Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Sorry to keep asking so many Dyson questions.  This topics of this forum seem to be mostly about big box brands anyway.  I don't have to ask questions about my Kirbys and Hoover Convertibles... I can understand them! 

Anyway, I used my Dyson DC14 (should have gotten a 17 or at least an 07 instead, this must be the worst model of all) at a friends house.  He has a Bissell Clearview vacuum... a cheap Wal-mart special.  When I went to his place, my Dyson barely got anything up.  His Bissell got up a lot more dirt afterwards that my Dyson was not able to pull up.  Probably due to the weird brush roll.  The suction and air flow on my machine are fine, so I'm starting to think it's the belt that is the problem.  When I push the machine forward fast while its running, I hear a weird rattling sound. 

My question is, even though the belt is SUPPOSED to last a life time and the user is not SUPPOSED to be able to change their own belt w/o taking it to a Dyson authorized service center, how can I do it myself?  Do I have to buy the whole clutch assembly, or can I just get the belts?  I'm not worried about voiding the warranty, since I bought the machine used. 

Any advice?

TIA  :o)

Vacuumfreeeke wrote:
Yes.  Sell the DC14 and buy a Hoover Whisper which is basically the same machine for $120, with a few advantages

Or, sell the DC14, save for a little while and go for either the DC17 or one of the new Ball models (24/25).  The first-generation models are good vacuums but they have been out for a while and when compared to the new models, don't seem to do much on the "impressiveness" factor anymore.

You'd be a lot better off with a brand new cleaner.  Except in the case of Kirby, I don't normally buy a vacuum used that I could buy new (read: recent model).

-MH

Vacuumfreeke,

FYI, I bought a DC15 (a beater) and DC05 used and love em.  They have given me much reliability and performance over the years.  Sorry, I know little of the DC14.  I took a look online and found a belt removal tool kit and tutorial, I've seen belts sold without the clutch too.        DIB

 

http://store.allergyfreebags.com/dybeto12.html

http://www.sparesaver.com/help-and-support/dyson-section/dyson-hints-and-tips-451/dyson-dc14-hints-and-tips-475/burning-smell-carbon-models-with-brush-control.html

Vacuumfreeeke wrote:

Are you sure that you have the brush roll switch set to "ON" ?

Motorhead, I'm sure you were joking about having the brush roll on...  

In my collection, I have a Kirby G5, Kirby Heritage 2, Kirby Dual Sanitronic 80, Royal all metal commercial upright (red anniversary edition bag), Royal model 801, Hoover Power Drive Concept 1, Hoover Power Drive Dial-a-matic, Hoover model 28, a couple Hoover Convertibles), Hoover Constellation, Hoover Quiet Series Celebrity (need power nozzle badly), Filter Queen (the brown one), Rainbow D2, Rainbow SE Series, Vorwerk, Singer A frame upright, Eureka model 630 upright, Eureka ESP Self-propelled (blue), Electrolux Diamond Jubilee, Kenmore Iridium, blue 70's Whirlpool made Kenmore with woodgrain top and broken power nozzle, and Electrolux upright from I think the 70's...  not to mention a Hoover Duo steam vac (cheap, but unique), and swivel sweeper, and now the Dyson... plus I sold Kirbys door to door for a week (three days more like, but I count "training" too), and vacs for Sears for 2 years....  I hope I know enough to turn the brushroll on! 

I have a "thing" for self-propelled vacuums... they are sooooo fun!  :o)

I meant Hardsell... sorry!

Vacuumfreeeke wrote:

Hello Vacuumfreeeke:

Did you call the dyson HELPLINE and pose your above question?  If you haven't, you may want to give dyson a try and see what the dyson techs tell you.  Maybe even an email?  I would also call at different times and talk with more than one person.  Then compare the information/answers you receive. 

A DC07 has the same belt/clutch/brushroll set up as the DC14.  Just a different soleplate configuration.  It would present the same problem[s] as a DC14.

BTW, nice vacuum collection.  Please, look for a off-line message from me about it. 

Carmine D.

