Question on Small Electric (Vacume) Motors

[XLR8]

My (the wifes) vacume broke - not sure how since she hardly uses it.
I took it apart and the motor will start and run for a few seconds with a lot of sparks coming from the brushes and then stop. After the motor cools, it will run again for a few seconds then die. The motor seems to get hot - and you can smell something burning. Do you think replacing the brushes ($30) will fix it or do I need a new motor or vacume?

 

[buickpower]

motor

sounds to me like either the motor burned out ( a very unique smell that after one time you will not forget) kinda smells like burned electronics, you know that varnish cambric coating insulation layer on the copper burns off. or could possibly be the brushes hanging up in their holders, (if it is that type of setup) which has happened to me on ocassion, and which i found to usually be the source of intermittent running. If the brushes have holders, try pushing on the back of the brushes to make sure they are seated. sometimes i pull back on the shunt wire a little and work the brush back and forth in the holder to free it up. Is this an AC motor for a conventional house vacuum cleaner?

 

[buickpower]

motors

I forgot to include, If you are able to get at them, try taking out the brushes to see if they are broken or worn down. also check out the comm, and if it looks to be in decent shape( i.e. not seriously burned or grooved), and the motor windings do not appear burned, then new brushes might do the trick. If you get the feeling the windings are burned, (depending on the motor setup it may be hard to tell) the motor should be replaced. before any of that though i would push on the backs of the brushes (again if they are in the sliding type holders) to make sure they are making contact.

 

[XLR8]

Yes, the motor is for a houshold vacuum. The brushes are spring loaded and are making good contact. I removed them and they slide freelly and are not broken, pitted or otherwise damaged.

The smell is similar to buring bake-a-lite. Looks like I need a motor.
Thanks for the help.