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)

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.