Sanitaire clamping effect... or not
- Thread starter Sanifan
- Start date
Help Support VacuumLand:
Not trying to scare anyone here..
...I'm just cautious from bad experiences I have had before, and trying to let other people see the possible consequences of using parts not designed for the vacuums they are being installed in. I agree with gsheen on that the people who designed Sanitaires are not idiots (obviously), and as a matter of fact, have designed one of the most successful and widely used vacuums ever.
As for replacing armatures, I find it more convenient to simply replace the whole motor, which costs $35 at most places including Hesco, and includes not only a brand new motor, but also an entirely new fan and belt pulley. The fan and belt pulley are like $10 if you buy them separately. Not to mention the fact that installing a motor takes like 10 minutes.
And about those upper bearing covers and the plastic vs metal, I am wondering why it would matter which could withstand impact and tension better, for the motors are protected INSIDE the vacuums, aren't they? Unless you are using the machine without a cover, and you are slamming the motor into things, the motor would never have to experience any impacts or tensions anyway. I would much prefer the added upper bearing protection provided by the plastic cover over having a metal top with a much more exposed bearing. If you are concerned that the new motors still do not provide a "true" sealed bearing, you could engineer a round piece of felt to cover the top bearing, doing what many vacuum makers do, and make added protection for that upper bearing. Though, even without that homemade piece of felt, the new motors still seem to offer more protection for the upper bearing than the older pancake motors.
Sanifan--
Checking to see what motor you have in either of your vacuums is very simple. For the blue one, you should flip the vacuum over, and remove two springs holding the metal hood on using a pair of needle nose pliers, and then flip the vacuum back over and unscrew the screw in the middle of the height adjustment knob. Pull the knob off and remove the metal hood covering the vacuum. It is that easy.
As for the red one, the process is essential the same, except for the part of pulling the springs off their hooks on the underside of the base. Instead of springs, there are two screws to be removed in approximately the same place on the base. Everything else should be the same.
Also, based on your descriptions on how the machines behave when they are used, both of them sound to be working fine. I am pretty sure that the only reason they sound different is because they probably have slightly different motors, which you can confirm if you take the hoods off of the vacuums. I would DEFINITELY say it is fine and safe to use either of them, including the blue S670.
...I'm just cautious from bad experiences I have had before, and trying to let other people see the possible consequences of using parts not designed for the vacuums they are being installed in. I agree with gsheen on that the people who designed Sanitaires are not idiots (obviously), and as a matter of fact, have designed one of the most successful and widely used vacuums ever.
As for replacing armatures, I find it more convenient to simply replace the whole motor, which costs $35 at most places including Hesco, and includes not only a brand new motor, but also an entirely new fan and belt pulley. The fan and belt pulley are like $10 if you buy them separately. Not to mention the fact that installing a motor takes like 10 minutes.
And about those upper bearing covers and the plastic vs metal, I am wondering why it would matter which could withstand impact and tension better, for the motors are protected INSIDE the vacuums, aren't they? Unless you are using the machine without a cover, and you are slamming the motor into things, the motor would never have to experience any impacts or tensions anyway. I would much prefer the added upper bearing protection provided by the plastic cover over having a metal top with a much more exposed bearing. If you are concerned that the new motors still do not provide a "true" sealed bearing, you could engineer a round piece of felt to cover the top bearing, doing what many vacuum makers do, and make added protection for that upper bearing. Though, even without that homemade piece of felt, the new motors still seem to offer more protection for the upper bearing than the older pancake motors.
Sanifan--
Checking to see what motor you have in either of your vacuums is very simple. For the blue one, you should flip the vacuum over, and remove two springs holding the metal hood on using a pair of needle nose pliers, and then flip the vacuum back over and unscrew the screw in the middle of the height adjustment knob. Pull the knob off and remove the metal hood covering the vacuum. It is that easy.
As for the red one, the process is essential the same, except for the part of pulling the springs off their hooks on the underside of the base. Instead of springs, there are two screws to be removed in approximately the same place on the base. Everything else should be the same.
Also, based on your descriptions on how the machines behave when they are used, both of them sound to be working fine. I am pretty sure that the only reason they sound different is because they probably have slightly different motors, which you can confirm if you take the hoods off of the vacuums. I would DEFINITELY say it is fine and safe to use either of them, including the blue S670.
twocvbloke
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2010
- Messages
- 2,148
The best way to damage a Sanitaire is running with a slack belt, because a slack belt is like dragging your hand over a table, gradually the friction builds up and heats your hand to an unbearable level, and that's what causes the "blue pulley syndrome", aswell as the BananaGroomer issues (my C12 came with a bent brushroll, due to a severely worn belt being used)...
