Sanitaire clamping effect... or not

[Sanifan]

The red sounds like this...

Actually, the red sounds the one in this link. I think it is the same vacuum as mine but with a different bag. Sorry but the vacuuming part is near the end and kinda short. But it does demonstrate what the vac sounds like.

Again, when I look through the top vents, the part of the motor I can see looks just like the top of the newer pancake. So that's what I think it is until I take it apart to confirm.

Thanks!

 

[broomvac]

Amperage

Look on the underside of the machines and tell me what the amperage for each machine is.

 

[Sanifan]

Hi.

I was curious, too, because they make a lightweight version of the grey topped red vac. That one has a 5 amp motor.

The red one I have is the sc688 which has the full sized 7 amp motor. Just checked this afternoon. The blue has a 7 amp motor as well.

So the difference in sound probably is not a difference in motor size I think.

 

[Sanifan]

Come to think of it, perhaps the link I posted was a video of the lightweight vac, the one with the 5 amp motor. In that case, I have a different motor than that one. Funny, though, because the one in the video does sound close the red one I have. Interesting, huh?

 

[broomvac]

Yep

When I saw the video I noticed the man was advertising a 7 amp vacuum identical to your red one except with a shake out bag, yet the careful observer will note that the vacuum shown running is NOT the actual one advertised. If you look at the bottom of the bag of the one running, you will notice it is not the shake out type. Also, I immediately noticed the sound of the 5 amp motor in that vacuum shown running, when it should have the 7 amp motor.

So the clip of the vacuum shown running is in fact that of one of the "Lightweight" five amp vacs you mentioned.

Both vacs featured in the videos I linked use 7 amp motors, and the picture of the new style pancake motor I posted a ways up is that of a 7 amp new style pancake motor as well

I hope that clears things up a bit.

 

[broomvac]

Ha

Sorry about the redundant post! You replied while I was typing.

 

[Sanifan]

D'oh!!!

OK, I solved the clamping problem. I changed the belt and the problem went away entirely. D'oh!!! That's the first thing I should have done.

Funny, cause I when I bought the vacuum I checked to see if the brushroll was spinning. Yes, it was. I sniffed for any burning smells. No, there weren't. I thought the belt was fine.

In a desperate attempt to figure it out, I change the belt. Wala! There's no clamping now. I'm not sure how the airflow from a properly tightened brushroll works to break that clamping, or if it's just the physical pushing of the brush and beaters, but it performs very close to my blue one now.

Sounds much closer, too. There's a whine of the motor and the low rumbling growl is actually the beaters and brushes working the carpet. It's just as loud as my blue!

OK, so I learned something here: When facing a problem, hit all the fundamentals first! Thanks for all the help, guys.

 

[broomvac]

I'm glad I could help!

Yep, the brushes and beaters do help break the seal when the belt is strong enough to turn it fast enough. In fact, the whole purpose behind the beaters is to constantly shake the carpet away from the nozzle and keep it from sealing.

A tip for you: When changing the bag in a Sanitaire, I ALWAYS change the belt as well. About every six months I change both in my Sanitaire.

The reasoning behind this is that the more you use the vacuum, the belt slowly weakens, but the bag slowly restricts airflow and suction at the same time. So, even though the belt is very slowly losing traction over months, as on any vacuum, the suction is slowly dropping as well, which means the carpet has less of a tendency to want to seal to the nozzle, meaning the belt has less work to do, and the loss of traction is not very noticeable. But, if you put a fresh bag in the vacuum, and you are using the same belt you used with the previous, and more clogged bag, you will notice the belt will struggle greatly to turn the roller. That is because the carpet wants to seal to the nozzle more when the bag is fresh rather than used, and if you are using a weak belt when you have a fresh bag, the result will be a vacuum that seals itself to the floor and prevents the roller from turning very well, if at all. That is why I always like to change the bag and belt at the same time in my Sanitaire.

 

[Sanifan]

Thank you for the insight...

I'll be changing my belts more often, for sure.

I've collected some Eureka specced belts that are a bit older (Probably 80's and some from the 70's) that are in the unopened package (either suction wrapped to cardstock, or sealed an a plastic pouch). I'm assuming that they're the same size as the Eureka/Sanitaire belt of current production? I could use these older belts and get the same tension as the current crop?

With the discussion of Hoover vs. Eureka/Sanitaire sized belts, it's a bit ironic that I have a couple sets of Hoover branded belts that are designed to fit all Eureka uprights (It's printed on the card). Lol.

As I'm having no problem with Eureka belts, I'll stick to those I think.

 

[vacuumfan96]

Sanitaire SC886, no problems!

I have never had a problem with belts on any of my Sanitaires!