How to Replace Fantom Vacuum Cleaner Belts

Fantom vacuums include the Cyclone, Fury, Thunder, Lighting, Twister... and well, you might have noticed a weather pattern here. That's no doubt because of the Fantom's heralded "cyclonic action"--basically the vacuum utilizes a centrifugal force to spin dust and dirt out in dual-stage "cyclones." That's a perfect storm for cleaning your floors. But if you've found that your Fantom is no longer operating as an F5 tornado, the culprit might be a worn or broken belt. It's a common occurrence. Replacing a Fantom vacuum cleaner belt is a fairly simple maintenance procedure.

Instructions

1. Switch the Fantom to the "Off" position and unplug the power cord. Let the vacuum cool down for about half an hour.

2. Flip the vacuum over so that you can see the bottom plate.

3. Slide the latch with your finger in the direction indicated by the arrow. Pull the tabs forward on the bottom plate and lift the bottom plate away from the vacuum.

4. Pull out the agitator assembly. It's the round bar with the brush bristles.

5. Unloop and remove the flat belt that is wound around the motor shaft and the agitator pulley. (Or if the belt is broken, you can simply pull it out.)

6. Install the replacement flat belt by looping it around the motor shaft and the agitator pulley.

7. Return the agitator assembly to its housing; it should slip right into grooves in the nozzle head. Try turning the agitator assembly with your hand a few rotations to make sure the belt fits correctly with no twists.

8. Push the bottom plate back into position and lock the latch by sliding it with your fingers.

9. Turn the Fantom back to an upright position. Plug it in and test the operation.

Tips & Warnings

• Procedures inevitably vary by model. Some Fantom models, for example, require you to use a screwdriver to remove several screws in order to gain access to the belt. Check a user's guide for your specific model.

References

• Fantom Twister Instruction Manual
• Fantom Fury Instruction Manual