Bissell Powerforce Helix sounds like a chainsaw!

[niclonnic]

Weird noises never stop coming these days!

So at my local food bank, I vacuumed with the Bissell Powerforce Helix. I did the upstairs floors, and the vacuum sounded absolutely fine. However, when I went to vacuum one of the offices, within about a minute, I heard a really loud grinding noise! So then I checked the underside, and the brushroll was turning freely. I didn't see anything stuck in the brushroll housing.

So now this vacuum sounds like either a weed eater, a motorcycle or a chainsaw! It's the weirdest dang thing, and this Bissell has worked absolutely fine for the 2+ years I've been volunteering here. Just a few weeks ago, I completely cleaned it out, and a couple months ago, I cleared out a clog from the lower hose.

Does anybody know how to stop this grinding? I don't want to sound like I'm using a chainsaw in the place!

Any solutions would be greatly appreciated.

Below is a pic of the underside.

 

[vacmaster]

Try removing the bottom plate and see if the brush roll is out of place and scraping in the Indicated points below.

 

[hvrvaclvr]

My grandmother had a Hoover Elite, the newer bagless kind. About three years ago, I was using it and it started to make that noise, so I emptied it, washed it's filters and checked for clogs. The next time my grandmother used it, it made that noise and died. So maybe it is dying?

 

[vacmaster]

Bad bearings? Carbon brush issue? It's easy to take these apart. You should do that and check the motor

 

[suckolux]

I would try running it with the belt off to clear the brushroll for sure . Prob motor though.

 

[niclonnic]

Thanks!

I'll look into trying one of the tricks you guys told me about! I might go back to the food bank next Thursday.

Vacmaster, I'll look into the part where the brushroll rides on and see if there's anything wrong. I've never done electrical maintenance to a vacuum. Changing a belt, changing a bag and clearing out clogs are the extent of my skills.

HVRVACLVR, I don't think this vacuum is dying. I just need to inspect what's wrong under the bottom plate.

Suckolux, I'll give your idea a try.

I also took a quick video yesterday with my iPhone. I just uploaded it to YouTube so you can hear what it sounds like.

 

[niclonnic]

One more thing...

I left a note for the owners of the food bank. I stuck it onto the vacuum.

 

[suckolux]

Chainsaw, I hear it! Sounds like brushroll is hitting something

 

[niclonnic]

It sure does

However, a friend of mine thinks it sounds more like a leaf blower than a saw.

 

[daknx1994]

It is not the motor. If you listen closely you can hear the motor and the separate grinding noise. Even though the brushroll may turn freely, at high speeds, when bearings die, they tend to make a grinding noise. Take the brushroll out like suckolux mentioned and go from there. If it stops making the noise, it is the brushroll.

 

[suckolux]

also to my ear? the rpm is wrong for motor, correct for brushroll

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

These vacuums appear to have a motor speed of roughly 30,000 RPM.

~Ben

 

[niclonnic]

I found the culprit!

Back at the food bank, I was able to remove the bottom plate and perform an inspection. It turns out this issue had nothing to do with the motor or brush roll!

What really happened was a tiny rock got stuck in one of the little crevices of the brush roll in between the bristles. It was grinding against one of the rug strips on the bottom plate. That's what was making the vacuum sound like a chainsaw!

So I dug out the rock, and now the vacuum works like new again! How crazy is that?! This really saved the owners from a trip to the vacuum shop! The food bank owners thanked me for my good deed.

Below is a pic of the rock still in the vacuum. The second pic shows me holding the rock in my gloved hand.

 

[parwaz786]

Lol I cant believe that LITTLE thing caused such a LOUD noise

 

[suckolux]

It sounded like brushroll hitting something, and sort of is

 

[niclonnic]

I know, right?

So what's the moral of this story? Inspect the floor for unusual debris, such as rocks or big scraps of paper, before you vacuum! Otherwise, the consequence will be bizarre noises.

With all the repairs I've done to other businesses' vacuums, should I get a job as a vacuum cleaner repairman?

 

[kirbylux77]

Niclonnic

While I agree with your above statement, the Bissell should have been able to handle a small pebble like that WITHOUT getting lodged in the brushroll! That just speaks to poor design, in my opinion. But at least this was relatively minor & easily fixable.

Rob

 

[durango159]

I've never heard of a small pebble like that getting stuck in a brush roll like that. I guess stranger things can happen.

A small pebble getting stuck like that could mean that the filters are about clogged. The filters on these can clog severely after a few uses or in about 5 minutes!! Just depends on what you're picking up. If you're cleaning a very dusty area then expect this machine to lose airflow very quickly.

When you do a thorough clean on this model. Remember to wash the helix separator that spins loose from above the dirt cup. Then you have the outer foam and round drum filters to clean in lower section of dirt cup. There is a tiny filter below the dirt cup that occasionally grabs dirt. Then depending on how bad you also have the front exhaust filter to clean. All of these are replaceable but also washable. I recommend not soaking the round drum filter in dirt cup for more than 20 minutes. You have to be careful with all filters of that material.

These vacuums are very cheap, so if there is anything major I would suggest just a new vacuum and not spending money to repair. This model brand new is a WalMart exclusive that usually sells somewhere between $38-48 depending on their current promotions.

I like these machines better than their closest competitor in my opinion: Eureka Maxima. I would highly recommend a Bissell PowerForce anyday over a Maxima or similar Eureka. However for allergy sufferers, major usage, heavy cleaning in a similar price range I would look to the bagged version Bissell Powerforce which usually sells about $4 lower than the bagless one. Next choice for a low priced vacuum brand new above the Bissell Powerforce, I'd look to a Hoover Tempo bagged upright.

Currently on WalMart.com the bagless version is $47.84 and bagged version is $43.84.

http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=bissell powerforce

 

[niclonnic]

Durango159

I did a thorough cleaning of this vacuum a month ago. I washed out every part, namely, the dirt container, helix separator, inner and outer circular filters and pre-motor filter. Plus, I wiped down the exterior of the vacuum. There is no exhaust filter. Oh, one design flaw with this vacuum is in the exhaust. It powerfully blows out of the front of the machine, which moves notes, calendars etc. It could even hit your face!

The filters were lightly soiled when that pebble became lodged in the brushroll.

Yes, for the money, these Bissells work fairly well. Granted, they will be messy to clean, but you get what you pay for. I haven't used the bagged version, but it should be a lot more sanitary than the bagless one.

I linked a Vacuumland thread where I shared the experience of cleaning out this machine so you can see what I'm talking about.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?28630_44