Hoover Carpet Cleaner?

[sss3]

Just turned on, for a second smelled burning. Turned off and not it won't turn on. I've had this several years and it's always worked well. However it's spent the last couple yrs in a very cold friend's barn. Ideas?

[Harry Chickpea]

When the magic smoke comes out, most often there has been a short circuit of some sort - motor, switch, capacitor - or the shaft of the motor has seized. You can tear it apart to see what the problem is, but 70% of the time it is un-repairable at a reasonable cost or unsafe after a repair.

[Ozarks Tom]

Is there a thermal reset? If so, push it. If the motor starts I'd check the brush roller to see if you can turn it by hand. It could be the belt burning on the brush roller, if so, find out what's got the roller in a bind and you should be all right.

[Nimrod]

Mouse nest in the moving bits?

[Snowfan]

Good thing your cold friend has a barn. I would go with the mouse nest theory. Mice also like to chew wiring.