Concept One throwing drive belt

[friendlynerd]

I have a trash-picked Concept One (one of my favorite Hoovers) I'm trying to get up and running. The transmission seems to be OK but it keeps throwing the powerdrive belt. Nothing obvious is wrong with the pulley - doesn't seem to be at a wierd angle or anything. But when you turn on the motor the belt pops off immediately, and flings across the room.

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[petek]

It sounds like your belt has worn (stretched). When new they are extremely tight fitting.

 

[dial-a-matic]

Sooo does mine...

...even when they are new.

-a-

 

[friendlynerd]

I'm using a brand new belt out of the package (and it fits tight! Just try to get that sucker on there!)

Any other thoughts out there? (and thank you!)

 

[hoovercelebrity]

I'll post more later...

But there was an issue with this... I have a Hoover service manual that discusses it.

Off to work for now!

~Fred

 

[swingette]

you should always turn the agitator by hand before you attach the bottom plate and turn on the power. when you turn the agitator by hand it helps seat the belt properly. maybe the (nylon?) pivot bushing is worn out?

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Flippin' belts.

Hey, here are a few snapshots from Hoover service manuals.

~I'm presuming you have a model U3101~

It's hard to tell in your picture if the armature on your machine has 'crowns' on it--where the belts ride (see picture 2). It doesn't look like it, and the model U3101 wouldn't have benefited from that produciton change, as that model was discontinued well before 1983.

I asked my boss about your problem, and he said you can try what this first picture suggests... but ultimately, a double crown armature is really the best and sometimes only fix (which they ended up implementing in production nearly three years later).

Hope this helps!

~Fred

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Flippin belts, part 2.

Here's the second shot.

Shoot me an e-mail if you have any further questions.

~Fred

 

[friendlynerd]

Wow, thank you for your help! It worked!

I never would have thought the direction the belt was facing would have made any difference, but I guess that was it. I think I had the lettering facing toward the agitator belt rather than away from it. Go figure.

 

[petek]

Who'd have thunk it