PN-2 Conundrum

[human]

So I got a new brush roll my Electrolux PN2 but when I put it in, I noticed two strange things: The first was that the PN2 had a PN1 brush roll in it (no thread cutter discs) and the second was that once I put the new PN2 brush roll in, the thing wouldn't run right. At first, it wouldn't turn at all until I took the rubber insert out of the end of the brush roll that's away from the motor, then it would just run a few seconds and kick the reset button.

That PN1 brush roll had obviously been in there a very long time. It makes me wonder if it's original to the machine. The elbow on it is green, so I think it's an earlier one. I wonder if the thread cutter discs were a later addition or something. I'm putting the old brush roll back in until I can figure out what's going on and maybe I'll get a PN1 brush roll for it instead or just knock the thread cutter discs off.

 

[human]

Switcharoo!

Okay, so this makes no sense. When nothing else seemed to work, I took my PN1 apart and pulled out the practically new brush roll, which of course does not have thread cutter discs, and put it in the PN2. Amazingly, it worked great, unlike the brush roll supposedly designed for the PN2.

Recalling that the PN1 had a PN2 brush roll in it when I first got it, I threw the new PN2 brush roll into it. When I tried it out, it ran for about 30 seconds before it kicked the breaker, so being just a little pig-headed, I pushed the breaker button back in and turned the vacuum cleaner back on with the power nozzle off the floor. After a few seconds, it started turning faster and faster. After the speed stabilized, I let it run another minute, then put it down on the rug and vacuumed happily for several minutes. So I've got a PN2 that prefers a PN1 brush roll and a PN1 that's equally happy with either, even though the PN2 brush roll is supposed to bog it down.

Needless to say, I left the switcheroo in place. The one thing I did notice about the new PN2 brush roll is the bristles are inordinately long, much longer than those on the PN1 brush roll. Maybe they were too long for the PN2.

 

[huskyvacs]

I have no idea if this is related, but I have one of the chrome square Power Nozzles (not sure the model number) and no matter what happens the belt refuses to stay on the brushroll. It keeps coming right off. What I remember reading on a vacuum repair site or forum (not this site) years ago was that there was certain brushrolls on the PN series nozzles that were faulty designs and they make modern replacements for them that fixed said design flaws. Maybe that is what is going on with your nozzle?

 

[huskyvacs]

I forgot to mention that my mother had the local vacuum shop repair it in the early 2000's and they couldn't do anything for it and their "fix" was putting a paperclip somewhere, somehow in it, and that fixed it for a few months until it broke again, and it has been broke ever since.

 

[human]

The belt on the PN2 feels like it slips. Maybe it's stretched. I may try replacing it.

 

[rugsucker]

"-belt--slips--stretched-"

Belt can be adjusted by loosening motor,slide back & forth until proper tension(not too tight,not too loose)carefully tighten motor screws.

 

[human]

Thanks for that information, Rugsucker. I'll definitely try that today.

 

[human]

That did the trick

I just tightened the belt and the PN2 works great now. I still have the PN1 brush roll in it, though. I'm glad to have learned that little trick. I only had to move the motor back very slightly, like a millimeter or so and all was good. I left a little flex on the belt but slippage is a thing of the past. I'm thinking someone had previously replaced the belt and not bothered to make the needed adjustment.