Eureka Rugulator belt issue. I'm new to owning a vintage vacuum

[sweetestangel]

Picked up a gorgeous Eureka Rugulator with the original bag for $5 last week. Her serial/model number tag is missing. She works great for 5 minutes but the belt breaks. An RD belt was on her and it came with one. I broke both. Is a Eureka RD even the correct belt for her? Google isn't helpful.

If it is the correct size belt, does anyone know what could be the problem? My first vintage vacuum so everything is new to me. I'm used to using the plastic junk. Thank you

 

[lesinutah]

The

Belt the new sanitaire and eureks
S from the 2000s is the belt that fits.
You sure you have the belt on right.
You can't change height adjustment with the motor on. It snaps the belts quick.
Nice vacuum btw.

 

[lesinutah]

The

Belt the new sanitaire and eureks
S from the 2000s is the belt that fits.
You sure you have the belt on right.
You can't change height adjustment with the motor on. It snaps the belts quick.
Nice vacuum btw.

 

[kloveland]

Yes RD is the correct style. As belts get older (especially the round belts) can become dry rotted. You might try a new package. If the belt does not stretch easily then it is probably bad. 


 


If the roller brush spins freely. Then it is probably the belt. I would try a new package. 

 

[paul]

Congratulations on snagging a fine condition Eureka Twin-Power Automatic w/Rugulator! The Model 2070 was marketed from 1969 to circa 1975 in Cream & Lagoon Blue for Types A & B. The colors changed to Fawn Beige & Moss Green circa 1972 as shown in the linked YT video of the Model-Type 2070-D.

So yours is likely a Model-Type 2070-E or 2070-F; taking for granted the Queen Anne Gold "box top" bag is original (typically associated with the Queen Anne Gold models of the period)—Eureka Williams may have run out of the 2070 bag style and used up its Queen Anne Gold overstock at the end of its production. Another item to check is the "nub" on the bottom of your cleaner. Some were surrounded by digits indicating the production time.

The belt issue is possibly the result of dry rot due to age and/or storage. The RD (round diameter) belts were used for years on many different model-types, so they are still available as an alternative to the Sanitaire belts mentioned by Les.

 

[paul]

2070-B Video

For comparison - also shows the specs decal

 

[paul]

Some Newspaper Ads

1. 1973 Oct 2 LODI NEWS-SENTINEL - Eureka Model-Types 2010-B & 2070-B - attachment set

2. 1973 Dec 14 BRYAN TIMES - Eureka models 2012, 2070-D, 1630, 711-P, 1260, 150

3. 1975 Dec 14 SPOKESMAN REVIEW - Eureka Model-Type 2070-F

(The 2070-D in Fawn Beige & Moss Green had been introduced in 1971 - not 1972 as I'd thought.)

 

[kirbyklekter]

Belt problem?

Very nice Eureka,lucky you! Good advice from others on your belt problem. One other thing to consider if the belt is still failing even after insuring that it's a genuine Eureka belt and you've checked the brush roll end caps and no hair, strings etc. slowing it down,spins freely, take a look at the fan pulley. The metal piece you stretch the belt on to.

They can wear down after decades of use! Everything you pick up while vacuuming flies past the belt and pulley first before entering the bag. I had a similar thing happen with both a vintage Eureka and Hoover.I took the pulley to my vacuum guy in town and he brought out a new one to compare. Wow the groove where the belt rides was so worn thin on mine and became sharp where you place a screw driver that the belt was being sliced into in a short time.

Not your every day repair but that solved my dilemma. I think I paid $2 for the pulley about 20 years ago. You can order on line or maybe a general vac repair shop would have one for you. TIP: Store all your rubber belts in a zip top sandwich bag to keep them from drying out. You can also use a Sanitare belt on your Eureka.

 

[thatwasherguy]

Congrats on your find!!

Looks very similar to the 1971 model I scored a couple of days ago, except yours is a higher end model, with the box top bag. As far as the belt is concerned, you could also use a hoover convertible belt. That's what I used on mine, and it seems to work fine.
Hope this helps,
Thatwasherguy.