OK thanks, I have managed to get the spindle out of the beater and its pretty clean, bearings good, I have ordered 2 senior belts off ebay UK for 99p (these are €11 in Holland!!!) so will only be able to see when I get the belts back to Nederland, I hope they will stay in the ridge in the beater bar and not ride out of it, I think the old belt is so perished a stretched that its too slack and doesnt grip the beater bar tightly enough. The bag on this vac is actually a plastic type thing, its in good condition but has nowhere the strength of the British textile outer bags. thanks Amateursewing