Is there an easy way to see if a drive belt may be broken? It's so difficult to push my Kenmore upright vacuum!

The rubber belt which drives the brush could be broken or the brush can be clogged with string and hair etc.

The most common failure there is the drive belt from the motor to the brushes has failed. Consult your local vacuum store for a replacement. Normally they are fairly easy to change. Check and see if the brush is free wheeling or needs a push to get it to turn. If the belt is broken or worn out the brushes will turn freely.

most of the kenmore upright cleaners use the panasonic upright belt so you may fined them at your vac shop or local hardware store,home depot

there is no belt on your model there is a reset button on the side by the brush

You are correct. The belt is supposed to go around the peg that is connected to the lever so that when it is on the Floor /Tools setting the belt is not driven by the drive shaft.

I just had the same problem - reset button didn't trip - cleaned the roller - ultimately found there is an override switch at the point where the hose attaches to the base of the vacuum - it disables the roller when you use the attachments. The hose had become loose (but not disconnected) enough to trip the switch. An easy fix after alot of tinkering... p.s. All those "experts" that said to change a belt obviously don't understand that this model is beltless...

yes. it might be broken. you will need to remove the 5 screw on the bottom and see if the belt is burned. it more that likly is.

Most power heads use a belt to turn the brush roller. Open it up and u'll probably find the broken belt laying in there

Is the belt stretched or broken? There needs to be a (not-stretched and not broken) belt connecting the rotating brush (agitator) to the motor pulley on the vacuum.

Take the brush belt and slip it over the pull into the groove. Then take the flat belt and hook onto the motor shaft and then pull belt over pull and push it around the entire pulley. It can be difficult but after the first time it is easy. You have to push the belt up with your thumbs so the belt will wrap all the way around