How do i install a vacuum belt?

things you will need Vacuum belt

• Screwdriver

1. Locate and purchase the correct belt for your Eureka vacuum cleaner from the local grocery or department store. Vacuum belts come in different sizes according to your model of vacuum. Check your owner's manual or the vacuum itself for your model number.
   

2. Turn your vacuum cleaner over so that the bottom of the unit is facing you. Remove the cover plate from the bottom by undoing the screws that are holding it in place with a screwdriver.
   

3. Locate the belt pulley rod near the back of the vacuum base coming out of the motor. With the vacuum cleaner base turned upside down and facing you, the motor and pulley rod should be up near the top of the base.
   

4. Slide the vacuum brush roller out of the slots at the bottom of the vacuum base and remove the old belt from the brush roller and pulley rod. With the brush roller off of the unit, clean the brush by removing any strings or cords wrapped around the tube.
   

5. Install the new belt by looping it over the belt pulley rod next to the motor and then looping around the end of the brush roller in the belt slot. Hold the brush roller and pull back on it to tighten the belt while you slide the roller back into the slots on the vacuum base.
   

6. Replace the base cover plate by snapping it back into place and securing it with screws. Turn vacuum back upright and turn it on to test the belt and verify the unit is working
   

Here is a detailed discription on how to change your belt. Turn the machine compleatly upside down and place head on a flat surface. There are 4 screws to take out, then remove the base plate. Near the back of the channel the belt rides in you will see a stright silver shaft. Place the new belt over that shaft. The put the brush roller through the belt, so the belt is in the notched out section of the brush roller. Grab both ends of the brush roller and pull till the brush roller is back in it's origial spot on the base of the vacuum. Turn the brush roller 3 compleat turns backwards, then do the same forward to seat the belt. Put back on the base plate and put back the 4 screws. You are now ready to vacuum.

Hello,

This sounds like it is most likely a belt issue with your Riccar. In order to verify this, turn the vacuum on and turn it over on it's side after making sure that the carpet / floor switch on the top of the roller brush housing is turned to Carpets.

When you turn the vacuum on after changing the switch to carpet mode, does the roller brush spin? The belt controls the the roller brush and makes it spin. When the belt is broken or stretched out, and the brush is not spinning, or stops as soon once it hit carpeting, the brush roller will no longer help pull the vacuum forward. This would explain why the vacuum is very hard to push.

In order to help you the best, I went ahead and took some pictures for you on how to change the belt. The only really tricky part is the clutch actuator arm. If you don't already have a new belt, here's a link for you to a 2 pack of belts for your 8955 on our website:
Riccar 4000 / 8000 Series Upright Belts (2pk)

The model that I took pictures of is actually a model 8650, but this is identical in every way to your 8955 in terms of changing the belt.

What you'll need to have handy for this repair;

- Phillips Head Screw Driver
- Riccar 4000 / 8000 Series Belt
- Riccar 8000 Series Roller Brush With Clutch Assembly (only if the brushes have worn down, not necessary if brushes are still long)

Step 1: Make sure the vacuum cleaner is unplugged, and turn the vacuum cleaner upside down so the bottom plate is upwards. It's easiest to do on a work bench or counter top.



Step 2: Unscrew the two metal screws on the metal bottom plate with your Phillips head screw driver, and remove the bottom plate from the vacuum cleaner so the belt is completely exposed with the roller brush.

Step 3: Remove the belt guard that sits to the left of the roller brush, this is a metal part that protects any dirt & debris from going over to the belt. Here's a picture of that part being removed;



Step 4: Remove the Rug / Floor actuator arm from the clutch on the right hand side of the roller brush. Simply pull the metal actuator arm to the left of the brush and out of the circle that it sits in. Here's a picture of that;



Step 5: Once you have removed the actuator arm from the clutch, as well as the belt guard, lift straight up on the roller brush and remove the roller brush from the vacuum cleaner:




Step 6: Once you have removed the roller brush, and the old belt from the vacuum cleaner, take a new belt and wrap it around the metal pin in the back of the vacuums agitator housing. Here's a picture of where that pin is located with the belt wrapped around it;




Step 7: Once you have the belt wrapped around the metal pin (this is the shaft to the motor that actually spins the belt), put the other end of the belt through your roller brush;




Step 8: There is a specific way that the roller brush has to be inserted. If the roller brush is not put in properly, this can cause all sorts of problems including the brush not spinning, as well as continuously having to replace belts. You can see on the end cap of the roller brush (the right side where the belt rides) that there are two little teeth that protrude out of the end cap. Here's a picture of how it looks:



Step 9: With the roller brush inserted through the belt, position the two teeth facing downwards. You can see in the vacuum cleaner where the roller brush sits, a little groove inside of the roller brush housing. These two teeth need to straddle that groove. Also make sure that the little ring, or circle that the clutch actuator arm sits into, is facing upwards completely. It should be directly on top of the two teeth. Stretch the belt using the roller brush as leverage down into the agitator housing of the vacuum cleaner, making sure that the two teeth are facing downwards straddling the little groove. After the brush is back into the vacuum cleaner, take the metal actuator arm from the rug / floor switch, and insert it back into the metal ring (or hole) on the roller brush;



Step 10: Replace the metal belt guard that rests to the left of the belt. You'll notice on the belt guard that there are two little 90 degree notches on both sides. These notches need to face towards the belt or to the right.

Step 11: After inserting the belt guard back into the vacuum, turn the vacuum cleaner over so the top of the agitator housing is facing you. Make sure that the rug / floor switch set to the carpet setting again, and then turn the vacuum upside down again so the brush and belt are exposed again.

Step 12: With the vacuum set to the carpet setting, pull the belt forwards to ensure that the brush is spinning freely. If the belts do not spin freely, repeat steps 2-10.



tep 13: The last tricky part can be reinstalling the metal bottom plate. There is a little lip on the front of the vacuum cleaner that the edge of the bottom plate has to slide under for it to be installed properly. A lot of people just install the bottom plate over top of this lip, and this prevents the brushes from hitting the carpet as close as if the bottom plate is correctly installed. It will take away the vacuums cleaning cleaning ability dramatically. Here's a picture of the lip with the bottom plate in the backgroud;

Step 14: Slide the metal bottom plate into the lip on the vacuum cleaner, and fasten the screws back into the bottom plate to secure it. This is the way it will look if the bottom plate is installed the WRONG way.



Here's a picture of the RIGHT way to install the bottom plate:



The Riccar 8955 is great vacuum, and cleans better then most other upright s when it has a new belt on. I hope that this repair solution is helpful to you in fixing your vacuum. If you did, please be sure to click the Thumbs Up Icons in the top right hand corner of the solution. Feel free to request a clarification on the repair if you have any questions. I'm always happy to answer any questions. I hope will consider GoVacuum.com storefront for any Riccar supplies that you may need. We carry all Riccar Vacuum Bags, Filters, Belts, and Parts.

Thank you very much,

Chris J.
GoVacuum

hi well if you go onto youtube and look for replace dyson clutch it will show you how to refit your brush good luck

When they make noise like that there is usually an issue with the drive system (the belt and roller brush). I would try cleaning off the roller brush and putting a new belt on. You can access the roller brush and belt by turning the vacuum over so the brush faces up. There is a cover plate over the roller brush which can be removed by removing the (4) phillips screws. with the cover plate off, you can remove the brush and old belt. clean the brush off really good and put it back with a new belt. This is normal maintenence for this model and should be done every 6 months.
You can get the replacement belt here:

http://www.vacbelts.com/bissell-powerforce-belt.htm

1. Unplug the vacuum
2. Take the bottom cover over the brush off by removing the 3 screws
3. Switch the brush roll control lever to bare floor
4. Take the roller brush out
5. Put the belt around the small pulley from the motor
6. As you are putting the roller brush back in put the belt around the space on the roller brush - center the belt on that space - THE BELT WILL NOT BE TIGHT BUT THAT'S NORMAL
7. Reinstall the bottom cover with the 3 screws

THE BELT DOES NOT GO AROUND THE SILVER PULLEY CONNECTED TO THE BRUSH ROLL CONTROL LEVER

hi, In order to to replace the V belt the one that turns the brush, One must take off the bigger belt " drive belt" that goes over that hugh wheel towards the back. When a belt gets stretched they will not turn the brush very well. If you have bought replacement belts the bigger belt Drive comes 2 in a package. Then you have your little V belt that helps turn your roller brush over. Yes the belts don't last long on my hoover. For kpatr22101 When you rpelace that V belt it goes over the roller brush into a little groove on the brush and then over a plastic round wheel then you must put on that bigger drive belt that must fit over that hugh wheel towards back and smaller on in front. Yes it is hard to get on. the I hope this helps. Cindy G.

Put the belt on the brush roll, place it in the nozzle, make sure the belt is in the center, turn the big knob on the front until it locks, then install the nozzle on the vac., turn the knob in the other direction, and it will be put on the pulley.