Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.
Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.
Summary
A smell of burning rubber, a brush roll that has stopped turning, and a vacuum that pushes dirt around instead of picking it up are all the same fault: the drive belt has stretched, slipped off or snapped. On most uprights the belt is a rubber loop under a screwed plate on the underside of the machine, it costs a few pounds, and changing it takes half an hour with one screwdriver.
Two things on this page matter more than the belt itself. The first is that the machine must be disconnected from the electrical supply before the plate comes off — a brush roll that starts while your fingers are around it is a hand injury, and on a cordless upright that means taking the battery out, not just checking the cord. The second is the brush roll bearing test: if the roll does not spin freely, a new belt will destroy itself within a week, and this page tells you how to check that before you fit one.
Necessary equipment
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Phillips screwdriver | BISSELL and Hoover both give a cross-head screwdriver for the brush plate. |
| Scissors | BISSELL tells you to cut the hair and the string from the brush roll. |
| Small container | The screws from the brush plate are small and easy to lose. |
| Flashlight optional | The space around the motor pulley is dark. |
| Camera optional | A photograph of the belt in its position helps you at the end. |
| New drive belt for your model material | The part number is different for each model. |
Isolate the vacuum cleaner
Estimated 4 min to 17 min
- Set the vacuum cleaner to OFF.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Isolate the vacuum cleaner
DISCONNECT THE VACUUM CLEANER FROM THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY BEFORE YOU OPEN THE BRUSH PLATE.
The brush roll can start at speed. It can catch your hand and injure it.
- Disconnect the vacuum cleaner from the electrical supply.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Isolate the vacuum cleaner
- Remove the plug from the wall outlet.
- BISSELL tells you to make the machine OFF and to remove the plug first.
REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM A CORDLESS VACUUM CLEANER.
Hoover gives this instruction. A cordless machine has power in it with no cord and can injure your hand.
- If the vacuum cleaner is cordless, remove its battery.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Isolate the vacuum cleaner
- Hoover tells you to remove the battery from a cordless machine.
- Put the battery in a different room while you do this work.
- Make sure that the brush roll does not turn.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Isolate the vacuum cleaner
LET THE VACUUM CLEANER BECOME COOL BEFORE YOU TOUCH THE BELT.
A belt that slips makes the belt and the motor pulley hot.
- Let the vacuum cleaner become cool.2mReport a problem with step 5, Isolate the vacuum cleaner
- A belt that slips makes heat in the belt and in the motor pulley.
Find the correct belt for your model
Estimated 8 min to 18 min
No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.
- Find the model number on the vacuum cleaner.3mReport a problem with step 1, Find the correct belt for your model
- The model number is usually on a label on the body of the machine.
- Write the number down before you order a belt.
USE ONLY THE BELT THAT YOUR DOCUMENTATION GIVES FOR YOUR MODEL.
A belt of the wrong type slips and causes damage to the brush roll.
- Get the belt part number from the documentation for your model.4mReport a problem with step 2, Find the correct belt for your model
- Manufacturers make more than one type of belt for their uprights.
- A flat belt and a stretch belt are not the same part.
- Get the new belt before you open the machine.1mReport a problem with step 3, Find the correct belt for your model
- A machine in parts on the floor is easy to lose.
Open the brush plate
Estimated 5 min to 8 min
No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.
- Lower the handle of the vacuum cleaner.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Open the brush plate
- BISSELL tells you to lower the handle before you turn the machine.
- Turn the vacuum cleaner until the brush plate is up.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Open the brush plate
- Put a towel below the machine to keep the floor clean.
- Remove the screws from the brush plate with the screwdriver.3mReport a problem with step 3, Open the brush plate
- BISSELL gives seven screws for one CleanView model and six for another.
- Hoover gives eight screws for one of its uprights.
- Count the screws for your machine. Put them in the container.
- Remove the brush plate from the machine.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Open the brush plate
- Some plates have a clip at one end also.
Remove the brush roll and the old belt
Estimated 3 min
- Make a photograph of the belt in its position.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Remove the brush roll and the old belt
- The photograph shows you the correct path of the new belt.
- Lift the brush roll out of the machine.1mReport a problem with step 2, Remove the brush roll and the old belt
- BISSELL tells you to hold the brush roll at each end.
- Lift the brush roll straight up.
LOOK AT THE BRUSH ROLL BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR HAND ON IT.
