Kirby Generation 3 Bagged Upright Vacuum\015 I can only vacuum as a canister, and if i try to shampoo (when i realized it)-instead of collecting in the tray, it spits back onto the machine!\015

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

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

If you are finding that the brush head is not spinning or the light is not working, the contact patches between the main body, extension tube and the floor head may need to be cleaned. Ensure that the two connection points are clean and have no dust which could cause the connection to fail.
VACUUMING. Q: What is the N/D pedal on the back of the Kirby for? A: This is your Neutral/Drive pedal. When you are vacuuming or using the carpet shampooer in the upright position, push down the Drive (D) pedal. This activates Tech Drive® power assist to make pushing your Kirby easy.
Clear the brush roll of any hair and debris and inspect by placing it on its end and spin. The brush should spin freely. If it doesn`t spin; it may be time to replace.
1. Motorized Brush Head. Sometimes called the “power nozzle,” this large attachment has a rotating brush to clean carpets more like an upright.
Inspecting the Vacuum Commutator for Motor Brush Problems

Test that by turning the motor off and pushing on the center shaft, the armature. If it has any play, besides spinning, then replace the motor. If solid then replace the brushes – motor brush replacement instructions.

The air filter traps particles as the air travels through the vacuum cleaner. If the filter is clogged, the vacuum cleaner will not have proper suction. If your vacuum filter is clogged, refer to your owner`s manual for cleaning instructions.
If too much hair, string, or lint is caught in the brushroll, the brushroll can get stuck. If the brushroll is stuck, it will put too much strain on the belt and may cause the belt to break. Remove the brushroll and clean out any debris from the bearings. After replacing the brushroll, make sure that it turns freely.
Burning smell can indicate motor damage

If you suspect that the motor is damaged, you should not continue to use the vacuum cleaner! The cause of motor damage is usually wear and tear or damage caused by prolonged improper use (e.g. overheating). In most cases, it is not worth repairing.

The brush thumbnail in the Tool Options bar reflects the brush changes as you adjust the brush dynamics options. You set brush dynamics options by selecting a brush tool and then clicking Brush Settings (or Advanced, for some tools) from the Tool Options bar. Controls the distance between the brush marks in a stroke.
Kirby vacuum prices are higher than many vacuums found at big-box stores, but that`s because Kirby vacuums are made of durable materials that will last for years. Why replace an inexpensive vacuum over and over again when you can purchase a Kirby vacuum? This complete home cleaning system that will last for a lifetime.
The Dyson vs. Kirby vacuum cleaners debate can be complicated, as these brands are so different. If it comes down to price or size, Dyson will probably get the upper hand — but for all other vacuuming considerations, Kirby is the way to go.
Brushes. According to iRobot, brushes should be replaced every 6-12 months. Robot vacuums like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have multiple brushes that allow it to clean.
Discovering the advantages of the on/off brush roll

Turning off the brush roll switches the vacuum to “suction-only” for quick and easy cleaning of hard floors. What`s more, the ability to switch between hard floors and carpets with the on/off brush roll means you only need one vacuum to clean your entire home.

On/Off Switch for Brush Roll

While a brush roll is great when you are vacuuming carpet, it can damage hard surface floors and some rugs. Having the option to turn off the brush roll is a great option that increases the usability of the vacuum cleaner.

A carpet beater bar is essentially a floor nozzle for a vacuum equipped with a rotating beater bar that spins while the vacuum is in use. By spinning, it agitates the carpet and loosens any lead dust that might be stuck in carpet fibers.
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.
The price of vintage Kirby vacuum cleaners can vary widely, depending on their age and condition. The least expensive ones are probably worth about $100 and high-end models might sell for $2,000 or more. But if you`re looking to buy one that hasn`t been refurbished, expect to spend several hundred dollars.
A well-maintained Kirby should last you 20 years, though there are many stories of Kirbys lasting much longer. Typically in 20 years, a household would probably replace their vacuum 3-5 times, depending on the quality of the model. You have to calculate the cost of replacing vacuums when comparing the price of a Kirby.
A turbo brush contains a rotating brush to lift and beat your carpet or fabric as you vacuum. The rotating brush in a turbo brush is air-driven and relies on the suction power of the vacuum to keep rotating. The more powerful your vacuum the faster and more effective the turbo brush.
A Brush for Dust

Use it on furniture, blinds, lampshades, workbenches, window screens or the dashboard of the car. Dirt and dust will cling to the bristles and get sucked into the open center of the brush.

