In Carpet setting, the vacuum brush does not spin

1st) make sure your yellow dial at the top by handle is in floor position
2nd) make sure your brush roll spins when handle is reclined in operating position. (disengage brushroll control by flipping the "switch" towards you)
3rd) check belt to make sure it is not broken
4th) check the brush roll for debris caught in it
5th) check lower hose

Hi There,

Here's how you can replace the belt on your Eureka SmartVac 4870. I have taken pictures of the repair to help you better with this.

Here's what you'll need in order to complete this repair:

- Eureka Style R Extended Life Replacement Belt, Part 61110
- Eureka SmartVac Model 4870 Roller Brush Assembly, Part 61520 (Only if the brush no longer spins, or the brushes are worn out)
- Phillips head screw driver

Step 1. Turn the vacuum upside down so that the brush roller is facing upwards. Unscrew the three screws that I've highlighted in red.




Step 2. Remove the bottom plate after unscrew the three red highlighted screws. Once you remove the bottom plate, you'll have full access to the roller brush and belt area. Remove the roller brush by pulling straight up on the roller brush itself. Discard old belt, and test roller brush to ensure that it spins freely by holding the very end of each side, also called the bearing caps with just your finger tips. Try spinning the brush with your thumbs. The brush should spin several times around with each spin. If you notice the brush doesn't spin at all, or if you feel some resistance when you spin the brush, this means that your bearings are either gone, or will be soon. It may be time to consider a new roller brush at this time.



Step 3. Remove the new Eureka Style R belt from the packaging, and wrap one end around the the metal pin, on the opposite side of the roller brush. This pin is actually the motor shaft that spins the belt, which spins the brush.



Step 4. Wrap the other end of the belt through the side of the roller brush that has the pulley, and use the roller brush to stretch the brush roll back into the agitator housing. Make sure the end caps fit in the housing correctly by making sure there are no gaps between the roller brush housing and the end caps of the roller brush.



Step 5. After reinstalling the roller brush back into the housing with the belt attached, pull the belt forwards towards the brush. The brush should spin when you do this. Make sure that the belt is not pinched underneath of the roller brush or this will cause the belt to break immediately when you turn the vacuum back on.

Step 6. Reinstall the bottom plate, making sure that the little notches on the front end of the bottom plate tucked underneath of the reverse notches on the bottom housing of the vacuum cleaner. Tighten all 3 screws back into the bottom plate. Make sure the vacuum is set to carpet mode, and turn the vacuum on.

If you have any questions about this repair, or if you notice that the roller brush stops when the brushes hit the carpeting, please just use the clarification request form here on the Fixya repair page. I will then be happy to walk you through a little more advanced repair of replacing the clutch in the Eureka SmartVac that controls the rug/floor switch. Most of the time though the belt will be all the vacuum needs.

I hope that this was helpful information to you. If this helped you, please be so kind and rate the repair as helpful by clicking on the thumbs up icons in the top corner of this repair.

Thank you very much,

Chris J.
GoVacuum

EITHER THE MOTOR BRUSHES HAVE WORN OUT, OR THE BELT IS SLIPPING.

That means that the belt is stretched or worn. Here is a link to the replacement belts you need and a manual which has instructions:

Eureka Smartvac 4870 Belts

Owner's Guide (3,666K download)

HI Don't forget that you have a height adjustment control so its better to put it in the highest position - if this is not allowing the roller brush to move properly on the carpet then switch the vacuum off, and lightly trim with scissors on the brush lines. Avoid cutting everything down though - a slight trim should improve things. Generally though when brushes appear too long its usually because the height adjustment dial hasn't been set upwards.

I tried the electrical-tape-around-the-wooden-spindle technique. After a minute or so, it's back to functioning normally.

It is a simple fix that you need. Your belt needs to be replaced. After a period of time, the belt stretches to the point where it is still strong enough to spin the brush when you have the machine upside down to look at it, but when you put the machine down on the carpet the belt is too weak to turn the brush against the resistance of the carpet.

Most Eureka belt changes are simple to do and the belts are inexpensive.

There could be a problem witht the tensioned. Take off the top cover and try to see why it isn't pushing the belt when the handle is tilted back. Hopefully the belt is in the proper position, I have seen where the belt was put on the wrong side of the pulley it is supposed to ride on.

I just replaced the belt on my Eureka The Boss Smart Vac (Model 4870D). I purchased a namebrand Eureka R belt from a local vendor. I did my best to follow the instructions printed on the bottom of the machine. I turned on the vacuum cleaner and the belt brush was spinning! I dropped it into vacuuming floor mode and the belt wouldn't spin no matter what level I put it on.

I called the manufacturer (1-800-282-2886) and spoke with a very nice woman on the phone. While I was speaking with her I noticed that a silver screw was lodged within the "brush roll control" yellow selector switch. With some shaking it became dislodged and I was able to put the "brush roll control" into the hard floors setting and turn the "carpet height adjustment" all the way to the right, so that it was facing the word "low." I then followed the instructions for replacing the belt again.. (1) remove base plate (2) remove brush roll (3) place new belt around motor shaft and then around brush roll (4) insert left side of brush roll before right side (5) rotate brush roll to be sure belt is centered (6) replace base plate, making sure to insert under 4 little tabs before securing with screws.

It appears that it is very important that the carpet height and brush control adjustment are set to their highest point possible (hardwood setting) in order to get the brush to roll in a carpet setting.

"R" is the correct belt for the 4870 and should be correct for all other 4800 models.

Thank you for posting your problem to this website. If I hadn't seen that others were having trouble, I would have just given up. I hope this long post helps someone that was in my situation.

If the model number is 5892AVZ, either the brush roll is bad or the brush roll motor isn't coming on to drive the brush roll. There is a circuit breaker, make sure it didn't trip, reset it if it has.