Pins, staples and glass collect in the bristles. These objects can cut your hand.
- Remove the old belt from the brush roll and from the motor pulley.2mReport a problem with step 3, Remove the brush roll and the old belt
- Find all the pieces of a belt that broke.
- A piece of a belt on the motor pulley stops the new belt.
Examine the brush roll and the belt path
Estimated 9 min to 19 min
No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.
KEEP THE POINTS OF THE SCISSORS AWAY FROM YOUR FINGERS.
The scissors can cut your hand.
- Cut the hair and the string from the brush roll with the scissors.5mReport a problem with step 1, Examine the brush roll and the belt path
- BISSELL tells you to remove the string, the hair and the other debris.
- Hair around an end cap is the usual cause of a seized brush roll.
- Clean the space around the motor pulley.2mReport a problem with step 2, Examine the brush roll and the belt path
- Put the brush roll on its side on a table.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Examine the brush roll and the belt path
- Turn the brush roll one time with your hand.1mReport a problem with step 4, Examine the brush roll and the belt path
- BISSELL says that a good brush roll can turn many times from one flick.
- Replace the brush roll if it stops immediately.
- A brush roll that does not turn freely breaks a new belt quickly.
- Examine the old belt for wear and cuts.<1mReport a problem with step 5, Examine the brush roll and the belt path
- BISSELL tells you to replace a belt with wear or cuts.
- Oreck says that a belt with a cut or a stretch slows the brush.
Install the new belt
Estimated 6 min to 9 min
- Put the new belt on the motor pulley.1mReport a problem with step 1, Install the new belt
- The pulley is the small wheel on the shaft of the motor.
- Put the belt into the space between the bristles of the brush roll.2mReport a problem with step 2, Install the new belt
- The brush roll has a smooth space with no bristles for the belt.
- Compare the path with your photograph.
- Put each end of the brush roll into its slot.2mReport a problem with step 3, Install the new belt
- BISSELL tells you to align the end caps and to pull the brush roll forward.
- The belt becomes tight as the brush roll goes into its slots.
- Make sure that the belt has no twist.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Install the new belt
- A belt with a twist makes a loud noise and breaks quickly.
- Turn the brush roll with your hand some times.<1mReport a problem with step 5, Install the new belt
- BISSELL tells you to turn the brush a few times to center the belt.
- The belt must stay in the center of the brush roll.
Close the brush plate
Estimated 4 min to 8 min
DO NOT MAKE THE SCREWS TOO TIGHT.
A screw that is too tight breaks the thread in the plastic.
- Put the brush plate on the machine.1mReport a problem with step 1, Close the brush plate
- Make sure that no wire or belt is below the edge of the plate.
- Install all the screws in the brush plate.3mReport a problem with step 2, Close the brush plate
- Start each screw with your fingers before you use the screwdriver.
- Count the screws against the number you removed.
- Turn the vacuum cleaner to its usual position.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Close the brush plate
Make sure that the brush roll turns
Estimated 4 min
KEEP YOUR HANDS AND YOUR HAIR AWAY FROM THE BRUSH ROLL BEFORE YOU START THE MOTOR.
The brush roll turns at speed. It can catch your hand or your hair and injure you.
- Put the vacuum cleaner on a carpet.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Make sure that the brush roll turns
- A hard floor gives the brush roll no load.
- Connect the vacuum cleaner to the electrical supply.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Make sure that the brush roll turns
- Install the battery again in a cordless machine.
- Set the vacuum cleaner to ON.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Make sure that the brush roll turns
- Move the vacuum cleaner on the carpet.2mReport a problem with step 4, Make sure that the brush roll turns
- A machine with a good belt collects the dirt from the carpet.
- Set the machine to OFF if you hear a loud noise or smell rubber.
- Set the vacuum cleaner to OFF.<1mReport a problem with step 5, Make sure that the brush roll turns
- Record the date and the belt part number.<1mReport a problem with step 6, Make sure that the brush roll turns
Terminology
This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.