Okay, so maybe I didn't put it into the right terms, the Hoover belts provide better Traction, like how a set of chunky tyres on a 4x4 gives traction offroad, the RD belts are like using F1 racing slicks in a muddy field, they just spin and burn out, meaning little or no movement of the brushroll when set to the correct height for the carpet involved (for me I have my 8 position Dial-a-Naps set to "3", and the 6-position to "2" for the commercial-grade carpet in the living room), which causes the pulley to heat up, the brushroll's belt channel to heat up, and hey presto we have either a snapped belt or bent metal, coupled with the awful stench of burning rubber...
Another car analogy, when you have an engine with a worn belt screeching on the alternator pulley under the bonnet, is it overheating because it's too tight? Nope, it's screeching and overheating because it's too loose, causing, you guessed it, heat damage, pulleys turn a funny rainbow colour, the belt slips, screeches, smokes and finally snaps, and then your battery dies after a few miles cos you have no power from the alternator, or you end up roasting hot and sweating like a pig cos your A/C pump isn't pumping!! Fun eh?
Anyway, I don't know what they did to the vacuums since the original design for the Eureka upright, but they must have moved the brushroll back or the motor forwards since the 260 or 265 (I forgot which model it was that I was chatting to someone about) when they designed the Sanitaire series, aswell as the later Eureka upright series based on the same chassis & motor designs, and neglected to adjust the length of the belts, thus causing the problems of wobbly pulleys and brushrolls with a 6 degree bend in them, and this error is why I use the Hoover belts...
I know it seems like I'm being a pain in the rear with this subject, but, when it boils down to it, there is a flaw with Sanitaires that has not been officially rectified, and given how the production of them is in Mexico or some other cheapskate lazy-arse "That'll do" attitude country, it's doubtful it ever will be, and thus people like myself come up with solutions (although I did not come up with the Hoover belt solution, I was given that as a suggestion when I got my first Sanitaire) to problems nobody really sees because they're not actually looking properly, regardless of whether someone runs a vac repair business or worked in the R&D department of a vac company or whatever...
Anyway, I'll leave that there, I need to go to bed, was meant to go like two hours ago.... :S
Okay, so maybe I didn't put it into the right terms, the Hoover belts provide better Traction, like how a set of chunky tyres on a 4x4 gives traction offroad, the RD belts are like using F1 racing slicks in a muddy field, they just spin and burn out, meaning little or no movement of the brushroll when set to the correct height for the carpet involved (for me I have my 8 position Dial-a-Naps set to "3", and the 6-position to "2" for the commercial-grade carpet in the living room), which causes the pulley to heat up, the brushroll's belt channel to heat up, and hey presto we have either a snapped belt or bent metal, coupled with the awful stench of burning rubber...
Another car analogy, when you have an engine with a worn belt screeching on the alternator pulley under the bonnet, is it overheating because it's too tight? Nope, it's screeching and overheating because it's too loose, causing, you guessed it, heat damage, pulleys turn a funny rainbow colour, the belt slips, screeches, smokes and finally snaps, and then your battery dies after a few miles cos you have no power from the alternator, or you end up roasting hot and sweating like a pig cos your A/C pump isn't pumping!! Fun eh?
Anyway, I don't know what they did to the vacuums since the original design for the Eureka upright, but they must have moved the brushroll back or the motor forwards since the 260 or 265 (I forgot which model it was that I was chatting to someone about) when they designed the Sanitaire series, aswell as the later Eureka upright series based on the same chassis & motor designs, and neglected to adjust the length of the belts, thus causing the problems of wobbly pulleys and brushrolls with a 6 degree bend in them, and this error is why I use the Hoover belts...
I know it seems like I'm being a pain in the rear with this subject, but, when it boils down to it, there is a flaw with Sanitaires that has not been officially rectified, and given how the production of them is in Mexico or some other cheapskate lazy-arse "That'll do" attitude country, it's doubtful it ever will be, and thus people like myself come up with solutions (although I did not come up with the Hoover belt solution, I was given that as a suggestion when I got my first Sanitaire) to problems nobody really sees because they're not actually looking properly, regardless of whether someone runs a vac repair business or worked in the R&D department of a vac company or whatever...
Anyway, I'll leave that there, I need to go to bed, was meant to go like two hours ago.... :S
gsheen
Well-known member
David
fist of all your comment
"In mexico or some other cheapskate lazy-arse "That will do" country" is offensive, Have you ever been there.
