Bottom roller bush does not spin

Hello. I had same problem. I cleaned casters but still got extractor error. Problem was one of the casters would not spin as well as the other. When sitting in the unit , you should be able to hand turn them. What I did was take off the yellow cap and then use pliers to hold the metal part and manually turned the caster to loosen it up and get it to spin again . Some hair was knotted holding it back and this helped me clean out / clear out the rest of the debris. Once I got it spinning again, worked find. Hope this helps.

Tool Needed, flat head screwdriver (larger one works a little better). Serious Safety Precaution: Make sure unit is unplugged. Preliminary: Check: that nothing is caught like threads etc, preventing roller brush from turning. I've had this model vacuum 10 years and have pulled threads out countless times. However it still has the original belt on it. To change belt: 1.) There is a plastic plate underneath roller, towards front.. Pry the 3 tabs at front, the plate hinges downward slightly (to clear the front tabs). Next, there are 2 little clips at bottom of plate. Insert screw driver at each of these clips to fully release the plate the rest of the way. (Or it may even come off without having to pry back on these. The plastic clips need pushed towards front, to clear the ridge that catches towards the back). Pry one, then the other, clip forward, while gently pulling the plate the rest of the way out. (Gentle prying will assure it will snap back together OK, so you still get a good seal.) You now should see the whole roller brush. 2.) Remove the shell/motor cover: To do this, a.) pull off the rug height adjuster lever, and take not where you put it so you won't loose it. b.) push foot release down and keep vacuum bag in the vacuuming/hinged/operating position (not the upright/locked position), and position cleaner on it's side, or upside down. c. Pry around the bottom edge, starting at right corner, then go around, prying in about 4 different places. Shell/motor cover will now easily pull off (upward and out towards front), exposing motor shaft and light bulb. 3.) remove belt from motor shaft. 4. slide roller and old belt out the bottom. 5.) remove old and place new belt on roller 6.) slide roller back into place. 7.) wrap other end of belt on motor shaft. 8.) shell cover, rug height adjuster knob, and bottom plate snap back into place. check that roller turns without much effort. 9.) It now should be ready to plug in and vacuum.

You've got a broken belt. Most Hoover Vacuums have a spare belt attached to the vacuum itself. Replacement is fairly easy and usually won't require tools. To replace your belt:

1. Unplug the vacuum
2. Locate clips on bottom of vacuum-Hoover uses clips that can be opened by hand.
   
3. Lift up the plate that encloses the rollers
4. Remove broken belt
5. Remove roller from it's compartment
   
6. Install replacement belt (hooking it around the motor and roller, using the roller for leverage to stretch out the belt until you have the roller in it's compartment.
7. Replace cover
8. Put clips back in place.
   

Possible the bushings on the ends of roller are worn out therfore binding under belt rotation.

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

I will attempt to walk you through the belt change on your Riccar 8955 upright vacuum cleaner. I have taken pictures for you for each step to ensure that it's done properly. 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 unpluged, 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: Unsrew 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, and 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 for the clutch, as well as the belt guard, lift staight 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 one new belt and wrap it around the metal pin in the back of vacuum cleaners 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), but the other end of the belt through your new 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, and continously having to replace belts. You can see on the end cap of the roller brush (the right side where the belt rides) that there is two little teeth that protrude out of the end cap as well as an indentation on the opposite side;



Step 9: With the roller brush inserted through the belt, posistion the two teeth facing downwards. You can see in the vacuum cleaner where the roller brush sits, a little groove down inside of the 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. Here's a picture of the belt guard being put back into place;





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. Change the the rug / floor switch from bare floors to the carpet setting, and the turn the vacuum upside again so the brush and belt are exposed:



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.








Thank you

Chris Jones
GoVacuum

You need to shut the brush roll off. It is ruining your rugs, the dyson has a very aggressive roller and can hurt some types of rugs and carpets.

I believe you need to change the belt that drives the brushes. When it gets stretched out, it will just spin on the axle of the motor or spin on the brush and smoke.

Jim

If the brush won't spin at all, it's either the drive belt or the roller beater brush is clogged. Pet hair can quickly clog a vacuum. Turn the unit over and see if the brush will rotate by hand. If yes, it's probably the belt. Also look for debris and clear as much out as possible. You may have to remove the bottom plate and clean the bottom of the unit out. If you do have to go that far, it would be best to replace the drive belt and thoroughly clean the vacuum.

You need to start with a pair of scissors and patience. Sit on the floor with the vacuum roller visible and accessible. Snip a string and pull it off. If the roller stops, cut string at that point. Try again. this is time consuming, but necessary. We borrowed a vacuum from a family that had four girls with long blond hair. We had to de-hair the roller before it would work sufficiently on our carpet. Once the hair was off, it worked GREAT! It was so wonderful that we went out and bought a Dyson of our own; now we don't have to remove long blonde hair from the roller to get it to work.