement
ANSWER : Hi.
.
.The other end of the drive belt the part you cant see goes to a clutch.
.The clutch unit has 2 belts one is clutch to motor the second is clutch to brush roller.
.You obviously look after your machine because you say you have had no problems with belts or clutch for 5 years.
.Both belts & clutch can be worked on but its alot to explain so look at this site for service manuals.
.http://dysonmanuals.llc.nu/

Read Full Q/A … : Vacuums

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 … : Vacuums