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)

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.