I have , to the factory and there is nothing cheap or lazy about it. I have been very privileged to go to many of these factorys were vacuums are made when I worked In R&D.
Those peope work very hard for there meager money. You work or you don't eat there is no government back up plan for them.
second of all if you want "That will do" attitude look no further than your own country. My dad been British always owned British cars like a Rover sd1 and later on Jaguars, When we moved to SA he continued with them often importing them if they were not available locally as he was a proud of his country, however those were some of the most badly assembled and made cars, when they were made at all! if the workers werent on a strike and now they are owned by the Chinese and Indians. I have never been in a car that falls apart like they do, Not even the Chinese cars.
Fiting bigger wheels to your car , will give it better traction, it will also wear out the wheel bearing faster, go ask any kid with 23" rims on his Honda civic.
I have never ever come across a vacuum that was damaged by a loose belt, they snap. A normal cars engine spins at 7000rpm but in reality spends most of its life between 2000 and 3500 rpm. A vacuums motor spins at any thing from 15000rpm to 40000rpm depending on the make, they simply melt there way thru a non fitting belt in minutes.
As for your warped brush roll , we get those all the time on hoovers and on the odd Electrolux c as they were called here. Its caused by to tight belts
As said previously , these machines have been in existence along time, they are sold to many commercial places who buy them because they work, If they snapped belts like you say yours does then they would not sell. Commercial clients do not buy machines for looks they buy them to work and work hard . If they snapped there belts after 2 uses there would be allot of angry customers out there and there who wouldn't buy them any more, but they do buy them so they must work.
fist of all your comment
"In mexico or some other cheapskate lazy-arse "That will do" country" is offensive, Have you ever been there.
I have , to the factory and there is nothing cheap or lazy about it. I have been very privileged to go to many of these factorys were vacuums are made when I worked In R&D.
Those peope work very hard for there meager money. You work or you don't eat there is no government back up plan for them.
second of all if you want "That will do" attitude look no further than your own country. My dad been British always owned British cars like a Rover sd1 and later on Jaguars, When we moved to SA he continued with them often importing them if they were not available locally as he was a proud of his country, however those were some of the most badly assembled and made cars, when they were made at all! if the workers werent on a strike and now they are owned by the Chinese and Indians. I have never been in a car that falls apart like they do, Not even the Chinese cars.
Fiting bigger wheels to your car , will give it better traction, it will also wear out the wheel bearing faster, go ask any kid with 23" rims on his Honda civic.
I have never ever come across a vacuum that was damaged by a loose belt, they snap. A normal cars engine spins at 7000rpm but in reality spends most of its life between 2000 and 3500 rpm. A vacuums motor spins at any thing from 15000rpm to 40000rpm depending on the make, they simply melt there way thru a non fitting belt in minutes.
As for your warped brush roll , we get those all the time on hoovers and on the odd Electrolux c as they were called here. Its caused by to tight belts
As said previously , these machines have been in existence along time, they are sold to many commercial places who buy them because they work, If they snapped belts like you say yours does then they would not sell. Commercial clients do not buy machines for looks they buy them to work and work hard . If they snapped there belts after 2 uses there would be allot of angry customers out there and there who wouldn't buy them any more, but they do buy them so they must work.
love 'em or hate 'em-Sanitaire vacuums ARE the most commonly used commercial vacuum cleaners in the US.Have things going for them-reliable-work well on commercial type carpets,easily serviced.The University,Hospital,and many businesses in Greenville,NC like any other place in the US,own and use Sanitaires and use and abuse them.the University(ECU) has a large fleet of Sanitaires.The machines come back for more-even after picking up mice,drywall peices and ust,whatever.In most-just replace the brushstrips,fan,belt,or bag.Any of those can be replaced in minutes.And the user can do it!Not to mention the motor pulley if it was worn or the wrong belt used on it.I have Koblentz(similar to Sanitaire) and Sanitaires made in Mexico-the quality of these is very good.The Koblentz vacuums can use some of the same parts as Sanitaires-Belts,bags for the most part.don't know on fans-usually koblentz have metal fans,and metal bodies.This gives them a slight durability edge on Sanitaire.Both have transparent fan case intake covers so you can see the condition of the fan or clogs on the fancase discharge to the bag.Too bad most users don't look there.
twocvbloke
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2010
- Messages
- 2,148
I haven't been to mexico, but, tell the people on the US-side of the US-Mexico border that mexicans are hard working and responsible, when they're happily busy doing nothing but sapping up US tax dollars living on state benefits all because they hopped over the border and popped out a kid making them instant citizens (though that latter bit is more to do with dumb US laws)... :\
And as for British engineering, I agree, it was utterly useless when it came to the nationalised corporations (if the name starts with "British", like British Leyland, British Gas, British Rail, British Steel, British Coal, British Petroleum, it was nationalised), that's why we no longer even have Rover because they were so badly built and the unions demanded more money than they deserved for their shoddy work, and now they don't have jobs, thanks to the god ol' unions....
