Hoover belt keeps breaking - possible roller problem

[whynotsmile]

My Hoover vacuum cleaner keeps snapping belts. I've replaced a few, but literally as soon as I turn it on, with a few seconds it snaps.

I've had a look, and I think the issue is that the roller won't turn (it should turn fairly easily, right?). I've attached a couple of photos... One shows the bit that the end of the roller attaches to. Hopefully you can see that it has a few indentations.

The second photo shows the end of the roller which goes in to that bit. It has a strange looking bit of plastic which is sticking up. That seems to be catching on the indentations and jamming the roller.

I'm a bit suspicious of the bit of plastic, because it doesn't quite look like it's meant to be there... it's not nicely shaped or anything. It looks like someone could have been using a screwdriver to get the roller or and has kind of levered a blob of plastic up.

Any advice? I'm very tempted to plane the plastic bit off and see whether that helps! The other bit that the belt goes round (presumably connected to the engine) is going round fine.

 

[cmbcool01]

The brushroll looks to be in good condition so i guess you could try removing that piece the worst thing that could happen i imagine would be you'd have to buy a new brushroll

If it's doing it while you're using I'd try adjusting the height might be to low

 

[panasonicvac]

Are you using genuine Hoover belts?

 

[electroluxxxx]

By the looks of it, the brush roll bearing is seized and the whole brush roll will need to be replaced. it is a common problem with these types of machines. Do not attempt to fix it as it is not repairable and you will go through more belts. 

 

[huskyvacs]

Do not take that plastic part off. Things are there for a reason. If it slots into the webbing on the vacuum frame, that is what holds the brushroll ends in place, and it looks like the other 3 have busted off.

If you have the tools and know-how, brushroll bearings are serviceable. It looks like it is too new to have a bearing problem to begin with, they are likely barely even broken in yet. If the belt is snapping at the motor shaft end, it would seem that its melting right through the belt because the motor shaft is spinning but the belt and brushroll is not.

Also if this Hoover is the Air Steerable, they are known to have the brushroll belt keep snapping.

 

[madman]

What electroluxxxx said. Plastic brush rolls with ball bearings will tend to melt when the bearing starts to go bad, which makes it really hot. At this point the brush roll is likely melted beyond repair and the bearing likely seized, and that's why it's not spinning.

If you grip both end caps of the roll, the brushey part should spin quite freely.

 

[whynotsmile]

Thank you! That makes sense. I'll have to take it apart again to see whether the brush but spins, but I've a feeling that that's what's causing it.

I've been using Hoover parts, yes!

 

[electroluxxxx]

Huskyvacs

Get a good look at the picture! The bearing seized, the end cap is melted and out of shape therefore it needs to be replaced. The law of physics states that all mechanical things are prone to failure. This is obviously the case and it is very common with these new plastic brush rolls. There is no fixing these brush rolls, it is always best to replace them and be done with it.

 

[panasonicvac]

That's good to hear that you're using genuine belts. The reason I brought the belts up is because most generic belts tends to stretch out quicker than geniune ones and that would also be a common problem with belts burning up so that's just a quick tip that I thought I would share with you

But I would agree with Mike that I would just replace the entire brushroll, servicing plastic brushrolls is really not worth doing through my experience.