Metal Royal Belt Questions

[mjhoshaw]

Good evening all,


 


I have a Royal metal Preferred Series model 6103 that desperately needs a new belt. It has a smooth belt now. Can I use a knurled belt? Also, are generic belts OK or should I buy genuine? I know that genuine parts often last longer, but I don't know if that truism applies to these belts. Thanks for any insight.


 


Joel

 

[kirbylux77]

If your Royal is made after 1990, then you can use Royal Style 8 belts or Kirby Generation 301291 belts. They are knurled, or have a textured grippy inside, that makes the belt last longer.

The 2 belts are IDENTICAL in their dimensions and can be used interchangeably. I have also used them on my Sweep & Groom, Eureka and DustCare PB11 powerheads....the Royal Style 8 belt is used on the Dirt Devil Jaguar/Royal Lexon canister that uses the DustCare PB11 with a different top cover. You can also use the Eureka AR and PT belts in these powerheads and the Kirby and Royal uprights, they fit just as well but are not knurled. If you look on Aliexpress, Amazon and Ebay, you can also find generic Chinese copies of the knurled belt sold in bulk, have bought them and although not quite the same quality work just as well. Belts are one example where it does not matter if you buy genuine or generic.

Rob

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

kirbylux77

Rob,

I prefer the older soft belts (1-044260-001) on those machines using the square-ended brush rolls, since while the knurled belts are supposed to have a greater grip, they're also more difficult to attach.

~Ben

 

[kirbylux77]

Ben

Good point. But, if the belt lasts longer, to me that makes it worth it if it's a little more difficult to install. I personally have noticed with my usage that a smooth belt will last for 12 months, about 18 months for the knurled belt.

Rob

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

kirbylux77

Rob,

I can understand. I did once try the 301291 knurled Kirby belt in my 1985 Royal 880, with the deluxe double-bristle brush roll with stiffeners (this one having ball bearing construction; 2-675227-000), and the few times I used it that way there was no real harm done to the motor.

What you don't want to do is use these new-style belts with the old-style brush rolls equipped with sleeve bearings. I saw a 1984 model 880 that had a poor condition sleeve-bearing brush roll, and that was due to the use of the Style 8 Royal belt. If you scroll down to reply #4 in the link below, you'll see what I mean:
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?21970

~Ben[this post was last edited: 3/21/2022-21:52]

 

[mjhoshaw]

Oops, I already did

From what I read, it seemed like knurled belts are OK so I bought a 3-pack. Oh well. I cleaned the sleeve bearings thoroughly with Q-tips and then applied two small drops of synthetic oil to each one. I will do this every time I clean the brushroll, and hopefully I'll be OK. I don't use the vacuum a lot, but when entropy sets in because of our 4 cats, I pull out the Royal and it makes quick work of things. Every time I think "Naah, I don't really need it, I'll donate it", I realize that NO, this vacuum has a permanent place in my cleaning arsenal.


 


Joel