belt question

[vacuumfreeeke]

I have a friend who has a Bissell Powerforce... the black bagless vacuum that was sold at Wal-mart for years. Don't worry, we weren't friends when he bought it... friend's don't let friends buy vacuums at Wal-mart! Anyway, he has just moved into a new apartment with brand new carpet. I was helping him clean his old apartment up and noticed his brushroll stalling on the back stroke. I went to Wal-mart to buy a size 9 belt, but they only sell size 8 belts there for Bissell. Does anyone know that would fit, or is there a good substitute? Surely the machine isn't so old that the belt has been discontinued?!

We are kind of looking for a new vacuum for him, but we need to get his working right in the meanwhile. He just got an awful dog (timid, pees everywhere, not playful or friendly, and sheds like crazy), so he wants to keep the new place looking as good as possible. I brought my Dyson over today and it got up a lot of hair... Of course Dysons perform well so that's no surprise, but this is brand new carpet that has only been down for two days and that dog is small! I was glad to have a nice carpet to vacuum and leave lines in since mine is so thin and (kitchen type, like you find in schools) flat that lines aren't possible. Of course I didn't enjoy all my Dyson attachments bouncing down 4 flights of stairs as I carried the machine up, but I digress! (they should snap in more securely than that!)

I don't want to get him a "nice" vacuum because he doesn't have the mentality that supports the good care of a decent machine. He never empties the bin, though he insists on a bagless vacuum. He tried to wash the dog smelling filters in the Bissell and put the silly things in still wet. Well, now it stinks to high heaven. I've actually watch him suck up wet glass through the hose one time when he dropped a chamnpagne glass... so definitely he doesn't need an expensive vacuum. Just one that is a little better than what he has. Any suggestions, short of shop vac? There are just some people that are stubborn and don't listen to warnings about vacuum care no matter how many times you try to tell them so I stopped saying anything. Before he got the dog, I brought my s/p WindTunnel and my Kirby G5 (different times) over to give his place a good cleaning. He likes self propelled, but again, doesn't need something nice because I don't think he'll take care of it. If I vacuum for him again, I can only bring the Dyson or Kenmore Iridium (LG bagless canister, which I have also brought over before), because I don't want to stink up my bags.

Thanks )

 

[henrydreyfuss]

Hey VF

Your friend's Bissell takes a Style 7,9,10,12,14, or 16 belt. They're actually all just the same belt. I find it silly that Bissell uses so many different numbers for the same part. Maybe they don't want customers to think the vacuum they're looking at on a department store shelf is similar to the last crummy Bissell they purchased a year earlier??

The Bissell style 8 belts actually fit the Lift-off model, which uses two motors, and a smaller belt. It would be far too small for your friend's vacuum.

You should be able to track down the belts you need at most department stores, and any local vac shop should carry them. They're still available and pretty common.

The best new model Bissell is probably the $40 bagged Wal-Mart exclusive *shudders*. The bag filters much better and maintains power a lot longer than their bagless models. Of course it is still a very "plastic" machine, but it cleans fine.

 

[joe22]

$40 bagged Wal-Mart exclusive

as much as i make fun of bissel i have to agree. i know some people who have a cleaning business and use them, they do clean well (carpets)

re walmart, they carry a bissel canister here but NOT the bags for it ??? on the walmart page some one complained about that fact too.

my walmart carries hoover A bags for .99, real thing from hoover ???

 

[kloveland]

The Bagged Bissell Powerforce is a decent vacuum. The Hoover Type A bags will fit the machine but the filtration will be pretty poor. I don’t like the on-board tools the dusting brush is very stiff and the upholstery tool can snag on furniture. But for carpets it works great! The only thing that I have noticed is that sometimes it will leave sand and grit on the bottom housing. But like you said any vacuum that he chooses sounds like it is going to be mistreated. Overall I think the Bissell is a good choice.

I just noticed that this might not help because he wanted a bagless vacuum. I have never owned a bagless vacuum(besides a Kirby w/sani-emptor). The only bagless vacuum that I have tried was a Hoover Windtunnel non self propelled. It actually worked pretty well with a half-empty bin, but once the bin started to fill the suction declined. I would take the vacuum out to the garage and beat the tower filter in the trash can and it was a big mess. Then I had to sweep the garage floor after I was finished. But I think a used Hoover Windtunnel from a vacshop might also be a good choice.

 

[electroluxxxx]

in this case a Bissell lift off would be a good machine for him as they do seem to maintain suction longer than the bissell powerforce bagless machines and as far as the bagged one goes I have had nothing but problems with them as they seem to lose suction quickly due to poor design, I am sure that he can find a lift off on ebay for a good cheap price. they also seem pretty Durable for what you pay. I have had mine a few months and no issues.