My Generation 3 Kirby Vacuum is giving off a burnt rubber smell when I vacuum. I have tried to raise the height of the head but it still happens. Can you tell me what could be causing rubber to burn? What needs to be fixed?

The burnt rubber smell tells me your belt is slipping. Could be your head is set too low to the floor and causing too much pressure or your belt could be wore out. Ours did that and I had to purchase a new belt and reset the head off the floor a little bit.

Actually it can. If the machine has a defect but the good news is that is has a 3 year warranty. Take it to a Kirby authorized repair shop not a vac and sew and they will fix it right up....I am a factory authorized service tech for the Kirby co.

It is the rubber belt that spins the brush. It must have worn out. Buy a new one.
http://www.amazon.com/Kirby-Cleaner-301291-3-Generation-Ultimate/dp/B0014SQVKK

you might be running the height adjustment too low. try running it one setting higher

I was experiencing the same problem right after changing the belt for the first time, as my Hoover is just a few months old. I am assuming what you are smelling is burnt rubber, like your belt, right? Well, if you have changed your belt recently, make sure you are using the right one. If you're not using Hoover's authentic belts and you're buying it from Wal-Mart, make sure it's the correct one, otherwise it won't work right and/or it will give off a burnt rubber smell. One other thing you could try doing first, is raising the carpet height adjustment up a notch or two. If you have it too low and your beater-bar/brush roll has to work too hard, it will start to smell also.Good luck!

I would check the brush roller and make sure it turns good and replace the belt on it . When you smell burning rubber most of the time it is the belt .

it sounds like the belt may be burning like the roller bar is stuck maybe or the belt is stretched and is burning itself off

the brush is jammed most likely or not in correctly

Greetings,

Here's a video where we show you how to replace the suction fan on a Kirby Generation vacuum cleaner (also known as the impeller blade). I hope this video helps;Chris Jones
GoVacuum.com

That only happens to me if I leave the vacuum on the carpet and don't raise the head before 30 seconds...it is the rubber belt hanging on the metal thing that it sits on. Since the belt is not used with the hose attachment, I cannot imagine what is going on. Therefore, I've been no help at all! Just to let you know it happens to others - just slightly differently.