At a minimum, aim for every other month. However, if you use your vacuum most days, a new filter bag every month is your best bet.
For optimal performance, the belt should be changed out every 3 months. Although the belt might look in great condition, it might be putting a strain on your vacuum if it is loosing grip and causing the pulley stress. To find the belt part number compatible with your vacuum, please refer to your manufacturer manual.
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.
How long do vacuum cleaners last? According to Consumer Reports, vacuum cleaners last a median of eight years. But the lifespan varies wildly by not only brand but your own personal use.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

My hoover spin scrub brushes stopped spinning and i have cleaned intake filter and tried to turn the thing that spins it…when brushes are off the hole turns then as soon as i connect brushes the brushes will not turn what else can i do!!???
ANSWER :
This video may help you

My model F5906-900 — problem is the brushes have stoped working… I pulled the brush assembly out by holding the two tabs, and all seems clean and the brush assembly rotates easly… onced the brush assembly is removed. What I did notice is the female driver slot (found in the main assembly unit) that drives the brushes seems stuck..Is that normal when the machine is not hooked up to power? How can I get the brushed going??? it is a good machine, but the brush options is important too it’s ab
ANSWER : (1) Assure the Brush Control on the hood is NOT set to the OFF position.
.(2) Remove the brush assembly by pulling/unlatching it from base on each side.
.(3) Does one of the brushes have the drive pin present? It should be about ¼ inch square, and two inches long. It attaches the brushes to the drive mechanism.
.(4) Remove and clean the intake filter. One the base of the cleaner, behind the brushes, squeeze the two red abs together and pull the panel down to access the screen. Clean the hair/debris off the screen and reassemble.

I have a Bissell Pro Heat 2X carpet cleaner and the brushes spin, then stop. I turn it off and when I re-start, the brushes do not spin until I push foreward. The it spins and stops again. Both belts are tight. The brushes spin if held above the carpet, but upon contact with carpet it stops. Same thing on a hard surface.
ANSWER : The reason for the brushes to stop when it is above any surface is there is a switch in the handle that stops the brushes so it dont burn your motor up it may have a faulty switch.

Spin brushes spin freely on steam vac when not attached to cleaner indicator screen not dirty speed selector is in high position brushes are clean spin brush indicator when brushes attached to machine does not rotate
ANSWER : If this is a Hoover Steam vac, the turbine which drives the brushes is bad. If not a Hoover, then what is it, they are different, need brand and model number.

Electrolux vacuum brush not turning problem:

was vacuuming and rug got caught auto shut off kicked off power to brush. instead of hitting red button to restart brush I disconnected brush to vacuum some hair in Conner. after i reconnected the brush and hit the red button but no power to brush. Light won’t even switch on. Hope you can help

ANSWER : Under the vacuum, there is a guard..remove the guard , either by 2 screws or by 2 clips..there is a belt under the guard..that is connected to the brush..the belt need to be replaced.

Why wont the brushes spin? I have had this machine for about 3 years and it has always worked great, tonight the brushes will not spin at all, it still sprays and sucks up the water. We took the brushes off and were able to spin them by hand
ANSWER : In this machine there is no belt. The brushes actually spin by vacuum and in the turbine assembly there is a small wheel bearign which rusts out. You will need to remove and repair or replace the turbine and gear assembly P/N should be 43191009

Just purchased this Dyson dc24 today. brush doesn’t spin after gettin tangled in a cord. removed the cord from the brush OK.
I have several times:
removed the brush and replaced it OK.
pushed the red button by the brush.
pressed the brush power switch.
ANSWER : When you removed the brush roller dod you examine the end of the actual roller that is opposite from the removal opening. There is a gear that the roller fits over that may have gotten stripped when it became tangled. Check that the gear has not rounded off and look inside the roller bar to see if the area where the gear fits into may have gotten stripped as well. You might try to operate the vacuum without the roller brush installed for a few seconds just to see if the gear turns. When I say gear, it is actually a somall “post” about 1-2″ long that the roller brush fits over. Hope this helps!

The brushes on my Hoover Steamvac Widepath LS SpinScrub model # F6040 900 are not spinning. What should I do to get the brushes spinning again?
ANSWER : On those models the brushes are turned by suction.
1. Check the lower tank to be sure its completely closed and sealed.
2. Check the lower tank to be sure the tools filler plate is in place (if you used the tools recently)
3. If both 1&2 ok, manually turn the brushes, if they do not turn freely you may have a stuck turbine or bad brush block.
4. Take the brush block out by releasing the tabs on each corner being careful not to break them.
5. Place a large flat blade screwdriver in the square drive hole that drives the brushes under the machine. Gently turn. It should turn slowly with some resistance. If it turns slowly it is ok. If it turns with no resistance it may be bad as well. If it will not you may be able to break it loose with some even pressure being careful not to strip the hole. If it will not turn or makes a lot of noise replace the Turbine assembly.
6. If the brush block has a broken drive shaft or will not turn replace the brush block.

Here is what that brush block should look like.
http://www.vacuummedic.com/product.php?id=206

Good Luck!