belt question....

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hey guys.... I got the following text from a co-worker yesterday: "Bobby, help... my vacuum won't suck no more." Maybe some of you have gotten similar texts before... it's interesting how that because we are "into" vacuums, we get called every time someone breaks their machine due to improper maintenance or when they need a carpet shampooed.... I guess I don't mind, I usually attempt to come to the rescue. The girl got the vacuum from her mother about a year ago... apparently her mom is into he hotel cleaning business and before my co-worker took possession of the machine, asked me if I wanted to buy it for my collection.... I told her tactfully that I wouldn't touch that bagless beast with a 10 foot pole! So, a year later, the vacuum is clogged and the belt is broken... the clog was an easy fix, but I'm having a small problem with the belt as I know little of such machines. It is a Sanitiare SC5845, and a google search said that it takes Style U belts... but I don't know if the the Eureka belt type would correspond with the Sanitaire belt type. I'm hoping to get the belt at a big box store (Wal-mart maybe?) so I don't have to wait for it to ship... she's asking to borrow one of mine because she has kids and needs a vacuum, but I don't *ever* lend my babies, uhm errrr machines ) Even if I were inclined to lend, I would change my mind after seeing the abuse this machine has suffered.... that would be like sending one of my machines to the execution chamber! She said it's in such bad shape because her 6 year old runs it sometimes.

Anyone have a clue if I can find something at Wal-mart or Lowes (those are what are close) that will work on this toy?

Thanks!

 

[whirlsonicmore]

Yes, that does indeed take the U belt, part number 61120.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Thanks.... I got some Eureka U belts at Lowes yesterday so I can fix her vacuum now.... until next time!

 

[twocvbloke]

Eureka make Sanitaires, so they share part numbers for the most part...

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

OK, I did it

I finally got the belt over to my co-worker and replaced it for her.... she said she was getting desperate with 3 kids and she was going to have to buy a new vacuum! Just for a belt! I went over and of course we talked about work like co-workers do when they get together, and then I attacked the vacuum. Took me a minute to remember that Eureka likes to put the screws on the top of the vacuum and the hood comes off instead of a bottom plate.... I brought my own screwdriver because I didn't know if she had one.... it was easy to get the hood off (just two screws).... the belt was broken.... the new one went on easily and the brushroll was very easy to take out and put back in. I noticed that it barely had any suction, so I looked at the chamber filter and it was all clogged. I asked her what she does when the vacuum is full... she said that she just dumps it out and puts it back together.... so I asked for a brush and brushed the filter off.... restored a lot of suction. I told her she needs to do that every time she dumps the canister, but I know she won't.

When I tested the vacuum out, I noticed something stupid... the handle came off in my hands on the back stroke.... I asked her about it and she said, "That's just how it is... it's always done that!" I guess her cousin, the one who put the vacuum together didn't know that the handle had to be screwed on and just threw the handle screws in the trash.... I "robbed peter to pay paul" and took two unnecessary screws out (one for a silly cord clip and one in the hand grip.... it had two others anyway) and screwed the handle in.... I can't imagine trying to vacuum with a machine that always lost its handle! Thank goodness that I brought no own screwdriver because Eureaka likes to use Torx screws and some of the ones I had to remove were torx, the others were phillips....

She was grateful and I had fun.... I got to see the pet turtle and interact with her kids.... two boys (5 and 7) and a girl (9).... they handed me the screwdriver and held on to the screws when I removed them so they wouldn't get lost and brought me the trash can, what good little helpers they were! When I sat down azt the vacuum to go to work on it the kids sat down right beside me and watch everything I did.... I was shocked... I thought they'd be in the room playing when I worked on it! They were very interested! As soon as I got the vacuum back together, the girl ran it all over the apartment, and my co-worker warned, "Don't suck up nothing big!".... It was funny to see her vacuum under the dining room table.... she tipped the vacuum up on the back wheels and the nozzle was completely in the air not even making contact with the floor and just went to town.... I almost showed her how to step on the pedal to release the handle one more notch and lay it flat but I didn't think it would be worth the effort LOL

This is a picture of the exact machine.... I had no clue it was going to be black!

That filter really held onto the dirt.... it was a nightmare to clean! I showed her that the vacuum had a quick release cord wrap, so she was grateful to learn that LOL All the attachments were missing.... I don't know what people do with attachments..... actually, the wand and crevice tool were in the kids bedroom... the boys use them to "sword fight"!!!!!

My coworker said she thought the brush wasn't spinning because the hose was probably clogged (surprisingly, it wasn't).... she had no clue that a "rubber band" is what made things work!

 

[vac_whisperer]

Never seen a Sanitaire like that before.... Looks like those DD Visions.