Bad clutch?

[tazzip]

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While I was vacuuming on Sat, my DC07 suddenly starting making a loud ratcheting noise, which I know normally indicates a blockage.  I had cut the hair off the roller prior to starting, but I cut off the new accumulation & tried again.  It still made the noise.  I then removed the face plate, further cleaned out the hair, including some accumulation under the belt, & tried turning it on again.  Still making the noise.  I turned it off & tried turning the roller by hand.  It would turn fine a few revolutions, then the belt would stop turning & the roller would turn without the belt moving.  I called Dyson service tonight & the representative, after having me twist the clutch back & forth ~15 times, had me turn it on while it was on it's side (but in the reclined position).  The brush bar was not turning at all & after about 3-5 seconds it started making the horrid ratcheting noise again.  He suggested taking it to a service repair shop & indicated it was probably a faulty clutch.  If that is the case, what kind of bill can I expect for the repair?  Is it possible that it is just the belt that needs to be replaced?  I plan on taking it in to the shop tomorrow but wanted to see if anybody else had experienced this problem first.  Thanks!

[Angus Black]

If it is the clutch, most people find it more expedient to change the clutch unit itself than the individual belts. In the UK they run at about £20 plus a nominal labour charge of perhaps the same again.

If you plan to DIY, it is one of many procedures covered in my book.