Vacuumfreeeke wrote:
Best bet is to replace the whole clutch assembly.  It is possible to just replace a belt, but it is a much more difficult task.  Also, there are two belts in the DC14 and replacing the clutch would take care of both

Hey V.F., airblade right its easier to replace the complete assembly than to try and change just the belt on the clutch part,they are riveted together. Now you know why dyson has discontinued this system on the newer machines?.Even when the new clutch and belts are installed it only takes another 4 or 5 months to do the same thing.

The machine just cant handle any higher pile carpet, and the brush loading from pet hair or human hair is just annoying,

The brush  has been beefed up on the 23 and 24 series ,and the belt system has been changed also, The17 is probally the way you want to go next time.........

MOLE

I know I would have been much happier with the DC17, but I couldn't find any used.  The attachment handle has a grip, the brush roll has its own motor, and the attachments aren't stored on top of the dirt tank... so, I quite agree :o) 

This Dyson thing is giving me a headache... I don't even want to think about it anymore. I think a Fantom Fury would outperform it!  I have tremendous suction, the brush roll seems to turn OK, yet it can't out clean a 60 dollar Bissell.  It makes me sick! 

Thanks for the PM... I will respond when I'm not running late for work  :o)

This forum is SOOOO inane... no spell check and no preview button.  I mean to say, the attachment handle grip is more comfortable on the 17 than the 14.  I do wonder if they will ever lengthen the wand to an appropriate size in future models.

mole wrote:

Hiya MOLE:

How many of these type of dyson problems do you see now?  And what is the cost to repair?

Carmine D.

Vacuumfreeeke wrote:
The worst thing I find is that URL links can't be formed when using the FireFox browser.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,the usual dc07/14 problems are belt and brush related,nothing really new that we did not already know about. The 7 and 14 just cant adjust to higher pile carpeting, you know the dreaded clutch chatter,if the customer says the machine is chattering,we are honest with them and tell them a clutch and belt change [MIGHT] rectify the problem for 3 or 4 months.Then its up to them if they authorize the repair,[close to a C note], with no warranty on the work.

The second biggest problem are the lack of filter maintaince, or refusing to empty the bin,causes real problems with parts getting distorted,.

I personally dont see what this dyson big deal is really about>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

MOLE

Thanks MOLE:

Suppose Vacuumfreeeke wants to drill the rivots off and replace the belts and brush bar; what would that cost him? What is the level of technical skill, ability, and time to complete the repair for a novice?  Can screws, nuts and lock washers then be used to replace the dyson rivots?  Or will these come loose with use?

Carmine D.

I would probably want to replace the whole clutch assembly.  If I do it at all.  I'm still not 100 percent convinced that's the problem because the brush roll seems to spin fine.  That rattling sound I hear when I push the machine forward fast could be the baby wheels on the sole plate spinning.  Thank goodness the carpet in my apartment is very low.  Dysoninventsbig, thanks for the link to instructions on how to replace the bet.  WHAT AN INVOLVED PROCESS... Someone should AT LEAST slap good ol James in the face for creating such a contraption.... and then lock in in a room with only a dirt devil and force him to vacuum with it for the rest of his life. 

I hate that Dyson lies to its customers about having automatic height adjustment... when in reality it is non-existent height adjustment.  Other manufacturers do that too, but they don't cost what the Dyson does.  The soleplate pivots, but that does NOT change one bit the height of the brush roll.

Oh yeah, when I was naming my collection, I forgot a very special member.  My Sanitaire SC887!  I love the messy, but powerful thing.

Before I go through all this, is there a way I can test to be 100 percent sure the belt is the problem?

Vacuumfreeeke wrote:

Hey VK:

Remove the sole plate and try using the vacuum.  If you still have the noise, and I suspect you will, it's not the sole plate wheels. 

My question to MOLE on repairing rather than replacing was predicated on the notion that you might want to save some dough and by-pass the clutch altogether.  Just use it with the belt and brush roll.  I suspect other dyson owners, with DC07-s and DC14-s, would do the same in order to salvage the vacuum without spending $100 plus on a repair which at best is temporary and likely re-occur.

Carmine D.

V.F. turn the machine upside down, so that the brush is looking at you, turn the cleaner on, see if you can stall the brush with your hand use the palm of your hand, if the brush stops rather easily with out too much down force from your hand, then the belts are glazed on the inside, the one going to the motor shaft usually goes away first.

