Suggestion on shrinking a small rubber belt?

My vacuum cleaner has an attachment that has a small beater brush. The brush is driven by the airflow from the vacuum itself, turning a wheel that pulls a small rubber drive belt, that turns the beater brush.

The brush hasn't been turning lately, even after I disassembled the attachment and cleaned and lubed the friction points.

When I started analyzing things, it turns out that the belt has stretched out to the point of uselessness.

I'm sure that Sears would sell me a new attachment for $50. I'm sure that with a lot of homework, I could find a replacement belt, but I'm not really in the mood to do that homework.

So my quick and dirty cut at making this work is built around the hope that I can somehow shrink the belt. It's maybe six inches in circumference and fairly thin. Is there something I can soak it in, or heat it or cool it to reduce the size? I'm thinking that a quarter to half-inch reduction in circumference will more than adequately do the trick.

Reply to
trader-of-some-jacks
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"trader-of-some-jacks" wrote

Is it a Hoover? That little beater brush is freaky, can't believe it spins so fast. I use it to vacuum my cat.

If it's a Hoover, it says the belt is part no. 38528037, $4.99 from their website.

nancy

Reply to
Nancy Young

Can you replace it with a big rubber band?

I doubt if you can shrink the belt, but could you build up epoxy or something on the wheels and make them bigger?

Reply to
Pat

Not going to happen, sorry.

Reply to
Meat Plow

You're kidding right?

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Reply to
Steve Barker

You really should buy a new belt, they're cheep enough, but.....

Back in the 60s I supplemented my "real job" incvome by servicing reel to reel tape recorders at night.

Those monsters had rubber drive belts in them and I found I could "shrink" them by judiciously waving them through the flame of a Bernz-O-Matic torch or a gas stove burner, heating them to just below their "ignition temperature", and rotating the belt through the flame so all parts got "the treatment".

I know it sounds ludicrous, but what have you got to lose the belt isn't earning its keep the way it is now. Plus I'd get a reel boot out of hearing you tell us that tried my approach and it worked.

Good Luck,

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff Wisnia

You remember the 60s AND worked ? ;-)

-- Oren

"I don't have anything against work. I just figure, why deprive somebody who really loves it."

Reply to
Oren

Thanks. I needed the laugh.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

Try gasoline.

Reply to
ValveJob

Try cold water. Works well on my scrotum.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

You can cut it with a sharp razor blade, shorten it as needed, then glue it back together with crazy glue.

Sounds crazy, but in an earlier life, I repaired recorders, slide projectors, ect, and this was done when we didn't have the right size o-ring belt.

it works!

Reply to
over40pirate

...

... If you remembered the 60s, you weren't there.

Reply to
M Q

As I recall, there were kits sold to fabricate recorder belts from bulk belt material by cutting a piece and splicing with a type of Crazy Glue. I have successfully shortened salvaged recorder belts and spliced with Crazy Glue using this method to provide replacement belts. The cut should be made diagonally with a razor blade to get the largest bonding area possible . It does help to have spare material for practice. And this is applicable only to small belting without a fabric core.

Everything considered, I would buy a replacement belt unless you are just fascinated with the process.

SJF

Reply to
SJF

Thanks to all who responded to my original post.

I did some simple digging, and yes, Sears.com has replacement parts - but only down to the level of the "thingamajig" (actually, it's called a "Handimate Jr.") that has the too-big belt.

The good news is that the Handimate Jr. costs only something like $25, which is half what I figured it would cost. But I still think that finding a 49¢ belt for it shouldn't be that much of an effort.

Any suggestions on an independent parts supplier where I might be able to find the belt? Again, this is a belt, maybe six inches in circumference, rubber, with teeth on the inside to drive the little plastic gear.

Reply to
trader-of-some-jacks

Try a good independent appliance or vacuum cleaner repair shop, or even one as Sears if you can find one. I can't imagine not selling a belt for repairs.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

Its a simple 'O' ring you can buy from an industrial valves shop. Try your luck at an automotives parts shop too.

Reply to
PaPaPeng

replying to trader-of-some-jacks, Mark Elverson wrote: I'm having the same problem. Have you had a solution yet.

Reply to
Mark Elverson

replying to Jeff Wisnia, Ericthemaster wrote: Lol I just did that exact thing today and it worked for about a minute then it broke.... then I turned to my what would Jesus do bracelet and it fit like a glove .lol

Reply to
Ericthemaster

when i put a rubber on and add cold water my shit shrinks. try that. never can be too safe!

Reply to
shagtastic

Good idea

Reply to
Lisa Alsop

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