- drive belt
- Also called: vacuum belt, belt, brush belt, agitator belt, hoover belt, roller belt, the rubber band in the vacuum
- brush roll
- Also called: brushroll, brush bar, beater bar, agitator, roller brush, floor brush, the spinny brush
- brush plate
- Also called: bottom plate, base plate, sole plate, bottom cover, brush guard, the plate underneath
- motor pulley
- Also called: motor shaft, drive shaft, belt pulley, spindle, the little wheel the belt goes on
- upright vacuum cleaner
- Also called: upright vacuum, vacuum, hoover, vac, carpet cleaner, upright hoover
When to use a professional
Stop if the brush plate has no screws. Some uprights hold the plate with clips only, and some make the brush roll a sealed part. Speak to the manufacturer before you use force on a plate.
Stop if your machine has no belt in its parts list. Some uprights drive the brush roll from a motor in the floor head. There is no belt to replace on those machines and this procedure does not apply.
Stop if the brush roll does not turn freely after you clean it. The bearings or the end caps have damage. A new belt on a seized brush roll breaks in days.
Stop if the motor pulley does not turn, or if the machine has a smell of burnt electrical parts. Do not open the body of the machine. Speak to a repair technician.
Stop if the cord has a cut, a break or exposed wire. Do not use tape on a cord. A cord is a replacement part and not a repair.
Common questions
How do I know if my vacuum belt is broken?
Three symptoms, usually together: the brush roll no longer turns when the machine is running, the vacuum stops picking up on carpet while still sucking fine on hard floors, and there is a smell of hot rubber. Oreck describes the mechanism plainly — a belt that has stretched or been cut makes the revolving brush slow down or stop completely. Tip the machine over with it unplugged and turn the brush roll by hand: if it spins with no resistance at all, nothing is driving it.
Why does my vacuum smell like burning rubber?
Because the belt is slipping rather than driving. Something is jamming the brush roll — usually hair or string wound tight around an end cap — and the motor keeps turning while the belt skids across the pulley. That friction is what you can smell, and it will destroy the belt in minutes. Switch off, unplug, and clear the brush roll before you use it again.
How often should I change the vacuum belt?
None of the four manufacturer sources on this page publishes an interval, so this page does not print one. What BISSELL publishes instead is a condition test: check the belt for wear or cuts and replace it if you find any. Oreck goes further in the other direction and says its own Endurolife belt is designed for long life and does not need changing at all. Judge the belt, not the calendar.
Which belt fits my vacuum?
Only the part number in your model's documentation will tell you, and it genuinely matters — manufacturers sell several belt types for their uprights and a flat non-stretch belt is not interchangeable with a stretch belt. The model number is on a label on the body of the machine. A belt that is nearly right will either slip and cook itself or run tight enough to wear the brush roll bearings out.
I fitted a new belt and it broke within a week. What went wrong?
Almost certainly the brush roll, not the belt. BISSELL publishes the check that catches this: take the brush roll out, rest it on its side and flick it — it should keep spinning for several turns. If it stops dead, the bearings or the end caps are seized, and any belt you fit is being dragged across a roller that will not turn. Replace the brush roll as well.
Does every upright vacuum have a belt I can change?
No. Some modern uprights drive the brush roll from a small motor inside the floor head and have no belt at all. Others use a sealed brush roll assembly. The quickest check is the parts list or exploded diagram for your model: if no belt is listed, there is nothing here for you to change and a brush roll that will not turn is a different fault.
My vacuum is cordless. Do I still need to do anything before opening it?
Yes, and it is the step people skip. Hoover's own instruction for cordless machines is to remove the battery, not merely to switch off. A cordless upright has its power source on board, and a switch knocked while your fingers are around the brush roll does exactly what a plugged-in machine would do. Take the battery out and put it in another room until you have finished.
Related procedures
- How to find and record the model and serial number of every appliance in the house
- My vacuum has lost suction — can I just wash the filter?
- Which filter do I need for my shop vac before I vacuum water or dust?
Sources
Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.
- Tier 1Removing/Replacing Belt | How to Videos | Cleanview Vacuum
- Tier 1Brush/Belt Maintenance | How to Videos | CleanView/PowerClean Vacuums
- Tier 1Frequently Asked Questions
- Tier 1Frequently Asked Questions
Revision history
Current version 1 · updated 2026-07-29 · next review due 2027-07-29
- v1 · 2026-07-29First draft. Sourced to BISSELL, Hoover and Oreck upright vacuum support documentation. Belt part number, replacement interval and brush plate screw count all publish as consult-the-manufacturer: the sources give three different screw counts for three different models and no source publishes an interval. Electrical isolation carries two hazards because a cordless machine needs the battery out, not just the cord.
Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.
Comments and corrections
Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.
Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.