And I'm not saying anything about hating Sanitaires, I love 'em, I just need something that doesn't melt it's own belts after a few uses... :\
I still believe the basic and very simple engineering principle in this thread is being missed though, when you run a Hoover belt for even 30 seconds, it warms up and slackens to the same tension as a brand new, unused, fresh out of the packet Eureka RD belt, so if the belt was "too tight" then the Eureka RD belt should never ever be used becasue it too is too tight!!! It maintains that tension for several months, no hot belt smells, no stopped brushroll when going from carpet to rug, no squeal on powerup, just reliable cleaning performance, and like I say, if my motor breaks through destroyed bearings, I'll let you know, but I have a feeling that won't be for about 10 years...
And as for British engineering, I agree, it was utterly useless when it came to the nationalised corporations (if the name starts with "British", like British Leyland, British Gas, British Rail, British Steel, British Coal, British Petroleum, it was nationalised), that's why we no longer even have Rover because they were so badly built and the unions demanded more money than they deserved for their shoddy work, and now they don't have jobs, thanks to the god ol' unions....
And I'm not saying anything about hating Sanitaires, I love 'em, I just need something that doesn't melt it's own belts after a few uses... :\
I still believe the basic and very simple engineering principle in this thread is being missed though, when you run a Hoover belt for even 30 seconds, it warms up and slackens to the same tension as a brand new, unused, fresh out of the packet Eureka RD belt, so if the belt was "too tight" then the Eureka RD belt should never ever be used becasue it too is too tight!!! It maintains that tension for several months, no hot belt smells, no stopped brushroll when going from carpet to rug, no squeal on powerup, just reliable cleaning performance, and like I say, if my motor breaks through destroyed bearings, I'll let you know, but I have a feeling that won't be for about 10 years...
Further observations...
I had a chance to check out my two Sanitaires a little further and I think for sure the red one has the new covered pancake motor. Glancing through the slots on the top, I can tell it's the one in the pic that broomvac posted. I'm sure the one in the blue is also has a later covered pancake motor; although I can only see through the slotted side vents, the black plastic housing and square vents look the to be that of the later model.
I also had a chance to check the fan on the blue. No damage, just light wear as you'd expect after a bit of use. I've come to the conclusion that the sound of the blue is not abnormally loud. It is loud, though. Louder than the red. It has more of a growl/roar; the red, more of a whine. The blue's actually not as loud as I remembered it being earlier.
I played around with the red one, tried to adjust the brush height and tried the different settings on the adjustment dial. Well, the brushroll can probably be set lower, but in my case it lowered it to the point that the belt was just about touching the bottom plate. So I left it at the default setting. (The roll is not actually designed to be lowered, but if you invert the rubber mountings, it does lower it). Again, I found that "2" was best on my carpet. On "3" I could hear the brush lightly swiping the carpet on some spots but missing it on others. The issue still remains, though. On "2" the vac is still sucking onto the carpet. There's an interesting thing I noticed as I push the vac forward. I would describe it as an oscillation. At first I thought it had something to do with the brushes hitting the carpet. After kneeling down and looking at the side of the vac while pushing, I realized that the vac was clamping, releasing, clamping, releasing. At a normal speed push, this would happen about 3 times a second. Interestingly, this only happened during a push, never on the pull, and only sometimes. Also, despite the nozzle being sucked onto the carpet, I noticed the two little vents on the sides, the 1/2" wide x 1/4" high ones, were clear the whole time. There was airflow shooting through those. Whether there was optimal airflow given the clamping, I don't know.
After playing around, I went and vacuumed the apt hallways with the red. It did suck onto the carpet a majority of the time, but the carpet did look very, very clean. Arguable cleaner than the bagless Sanitaire sc5845 upright that I usually use to clean the hallways. Feeling the bag, though, there didn't seem to be as much stuff in there as usual. That may be because I vacuumed previously a few days earlier than usual. Time will tell.
Thank you for the disassembly instructions. When I get the chance I'll take things apart and take a look at what's in there.
I appreciate the lively debate. I'm learning a lot from the discussion.
Thanks!
