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Belts, Chris, Ben (& anyone else)...


Hello Chris & Ben.


If using the knurled belts, I usually encourage changing them twice a year if you're an average 'vacuumer.' If you're still using (for nostalgia & originality) the older rubber (gray) belts, then more frequently.


(In fact, this is the perfect time to kind of form the [new] habit... "change the clocks, change the batteries & change the belt [at least on a Kirby]"




Changing belts is one of the simplest, most needed 'fixes' of a Kirby; & yet, the most often neglected maintenence. It makes such a world of difference in cleaning. If you're using the knurled belts, at 99 cents ($.99), it's NOT like I'm gonna retire because you bought a few belts. Woohoo!!!  ~~lol~~


Quite often I tell a customer when they call with a concern, that they probably don't 'need me,' all they need to do is check & replace the belt. Often the response I get is: "Oh noooo, I checked the belt, it's fine; there must be something else wrong with it. I'll bring it in to you."


Then they bring their Kirby in, I pull out the brushroll from the nozzle, & 'SHOW THEM' & 'EXPLAIN TO THEM' why the old belt is bad; & they almost always say, "I thought it was ok, because it's not broken." ~~lol~~




Whether you are mechanically inclined or not, most people will relate to this example. I proceed to ask:



"If the belt(s) under the hood of your car (serpentine or "V") were stretched out & slipping, what would probably happen?" [Whether they answer or not, I continue, or agree with them if they are correct.] "You're vehicle is probably going to overheat & maybe do some motor damage. With the Kirby you're not going to hurt the machine; however, you are hurting your carpeting, etc. because the brushroll is NOT maintaining the proper speed."


Then I show them an 'old' or stretched belt next to a new one. And they usually say, "Wow, now that makes sense!"





I attempted to hold two (2) belts 'stacked' on top of each other to illustrate the 'stretching' of the belt. [I think you already know it, but the larger one is the bad one. ~~lol~~]


It's tricky holding the belts & taking the picture so it's not blurry. ~~lol~~


I hope this helps.


Cheers & hagn all,


Bill


Ps: Ben, changing the belt with NOT guarantee, not melting of the belt lifter lens. There can be other reasons the motor gets 'extremely' hot; if it does, this heat will conduct thru & out to the pulley. More likely with the aluminum fans I would think.


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