DC03 Clear - Stripdown and Refurb

[Ben]

They are very rare and very fragile. You'll struggle to find one.

The only one we have - and this may be the same as the one you describe you have already - is one that is more of a solid blue in colour. I think later ones were fitted with those.

This isn’t about the handle this time. I’ve just finished reassembling the cleaner and I’ve stripped the clutch and changed the belts. The problem is that it makes that awful ratcheting sound when I go to recline the machine. However if you recline it without the machine being turned on and start it from the reclined position it’s fine. I’ve refurbished a few dc03 and whenever I’ve replaced the belts they’ve had the exact same issues but I’ve never had this problem on a dc04,14,33. Do you think the machine needs a new clutch or is it my error. If it helps it’s the original from 1998 and it has a metal clutch cog and a metal cover instead of the white ones used not long after. Any suggestions would be much appreciated as I would love to have it 100% functional and not have to faf about when using it

[MVacs]

Assuming it's assembled correctly in the machine, if it didn't do that before, you've made a mistake rebuilding the clutch. They do that when they're jammed. We routinely rebuild the older clutches with metal parts, so there's nothing obsolete in there. 

I can ask our chap on Monday if there's anything specific to those clutches that differs. I'm not aware there is but I'll ask.

[Ben]

Assuming it's assembled correctly in the machine, if it didn't do that before, you've made a mistake rebuilding the clutch. They do that when they're jammed. We routinely rebuild the older clutches with metal parts, so there's nothing obsolete in there. 

I can ask our chap on Monday if there's anything specific to those clutches that differs. I'm not aware there is but I'll ask.

Just stripped it down again and everything looked ok. When I put it back in I made sure that the brushroll spun as freely as it possibly could. Still making the horrible noise, I don’t know if it’s because of how fast the cleanerhead makes contact with the floor because it’s quite fast leaving  no time for the clutch to engage properly but at this point I’m stumped.

[Ben]

Assuming it's assembled correctly in the machine, if it didn't do that before, you've made a mistake rebuilding the clutch. They do that when they're jammed. We routinely rebuild the older clutches with metal parts, so there's nothing obsolete in there. 

I can ask our chap on Monday if there's anything specific to those clutches that differs. I'm not aware there is but I'll ask.

I don’t know if this makes a difference but if you leave the machine switched off, recline it and make sure it’s in the drive position so that when you spin the brushroll it turns the motor. If you spin it with your hand with a bit of force you can feel the clutch slipping and jamming up. I’ve tried the exact same thing with 2 dc04s that I have in my room and neither of them do the same thing. As the machine is clear and you can see the clutch belt on the motor spindle it all looks to be lined up correctly with no problems. I think the next step is to buy a new clutch that you are selling at the minute as I’d like this machine to work to 100% of its capabilitiy

[MVacs]

Our chap says there are a couple of different set ups on early clutches, and if not a faulty internal component, it may be to do with the spacers. Different versions have differences - some have 2 some have 3 - and he cant speculate unless its in front of him.

A recon clutch might be the short answer.

[Ben]

Our chap says there are a couple of different set ups on early clutches, and if not a faulty internal component, it may be to do with the spacers. Different versions have differences - some have 2 some have 3 - and he cant speculate unless its in front of him.

A recon clutch might be the short answer.

It’s t he very early type with t he 3 spacers in, a metal cog and a metal backplate which the friction material sits into if that helps.