Royal Metal Uprights - Belt Question

[kirbyclassiciii]

For those of you who own a Royal metal upright... is it really necessary (or not) to unhook the belt from the motor shaft to prolong belt life? The cleaner in question that I own is a(n early 1985) model 880, with the 4.5 amp motor.

In this case, you have to re-stretch it over the shaft to use the cleaner again, and for novice users, attaching the belt can be a challenge.

Thank you!

~Ben[this post was last edited: 11/30/2017-19:59]

 

[TheSpiritOf76]

well, for the amount of machines I have.....

Since I have a rather large collection. I SHOULD disconnect belts on things that don't get used that often. Belts do wear on any machine, weather the machine gets used or not. Because there is always tension between brush roll and belt pulley. But some belts just wear faster then others, flat belts seem to be pretty good on time, especially power nozzle belts and things like Panasonic belts, or Dial.A.Matic belts. I also find that knurled Kirby belts are pretty good too. But round belts like in a Hoover or Eureka seem to not last as long.  The other thing is, how often is this machine used? If it is not used, and it sits for lets say months at a time (some of mine do sit that long, or sometimes longer), then perhaps, disconnecting the belt would probably be a good idea. But if it is under a month, like it is used bi-Weekly, then I wouldn't worry about to too much.


 


Don't you have a Royal belt lifter tool? That to me is something that makes changing a Royal upright belt, and Hand vac belt so much easier. I also use mine for things like my 40's GE, and Hoover Brush vac. Its just one of those things that makes life a little easier and takes some headache away.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

TheSpiritof76

Jae,

All my machines are used on at least a weekly basis, but I rotate them week by week.

Yes, I do have the belt lifter tool. The trick is to insert the tool from the left (the side where the bag is) and stretch it until it's over the shaft, and then to twist clockwise. When installed, the front of the belt should face you.

~Ben

 

[sptyks]

Ben,


 


I only have one Royal, the 8300. I do not remove the belt from the motor pulley shaft while not in use and I have found the belt easily lasts me a year or more. I typically use my Royal once or twice a month.


 


~Stan


 


 


 

 

[TheSpiritOf76]

Yes Ben....

I know how to use the belt lifter tool. I was simply suggesting that you might obtain one since you stated you have difficulty changing a Royal belt.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I leave flat stretch belts attached. They are just too much a hassle to put on and take off each time.
I always disconnect a round stretch belt, to save from wear. The only 2 machines I don't remove it on are the DD Hoover's...a hotrod 1060 and a Hotrod 29.

 

[real1shep]

Besides the actual stretching, rubber ages from exposure to ozone. The only cure for that is to seal the belts in cat litter and store in the dark (exposure to indirect sunlight is killer too).


 


I know this from flying RC airplanes, as the wings are usually held on by giant rubber bands. It's a hobby tidbit.


 


Kevin


 


 

 

[huskyvacs]

Rubber band rubber and vacuum belt rubber are different types of rubber. Apples to oranges.

The only thing that can happen is if you leave the belt on there for 20 something years in that position, unused, it will warp the belt. There is nothing to worry about otherwise.

You are actually putting more strain on the belt by removing and reattaching it so often because of the constant expanding and contracting of the belt. Tension strain will develop in the belt and it will snap faster. Just leave it on, and don't worry about it.

 

[suckolux]

Gosh, hate to admit but have never changed the belt on my Royal, a few years now I think. No issues

 

[real1shep]

It's not apples to oranges at all. It's about how rubber/neoprene breaks down and why. The only difference being the thickness/stiffness elasticity and therefore longevity of vac belts versus 'rubber bands'.


 


Kevin

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

huskyvacs

I'd guess I'd only really need to unhook the belt from the Royal if I were to use the attachments. Thank you for the tip!

~Ben

 

[vortigan]

I also struggle with the belt. I've already had to change it thrice on my Royal Cr5128z which I got about a few months ago. When I use it I can hear the brush slipping as I vacuum and when I check the belt it's stretched. I understand it's rubber and that it undergoes Heat and Tension during vacuuming and after which causes it to stretch, but I feel like I shouldn't have to change the belt so often. I also have adjusted the height many times using adjust rite, but in the end the roll still slips until I install a new belt.
Should I consider taking it off after each use? Is the height wrong? or is it my carpet?

 

[sptyks]

Vortigan:


 


Are you sure you are using genuine Royal belts? I find that that a belt usually lasts a year or more on my Royal Everlast 8300.


 


 

 

[vortigan]

Yes, 2 of the belts were the original ones that came in the box with the vacuum and the 3rd one was one that I bought matching the product number on the manual and the website.

 

[pr-21]

One more thing to check. Is you brush roll put back in the correct way? The pointing arrow


on your brush roll must be pointing the same way as the arrow on the rug plate.


 


 


PR-21


Bud

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

vortigan

Francisco,

Yes, absolutely... as Bud just said, you should always install the brush roll assembly in the right position, making sure the arrow on the brush roll lines up with the arrow on the rug plate.

Also, when installing the belt, make certain that when installed, the front of the belt will be to your right. It will fall off if not installed in that exact position when you turn the cleaner on.



~Ben

 

[vortigan]

Everytime I change the belt I always make sure the arrows are matching and when I connect the belt to the shaft I always make sure to "hook" it from the left with the belt tool. But either way the belt still doesn't last and I vacuum 1-2 times a week. Today I re-adjusted the height. And I have a few questions, when I adjust the height using the adjust rite should I stop as soon as the indicator starts to go in or do I keep bringing it down until the indicator reaches its max? The manual isn't clear on that and I assume that I should stop as soon as the indicator starts to move because the vacuum needs airflow to work.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

vortigan

Francisco,

Yes, you should stop adjusting it the moment the Adjust-O-Rite stub pops in. You may desire to turn the Rite-Hite knob one more full turn clockwise if you don't think it's low enough.

~Ben

 

[sptyks]

Francisco,


 


I was told by a fellow Royal collector that you should lower the nozzle height until the Adjust-O-Rite button is all the way in for best cleaning performance. You will notice that there are two notches, one on each side of the Rug Plate that allow air to enter the nozzle providing the proper amount of airflow within the nozzle when it is lowered to the proper height (Adjust-O-Rite button all the way in).