Am I changing this belt correctly? (Pictures)

I just ordered a pack of five belts on amazon. I didn't go with the Cirrus brand this time because I don't wanna deal with this again. The squeaking gets worse and worse.....Belt is on correctly...but after USING the vacuum...I pop the bottom off only to find that the belt is almost off the pully, completely rubbing up against that guard or whatever that is...No wonder it was squeaking...It literally wouldn't stay in place the way it was supposed to.. I think it was totally stretched out too far ....

so I got the other belt out of the package and that seems to be OK... I ran the vacuum and after vacuuming the entire house...the belt actually stayed in place and wasn't rubbing up against anything....

In all of the years I've had vacuums... I've RARELY ever had to change a belt...UNTIL this Cirrus vacuum... Even my Rainbow (2006) I think I've only changed the belt once and it still purrs along and even when I changed it it wasn't slipping or anything...It had just been so long that I figured I should change it.

I like this Cirrus but the company Essco must not make very good belts...OR I guess it could be that they are just so old... What does a person have to do to get a decent belt?


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 457181 10/1/2022 at 20:47 (565 days old) by mark40511 (Lexington, KY)
Checkrate/Likes Hey guys...I'm almost embarrassed to ask such a question on here about changing a belt....Here's the thing...It's been about a year and I decided to take the brush roll out...vacuum around down there and while I was there I changed the belt...used the vacuum for a week... everything seemed fine...then I hear this squeaking sound when pulling the vacuum back and sometimes pushing forward...this is on low pile berber....So I put another belt in and the sound went away (but for how long?) Am I doing something wrong? Can someone look at these pics...I hope they are clear enough... I'm not sure what that metal piece is that sticks out sort of in the middle that the belt almost touches....what exactly is that? The belt replacement instructions in the manual aren't very clear....Possibly I did it right but just had a bad belt? I didn't hear it slipping though...just more of a squeak...especially if I went over an area rug...thanks This is a cirrus CR79 about 4 years old Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size

Post# 457186 , Reply# 1 10/2/2022 at 10:46 (564 days old) by Centralvacs1928 (Chicagoland)
Checkrate/Likes Looks right to me. If the squeaking happens when pushing/pulling only (not continuously) I would suspect wheels rather than brushroll. A drop of lubricant like Tri-Flow on each wheel at the axle should make it go away. Hope this helps, Owen

Post# 457195 , Reply# 2 10/2/2022 at 17:10 (564 days old) by mark40511 (Lexington, KY)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks I think the main reason I was wondering if I had it on correctly is after vacuuming then opening the bottom to check to see if things looked ok...the belt had slightly moved in this direction.. I put arrows showing...the bottom arrow the side of the belt was touching that. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size

Post# 457201 , Reply# 3 10/2/2022 at 21:48 (564 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)
Checkrate/Likes The belt squeaking will happen with old belts that have been rotting in the package, the rubber has oxidized and that is being burned off by friction as you use it, it might squeal some until that layer wears off. CRC makes a belt conditioning product for car belts, you can spay some on a rag and rub the belt down and after a few treatments a week or so apart it should rejuvenate the belt. That metal bar seems to be a guide to stop side-slip on the belt so it doesn't fall off the pulley. The belt can not fall off with that guide bar in place. The belt will go back in line once the vacuum is running and under tension.

Post# 457202 , Reply# 4 10/2/2022 at 22:43 (564 days old) by mark40511 (Lexington, KY)
Checkrate/Likes Ahhh.. gotcha...I guess I was puzzled because I didn't think that the belt rubbing against something could be a good thing.

Post# 457374 , Reply# 5 10/11/2022 at 17:46 (555 days old) by mark40511 (Lexington, KY)
Checkrate/Likes I just ordered a pack of five belts on amazon. I didn't go with the Cirrus brand this time because I don't wanna deal with this again. The squeaking gets worse and worse.....Belt is on correctly...but after USING the vacuum...I pop the bottom off only to find that the belt is almost off the pully, completely rubbing up against that guard or whatever that is...No wonder it was squeaking...It literally wouldn't stay in place the way it was supposed to.. I think it was totally stretched out too far .... so I got the other belt out of the package and that seems to be OK... I ran the vacuum and after vacuuming the entire house...the belt actually stayed in place and wasn't rubbing up against anything.... In all of the years I've had vacuums... I've RARELY ever had to change a belt...UNTIL this Cirrus vacuum... Even my Rainbow (2006) I think I've only changed the belt once and it still purrs along and even when I changed it it wasn't slipping or anything...It had just been so long that I figured I should change it. I like this Cirrus but the company Essco must not make very good belts...OR I guess it could be that they are just so old... What does a person have to do to get a decent belt?

Post# 457386 , Reply# 6 10/12/2022 at 14:01 (554 days old) by mark40511 (Lexington, KY)
Checkrate/Likes 1 I received 5 new belts and OH MY GOD what a difference... I was sure this last belt wasn't stretched because it was not slipping... that's why I was so confused.. I expect the first sign of a bad belt would be slipping...not squeaking. It was spinning perfectly while vacuuming but the belt must have been stretched just enough to spin the brush fine, while simultaneously not able to stay in place on the pully....this new belt fixed all that...