Kirby G4 Bagged Upright Vacuum

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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

Q: It smells like the belt is burning. What is wrong? A:It is likely the belt isn`t turning freely on the brush roll. Flip out the belt lifter handle and turn it clockwise until the green arrows line up.
If you`re smelling rubber, the belt has either burned out and snapped or the belt has become so stretched out that the roller is not moving and the vacuum belt is getting super heated from the motors RPM.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kirby Belts. Why Do I Keep Burning Belts? It is likely the belt isn`t turning freely on the brush roll.
Carpet cleaner smells like burning and may be caused by overheating debris in the machine or a malfunctioning motor. To resolve the issue, unplug the cleaner, inspect for blockages, clean the filters, and check for damaged components. If the problem persists, contact a professional or the manufacturer for assistance.
As the cleaner head and filter fills with dirt and debris over time, all the built-up debris begins to emit a burnt-smelling odour. You may need to remove and clean out the vacuum`s filter. We need to advise you to stop using your machine and request that you contact your local customer support team.
Cause 3: Misaligned Belt

If your vacuum`s belt is misaligned, it may cause unusual sounds and smells like burning rubber due to a build-up of friction and heat.

The main reason why a vacuum may be emitting a smell of burning rubber is a broken belt or an object is suck. Excess hair or fur caught around the roller brush can also cause this issue. Turn off your vacuum and let it cool before doing anything.
If you notice a burning rubber smell from cars, it is often a sign that you have overheated the brakes or tires. Overheating usually occurs when your car`s clutch is slipping or not working properly. If you experience this smell and were using your clutch at the time, let the car cool down, and try again.
Kirby vacuum cleaners are made of die cast aluminum where most other vacuums are made of plastic. This makes the Kirby vacuum more durable than other model on the market. This is why the average lifespan of a Kirby is over 30 years.
Problems can occur when overused or clogged filters cause the vacuum motor to overheat. This not only shortens the motor life but causes a loss of suction. In some cases, total motor burn out can occur.
Excessive Dust

Still, it won`t get out of your vacuum by itself, even with some of the self-cleaning models. Dust itself can create bad smells. Remember, fine dust is a collection of dead skin cells from humans and pets, pet fur, human hair, lint, and allergens such as pollen.

If there is a strong burning smell coming from the motor area of your Dyson DC14 or DC07 then it is most likely that your motor has burnt out.
Dirty Lint Trap

However, over time, if you don`t clean the trap regularly, all that dust can clog up your dryer and restrict its airflow. If that happens, your hair dryer can give off a burning smell once you turn it on. To fix this problem, you`ll need to clean the lint trap.

As it relates to smells, a good point brought up by both is while Dyson purifiers will be effective against odors (good or bad – such as fishy cooking smells, candle scents, or even smoke), it`s worth noting they won`t remove odors at the source.
Analysis of the vapours that are released from tires reveals the presence of numerous compounds that constitute the β€œtire smell.” Some of these, mostly those emanating from the hydrocarbon oils, are potentially toxic. Some, like benzopyrene, are carcinogenic.
So, if you have just nailed several donuts in your car, then the smell of burnt rubber will linger for a few days, if not then you need to investigate and find out why your car smells like burnt rubber, To make your life easier, My Car Needs A have created this post to help you find the problem.
If for some reason the vacuum cleaner should overheat, the thermostat will automatically turn the unit off. Should this occur, unplug the vacuum cleaner from the wall outlet and turn off switch.
The vacuum has a safety feature that turns off the vacuum when the vacuum gets to a certain high temperature or overheats. This happens because the vacuum has a motor protective thermostat. If the vacuum turns off due to overheating, the thermostat has to be reset before you can use it again.
Smelling burned toast does not indicate anything medical. But if you`re smelling something that isn`t there, there may be an underlying cause. Phantosmia is a condition that causes you to smell things that aren`t there. It`s also called olfactory hallucination.
In general inhalation of plastic fumes can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, respiratory side effects such as aggravated asthma, skin irritations, headaches, nervous system damage, and other organ damage such as the kidney, liver, and reproductive system.
If your car smells like burnt rubber, it could be a sign of a radiator coolant leak. If coolant leaks onto hot engine components, it can cause the coolant to burn and emit a strong burnt rubber smell.
For more than 100 years, every Kirby has been handcrafted in the United States from die-cast aluminum.
As a general rule, if the repair is going to cost less than half the cost of a new vacuum cleaner, it`s best to go ahead and get it repaired. When the service tops half the price of a new machine, it`s probably best to invest in a newer model.
A typical price for Vacuum Belts is $6 but can range from approximately $4.99 to $26.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Rainbow Vacuum smells like something is burning.
ANSWER : Your belt is worn and that is why there is a burnt rubber smell. You need to change your belt. You can find a replacement belt and instructions here:

Rainbow Replacement Belts

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SWEEPER SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING BURNING, BUT WORKS WELL. DOES IT NEED A TUNE-UP AND CAN I DO THIS MYSELF?
ANSWER : I would check if the drive belt has a scorch mark on it, you may have caught something that temporarilly jammed the belt causing it to slip hence burning smell. I wouldn’t suspect motor or anything serious as it works. So if need be change the belt. May be worth checking if the roller is turning it may be jammed.

pete

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Motor is sparking and smells like burning rubber. When it first happened I thought the vacuum had something jamming the beater bar. That was the smell it had, like when the belt gets burned. But when we turned it over, it wasn’t jamming. Took off the base plate and turned it on. The motor area is sparking and it makes a weird noise (I assume that is because the motor fails and restarts). I looked for loose wires, can’t find any. I believe I need some sort of part replaced, maybe even a n
ANSWER : From sound and description most possible is motor is burnt up sparks usually mean metal on metal either bearing or bushings went on motor if u can jiggle the shaft thats bearing if u rotate the shaft by hand and feel and or hear rough grinding the brushes are damaged and the (windings)are also would need to replace motor oreck has a costumer service 800 989 3535 number give them a call not always but some times they will ship a replacement part for free

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Burning smell When i start up my vaccuum it gives off a burning smell, it still picks up & operates
like it should just leaves the house smelling like ive had a fire. Any advice on how to fix will be greatly appreciated.
ANSWER : Replace the belt. It is probably stretched and is slipping. This will produce the smell your describing. These belts should be changed at least once a year.

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Burned smell hi, I have used my hoover 4 times and is starting to smell as something burned, I checked the troobleshouting part of the owner manual and it says that check the belt, I already did that and everything is ok I used the hoover again and still smelling bad and start to work very slow I better shut off it.. what could I do??
ANSWER : If the motor slowed down this would indicate a bad motor. not cost effective on this model to replace unless under warranty. it is not uncommon these days to see a motor go bad every now and then.
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.What are the first 4 digits of your serial number? this would be the month and year of mfr. even without a receipt, a warranty service shop should be able to assist you.

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Sewing machine Guru needed πŸ˜‰

Elna Grasshopper (new to me) circa 1950

The light works, but there was no hummm when knee pedal engaged.

I have the motor out, and it is very stiff to turn. I’m at a total loss when it comes to motors and electricity. It doesn’t smell burned, doesn’t smell at all beyond normal machine smells. (Yes, I made detailed notes and diagrams as I took said motor out!)

One other note. The long thing which my husband said might be a capacitor — it looks like

ANSWER : I just purchased a fairly tidy Elna ‘Grasshopper’ sewing machine (1951) with the same leaking capacitor problem. I carefully removed the capacitor for examination. It is actually three capacitors in one – no chance of a direct modern replacement, but anyone with those three capacitors, a couple bits of insulated wire, and a small soldering iron should be able to shoehorn them into the same space. There is a circuit diagram printed on the side of the original capacitor, showing one 0,2 micro-Farad capacitor between the two mains power buses (the two wires from the top of the original capacitor which are soldered to the top of the two outer brass bars where all the wires attach), and following on from each of those a 0,0025 micro-Farad capacitor (so, two of those), the other side of both of those joined together and going to the chassis – representing the one cable from bottom of the original capacitor, which is screwed down. Easier than it sounds – I just have to find those capacitors. They must be NON-polarised capacitors, rated for 250 Volts, and I plan to use radial (rather than axial) style, aluminium type ones – very common. From what I can gather, I believe they are needed for that lovely little motor to run properly – to have torque (‘oomph’) at start-up.....
.As to the motor not wanting to turn… difficult to say from a distance. Could it be that the ‘brushes’ are sticking – or even worn out? There are two, top and bottom, that ride on the commutator – the ring of bronze-colored squares on one end of the motor, behind the wiring. They are made of carbon, are what power the motor, and are held with hidden springs. With much use they wear down, but I would not expect them to be completely gone. The upper one is easiest to reach – there is a brass screw above it – careful the spring doesn’t get away. Only other thing would be fouling of the bushings that allow the axis of the motor to turn. A little penetrating oil could help there. The motor should turn very freely.

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My shark bagless sweeper worked for about 6 months. Like a previous blogger, I caught the edge of a rug that jammed the sweeper, three red lights blink, the brush is free moving yet the sweeper will not work. I did leave it plugged in all the time otherwise it would not run but for minutes. Very disappointed. New battery? what if that doesn’t work? is it junk then, money down the drain.
ANSWER : This will probably cost you more to repair than to buy a new one. Does it turn on at all?

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Bristles quit rotating and smelled like something was burning. It isn’t the belt that turns the bristles. Can’t afford a repairman, can you help me fix it?
ANSWER : Belt can reamin intact but still jam and burn. It won’t necessarily break. I suggest you remove the bottom of the vacuum where the bristles spins and where the belt is located. You may have something jammed in there. You may need to remove the bristle to get the belt out. Inspect the belt and replace after clearing the obstruiction.

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