I had a chance to check out my two Sanitaires a little further and I think for sure the red one has the new covered pancake motor. Glancing through the slots on the top, I can tell it's the one in the pic that broomvac posted. I'm sure the one in the blue is also has a later covered pancake motor; although I can only see through the slotted side vents, the black plastic housing and square vents look the to be that of the later model.
I also had a chance to check the fan on the blue. No damage, just light wear as you'd expect after a bit of use. I've come to the conclusion that the sound of the blue is not abnormally loud. It is loud, though. Louder than the red. It has more of a growl/roar; the red, more of a whine. The blue's actually not as loud as I remembered it being earlier.
I played around with the red one, tried to adjust the brush height and tried the different settings on the adjustment dial. Well, the brushroll can probably be set lower, but in my case it lowered it to the point that the belt was just about touching the bottom plate. So I left it at the default setting. (The roll is not actually designed to be lowered, but if you invert the rubber mountings, it does lower it). Again, I found that "2" was best on my carpet. On "3" I could hear the brush lightly swiping the carpet on some spots but missing it on others. The issue still remains, though. On "2" the vac is still sucking onto the carpet. There's an interesting thing I noticed as I push the vac forward. I would describe it as an oscillation. At first I thought it had something to do with the brushes hitting the carpet. After kneeling down and looking at the side of the vac while pushing, I realized that the vac was clamping, releasing, clamping, releasing. At a normal speed push, this would happen about 3 times a second. Interestingly, this only happened during a push, never on the pull, and only sometimes. Also, despite the nozzle being sucked onto the carpet, I noticed the two little vents on the sides, the 1/2" wide x 1/4" high ones, were clear the whole time. There was airflow shooting through those. Whether there was optimal airflow given the clamping, I don't know.
After playing around, I went and vacuumed the apt hallways with the red. It did suck onto the carpet a majority of the time, but the carpet did look very, very clean. Arguable cleaner than the bagless Sanitaire sc5845 upright that I usually use to clean the hallways. Feeling the bag, though, there didn't seem to be as much stuff in there as usual. That may be because I vacuumed previously a few days earlier than usual. Time will tell.
Thank you for the disassembly instructions. When I get the chance I'll take things apart and take a look at what's in there.
I appreciate the lively debate. I'm learning a lot from the discussion.
Thanks!
Newer, I think...
Well, they both sound more like the newer pancake motor. I found that the red does sound closer to the blue when the nozzle isn't sucked right down to the carpet. Still, the blue is louder.
Neither has the lighter, higher pitched sound of the older motor.
As I play around with these direct air Sanitaires, the more appreciation I have of what a great vacuum they are. Especially the blue. They remind me of a coarse, powerful muscle car. That's compared to the powerful but more refined qualities of the bypass vacs that I've owned or used, including Riccars, Dustcare, Carpet Pro, Kenmore, Sebo Felix, Sharp, etc. Those are also great vacuums, but they don't exude the feel of raw power that the Sanitaire direct airs do. Especially the metal covered ones.
Btw, the metal covered blue vac seem much higher in quality than the plastic covered red one. Small things like the cord hooks, the handle, the feel and action of the height adjustment dial, are all a notch up from the plastic top one. The lesser vacuum has a slightly cheapish feel to it. I guess they go premium on the metal ones. I like it better overall! Heavy, for sure, but feels like a Cadillac rather than a Ford.
Well, they both sound more like the newer pancake motor. I found that the red does sound closer to the blue when the nozzle isn't sucked right down to the carpet. Still, the blue is louder.
Neither has the lighter, higher pitched sound of the older motor.
As I play around with these direct air Sanitaires, the more appreciation I have of what a great vacuum they are. Especially the blue. They remind me of a coarse, powerful muscle car. That's compared to the powerful but more refined qualities of the bypass vacs that I've owned or used, including Riccars, Dustcare, Carpet Pro, Kenmore, Sebo Felix, Sharp, etc. Those are also great vacuums, but they don't exude the feel of raw power that the Sanitaire direct airs do. Especially the metal covered ones.
Btw, the metal covered blue vac seem much higher in quality than the plastic covered red one. Small things like the cord hooks, the handle, the feel and action of the height adjustment dial, are all a notch up from the plastic top one. The lesser vacuum has a slightly cheapish feel to it. I guess they go premium on the metal ones. I like it better overall! Heavy, for sure, but feels like a Cadillac rather than a Ford.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
New member
Sanitaire SC886, no problems!
I have never had a problem with belts on any of my Sanitaires!
I have never had a problem with belts on any of my Sanitaires!
Similar threads
