Is my spare belt useless ?

[jmurray01]

Here is the spare belt I have for my 1977 HOOVER Senior Ranger, which has a cut in it.

I noticed it when I fitted it, so decided to take it off and use the other one instead (pack of two), but I was wondering if the damage to this belt was enough to render it useless for future use ?

The cut isn't noticeable unless you bend the belt like I did in the picture.

 

[tolivac]

The belt may have an age or dryness crack-probably will break soon after you install and use it.Try to get a pack of fresh belts.Don't keep them for more than a few years-and store them in "human" conditions-not in an attic,shed,or garage.

 

[jmurray01]

That was a pack of fresh belts!

I only opened them a few weeks ago, and they're genuine HOOVER too.

I did think it felt quite firm and dry though...

Do you reckon I should fit it when the current one snaps and get what use I can out of it rather than waste it ?

 

[twocvbloke]

Might aswell just use it until it breaks, I've had a few cracked belts last for some time before going slack or breaking, you should have seen the belt I had in my Sanitaire ZC-880 when I got it, more gouges and cracks than any belt I've seen, but it never broke, didn't sound healthy when running, but still operated the brushroll...

Infact, you can see the belt, I forgot I did a video of it!!

(automatically goes to 2m25s cos that's where you see the belt)

 

[jmurray01]

Yep, I know what you mean David.

The alternator belt on my mother's 1998 Rover 216 has more cracks than a cracked thing, and is the original from 1998 with 80,000 miles on the engine, but it still turns and doesn't slip at all.

No mechanic would advise to use a belt in that condition, but the fact is it still works, and that says something.

 

[jmurray01]

I just watched that whole video and really enjoyed it! I can't believe how quiet it is, or perhaps I'm just used to hearing a rattling noise when I use my Ranger!

I'm pretty sure a Senior belt would fit that, but it'd be very hard to fit, as it is hard enough to fit it to the cleaner it is made for, let alone one with a slightly larger pulley to brush roll distance!

How long in total did that belt last by the way ?

 

[twocvbloke]

I replaced that belt when I got some Eureka RD belts from a friend, and before that I experimented with using a flat belt pulled from the dead DC04, which worked for a brief time then snapped... :&#92

And yes, Senior belts fit, they're tighter than the correct belts and stay tight, unlike the proper ones which start of tight, then go ridiculously slack within a few days of light duty cleaning... :S

It's not really that quiet, it's about the same as a Hoover Senior, but it's not really loud though...

And I liked it so much, I have three now, the ZC-880, an S663 and an Electrolux C12 (same thing, just shakeout bag and a white painted hood)...

 

[jmurray01]

Was it you that told me round belts typically lasted 1 month ?

If not, how long do they usually last ? You should know seeing as you have a fair few round belted cleaners!

 

[twocvbloke]

I don't think it was me specifying 1 month, my ZC-880 lasted a few months with a round generic Hoover belt before it started smelling like hot rubber, but lasted barely a week with the correct and original Eureka belts... :&#92

When it comes to Sanitaire and Eureka uprights of that design though, the motor type makes a difference, the "Pancake" sort, like what my three use, can use the Hoover belts, but will eat the proper belts in no time, but the "Blender" motor models should only use the proper belts as the Hoover belts would cause damage to the bearings in those....

I don't know about how long Hoover belts last though, Junior or Senior, I just know I have a crapload of Junior belts for my two Hoover Juniors so don't have to worry really...

 

[jmurray01]

So it is normal to have to replace a belt after only a week when using the correct belts!?

That isn't really a good advert for Eureka!

 

[twocvbloke]

I don't know why that is to be honest, the older metal-based models from the 60s or 70s or whatever can use the same belts without a problem, but between then and them changing to plastic, and using different brushrolls, the gap between the pulley and the groove in the brushroll had changed, meaning the belts weren't as tight... :&#92

But, the ingenious sorts out there came up with a solution, and that is to borrow Hoover's belts, cos when you use the Hoover belt for the first time in a Pancake-powered Sanitaire, the tension drops to that of a fresh Eureka RD belt (despite other claims from some "experts" here), and they last a long time compared to the OEM belts...

 

[tolivac]

sounds like the new belts you bought must be defective-point that out to the store.A new fresh belt should not have any cracks or cuts in it.