Need to open motor compartment

If it smells electrical, than you may need a new motor. If it smells more like burnt rubber, than you may have a brush or motor problem. To check you brush, take out the 5 screws that hold your bottom plate on the vacuum and remove the plate. Disengage the belt and see if the bearings at each end of the brush turn freely. If they do not, replace your brush. Also spin the motor shaft by hand and see if it turns freely. Hope this helps!

If the model is the same as pictured, the screws should be visible.
If the model is older like I think it is, the screws are going to be a tad tough to get to, but not impossible.

First you will need to take the bag door off. Open it like you would to change the bag and then push the bag door back farther so that the hinges "pop" out. Generally how i do it is put it on the counter, with the bag facing you, open as far as you can, grab the top portion of the bag door and push it back quickly.

Now, when the bag door is off, with a flat screw driver, the colored housing above the gray bumper will come off. insert the flat screwdriver in there and pry it open a touch. do that to the other side as well. Once both sides are open, you want to slide the screwdriver towards the back of the unit and gently pry the back off.

under there you will find 2 screws (if you need to go that far at this point) and you can remove the back of the unit easily.

Good luck,
Mark

Hello,

Actually the screws to access the motor on Kenmore canisters are located underneath of the foot pedal that retracts the cord reel, and there's usually also two screws that underneath of the tool lid arms.

You may access the screws underneath of the cord reel by prying the foot pedal off of the vacuum. Simply put a flat head screw driver in between where the foot pedal and the vacuum cleaner meet on the top of the machine, and pry upwards with the screw driver. Once you remove the pedal you'll see the screws and have direct access to the vacuums motor.


If you are trying to access the power nozzle motor, here's a detailed step by step instruction tutorial that will walk you right through it.
http://www.fixya.com/support/t4499227-need_replace_belt_in_kenmore_vacuum

When a vacuum cleaner smells like something is burning, it can only really be one of two things. Either the rubber belt inside of the power nozzle is burning, or the motor is burning. If it's the belt that's burning, it will be a burning rubber type of smell, but if it's the electrical motor, it will be more of an electrical smell.

If you have any further quesitons, please feel free to reply using the clarification request tool here on Fixya. I'm always more then happy to answer any follow up questions.

If this was helpful, please rate my repair by clicking the thumbs up icons in the top right hand corner of this repair.

Thank you,

Chris J.
GoVacuum.com

I would say it's essential to open Henry up, otherwise (assuming he has indeed got water inside him) you will wait for ever for him to dry. He can be opened very easily - just undo the four recessed screws on the underside of his hat, and the upper part will lift off. Pay attention to the switch (or switches, depending on the model) as that may be more vulnerable to water penetration than the motor. The motor compartment may have water in it, but the motor itself is probably fairly well protected. When you've got it opened and mopped up any visible water, it will help to give it a blow with a hair dryer.
If in doubt, though, get a professional to deal with it. It pays not to mess with electricity if you're unsure!

If it smells like burning rubber with white smoke its the belt make sure the brush spins freely. If its a electrical burning it will smell real bad you WILL be able to tell which then its a motor issue you can remove the bottom plate 5 phillips head screws opposite the motor youll see 1 screw remove it pry the duct out and look to see if there's anything stuck in the fan if not its the motor its self

Several questions:
What does the smell seem to be? If rubber, check the belt and brushroll for free rotation. If a musty smell, check the bag, it may need replaced with a new paper bag. If it has an electrical smell, like hot insulation, then the motor needs checked.

Most Eureka's, there are 2 or 3 screws on the top to remove, then the top cover will come off. If no screws on top. then they are on the bottom. After the top is off, the belt and brush are right there in the open. To get to the motor, that off the 2 screws on the clamp on wach side of the motor, screws that are around the motor housing and then the motor cover should pull off. If the smell is electrical, if could be a bad motor, which sells for around $75 to $90. If the smell is more like rubber, then look at the belt and brush roll. If you need more info, get the model # off of the tag.

That dust is from the carbon brushes on the motor. You may need to check them, and also clean out the motor compartment. A slight noise could be a motor bearing starting to go. Does the smell like rubber or electrical. If rubber, then the belt has stretched and needs to replaced. If electrical, then something is causing the motor to run hot, like a clogged filter, or it could be a motor going bad.

Is the smell rubber or electrical. If rubber then the belt is slipping and needs to be replaced, they stretch after awhile. Also is the brush roll turning freely, or is it bound up, it may have to be replaced. If the smell is electrical, then probably the motor is going bad and will have to be replaced.

The top piece near the back comes off, use a screw driver to pry the corners out then it will come off. Then you can get to the 2 screws holding the motor housing off. When you put it back on, it just snaps in place.