Yes Carmine, i have replaced just the belts[taken the clutch apart] very tedious and can be screwed up very easily, the belts are nothing special cost less than 6 bucks a set.
Another note of interest is that the rpm's created at the brush are not the industry standard, more than likely done on purpose to try and save the rotating mass............

MOLE

mole wrote:

Thanks MOLE. 

So much for the veracity of the claim: Lifetime belt that never needs replacing.  Pity the maker who faces off with the FTC when this claim complaint hits its docket.  Worse, heaven forbid if a few out of work lawyers are dyson owners and users and they get hit with a $100 repair bill for a belt replacement.  Do I hear class action law suit?  [Core dyson features: No extra costs after purchase!] How many DC07/DC14-s sold in the US since April 2002? 

The slow turning brush bar also allows the clutch to engage easier and shut off the brush bar.  DC07/DC14 is the stupidest brush roll design and function in the vacuum industry for all time IMHO.

I agree with VF and his punishment for Mr. Dyson.  300 hours of community service vacuuming with a DIRT DEVIL.

Carmine D. 

You know Carmine what really burns the legit dealers and service techs, is when the customer comes in and drills you for information then runs out and buys a dyson because of the CHIC advertising. 

Make sure Jimmy GETS TO USE THE SWIVEL GLIDE DIRT DEVIL you know the bagged one that costs 39.95 and outcleans his 500.00 piece of artwork,

MOLE

mole wrote:

Well MOLE, dyson has won over a dozen awards worldwide!  But none for rug and carpet cleaning!

Fool me once, shame on you!  Fool me twice, shame on me!

Carmine D.

Meet the new boss the same as the old boss, we wont get FOOLED again, great song......................

MOLE

Actually, his punishment should be to use a dirt devil (which doesn't deservet to be capitalized) that is bagless (the green vision with the red rocker switch halfway down comes to mind) so he can see it clog... his most dreaded fear! 

How can he not get sued for advertising "automatic height adjustment".... or for claiming that his vacuums are the first to not lose suction.  Has he ever heard of Rainbow or Filter Queen? 

I will try the the sole plate and hand pressure on brush roll and see what I come up with.

Filter Queen does clog as it uses a filter cone, although it can hold its suction a lot longer than a typical bagged cleaner as air is being drawn through all sides.

The interesting thing about Rainbow is that they never made any mention of (or capitalized on) the fact that their machines don't lose suction, seemed to me that from Rexair's point of view that was second compared to the (theoretically more important) idea that the machine uses water to catch the dirt.

After I typed that, I thought that even though Filter Queens use cyclonic action, that they have to clog because they use paper filter cones.  I imagine Tri-star to be the same.  What about Thermax?  They use water... I'm sure they were around before Dyson!

I used the Dyson today.  I was not able to stop the brush roll by hand. I applied a lot of pressure and it actually started hurting my hand!  I did run the vacuum without the sole plate.  THE NOISE WAS NOT PRESENT without the sole plate!  And boy the did the vacuum glide across the floor without it.  Dyson should at least make a metal sole plate (but it would be the only piece of metal on the whole machine... I think even the wries and screws are plastic!).  I'm going to armor all the sole plate and see what that does to its performance.  It keeps getting dirty... the plastic must be very porous. 

The DC15 has a metal soleplate.

I wished they had carried on the metal soleplate from the DC15 onto the others like the DC18, DC24 and DC25!

DC18 wrote:

Dyson could produce an after market metal soleplate for its models too and let users buy if so inclined for the additional cost.  Even outsource the job to a parts maker[s]. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

True, but this would only work on models like the DC07 and DC14 as the DC15, DC18, DC24 and DC25 had fixed soleplates due to the way you remove the brush bar or brush bars! 

I was led to believe the only reason they used a metal soleplate on the DC15 was to aid movement and reduce friction!  Probably don't require it on the other ball models due to them being lighter!

DC18

DC18 wrote:

DC18:

Thanks for the response.  I suspect dyson would choose the oldest models, where replacements would be a consideration, then gauge the sales to determine whether to continue with metal.  Either as original equipment and/or after market.

Carmine D.