I think I blew up another vaccuum!

[tiggerlover]

My vaccuum got something caught in it and before I could get it out it started smoking. Once it cooled down I can get it to turn on, but it no longer sucks anything in. Does anyone know if this is something that is fixable?

 

[Dan Murphy]

You may have just burned out the belt. See if is is broken or loose.

 

[ASFCurly]

there is a reset button on the vaccuum at work that you have to press if you suck something up. I don't know if maybe yours has one.

 

[Cindy B]

CHeck the belt as Dan said. Changing, checking the belt is not hard to do. Occasionally my belt slips and you will see smoking.

To check, first make sure that the vacuum is unplugged.

Then locate the screws that hold the front part (near the light if you have one). This will be on the bottom of the vacuum. Follow the screw pattern, and you will eventually have the face part off.

Then you will see a metal prong thing that the belt is settled on. You will be able to see if the belt is broken, or slipped off. If you have an extra belt its super easy to replace.

Then you have to rescrew it all together.

Its pretty easy!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Funny story. I have a regular vacuum that takes a bag, nothing fancy, cost under 100.00 dollars. It is a 12amp. It vacuums good, but one day I plugged it in and it vacuumed wonderfully, never been better! I fugured my husband had done something to it, unclogged it or something. I was vacuuming for a few days when my husband told me that I needed to buy bags because he took the last one out and there wasn't one to replace it. So, I had been vacuuming for several days without a bag! It still is strange to be how well it picked up without a bag.

 

[Disney Doll]

Buy an Oreck. I love mine.

 

[tiggerlover]

Thanks everyone! I just got finished taking the vaccuum apart and sure enough it is the belt. (I have another one in my attic and it may very well be the same problem). This is one of the reasons I love the DIS so much. I was ready to pitch this vaccuum and buy another one and now all I need to buy is a new belt.

 

[Cindy B]

See. I told you!!!!


Its not that hard to fix actually. New vacuums are about $100, but belts are only about $2!

It does take time and effort to get it on and off, but its so worth it.

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
You may have just burned out the belt. See if is is broken or loose.

Yep! Done this twice! Just take it in to the vac. repair shop...it ran us maybe $16 for the replaced belt and service....they completely cleaned the whole vacuum at the same time LOTS cheaper than buying a new one if it was working fine....

 

[pjlla]

My house is known as the black hole of vacuum cleaners. I keep several belts "in stock" for each of my cleaners. I usually have to open up at least one of my cleaners at least once a month for repair and maintenance. I think I could do it with my eyes closed!....................P

 

[Cindy B]

Yep, pjilla, I think my DH could do it with his eyes closed as well.

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by Cindy B
See. I told you!!!!


Its not that hard to fix actually. New vacuums are about $100, but belts are only about $2!

It does take time and effort to get it on and off, but its so worth it.

After 17-1/2 years of marriage you would think I would have known this. You don't know how many vaccuums I have "blown up" over the years and just tossed because I didn't know better. They were all cheap $100 vaccuum's, but the one before this last one was my really good Kenmore, so thankfully I threw it in the attic to have "repaired" when we got back to the US and now I can fix it myself!!!! Yippee!!!

Thanks again!