What a Worn Defective Belt on Ramvac Bulldog QT2 Looks Like
- David Chen, DDS
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
A defective or worn belt on a Ramvac Bulldog QT2 will look frayed or have cracks running parallel with the belt. However, even if belt looks okay to you it may still be worn and warrants closer examination.
The photo below is what the bulldog QT2 dry vac looks like, if yours look like this, everything here will apply to you.
Appearance
A worn defective belt on a Ramvac Bulldog QT2 can look frayed or have cracks running along it. Below we will show photos of what each of these two conditions look like.
Frayed belt
When the vacuum belt is frayed, it will not look smooth. There is typically a section or portion of the belt that has strands sticking up above the belt surface.
The image below shows what it looks like.
It basically looks like a kink in the belt making it no longer contiguous with the surface.
Below is an image showing a side view of what the fray looks like.
Cracked belt
A worn belt can also develop cracks or crack lines that typically run parallel with the belt.
Below is an image showing a very faint crack line running down the belt.
Even though the cracks look very faint, if you put some side pressure to it, the crack will start to gap open showing the severity of the crack.
The image above definitely shows the visible crack and how it is usually much worse than if you simply looked at it.
Precautions
We actually did not know what was specifically wrong with our ramvac bulldog qt2 vacuum aside from the fact that it has been having this "thud thud thud" sound for the past 2 weeks. The sound would come on a few minutes after turning it on and it did not go away.
What it sounds like: It actually sounded kind of like a flat tire.
We called the Henry Schein tech who came in and opened up the belt cover. When he initially looked at it, he thought it didn't look too bad.
However, it was only AFTER he removed the belt that you could more clearly see the wear on the belt.
Replacement frequency interval
Our ramvac bulldog qt2 belt lasted about 15,000 hours before needing a replacement. That was approximately about 7 years.
However, if your belt is not defective or if it is not making noise, you can hold off on the replacement. Ours was making noise and it still kept running for another 2-3 weeks before we replaced it.
Although it seemed like it wouldn't last much longer since it was starting to crack through. In severe cases, the whole belt could snap. If that happens you would most likely lose suction in your dental office.
Therefore, as soon as you notice it making a weird noise, you should try to replace it as soon as possible.
Replacement part number:
If you need the replacement part number, you should call ramvac and ask for it. You can usually place the order by giving the part number to the Henry Schein rep or an equivalent dental equipment supplier.
