Filterqueen Optima

[vermontgirl]

I grew up with the old brown Filter Queen and have fond memories. I now own 2 Oreck Vacuum and though they do the the job the are LOUD and go through belts like crazy. I just picked up a Filter Queen Optima at a 2nd hand shop and was all jazzed to use it until I was informed it was going to cost me an additional 250 bucks to get it upgraded. The Machine is in MINT but is basically useless as is. Any suggestions or do I send it to the junk yard?

 

[vermontgirl]

Optima Filterqueen

Here is another shot of the machine put together.

 

[bagintheback]

What do you need upgraded/replaced for $250? Something is seriously wrong with it or your vacuum shop is way over-priced. Don't throw it out. Some collector here might want it for parts or restoration.

 

[brandon_w_t]

Wow. I have never seen this model! Looks quite nice!


What is wrong with it?

 

[midcenturymike]

I have rairly worked on a FQ this new, but

Isn't there supposed to be a cone shaped grill over top of that motor/secondary filter? I shouldn't think this would cost $250! Perhaps someone is trying to rip you off. Be careful of vac shop "advice". It certainly looks better than junk yard material!

 

[brandon_w_t]

Op wow. Yea it's missing the plastic cage. Maybe someone ran it without cones and ruined the motor.

 

[henry200]

It looks to me like it was used without the cone-shaped support and primary filter cone.   The motor will need to be disassembled and cleaned.  Why someone would remove the cone is beyond me.  The disk filter at the base of the motor is supposed to be a stop-gap to protect the motor in case the main filter develops a small leak, but can't be expected to handle a full onslaught of dust and dirt. 


 


I'm not familiar with this model (yours is the first I've ever seen) but it also looks like there a missing "elbow" piece at the top of the power nozzle wand before connecting the hose. 


 


Buying genuine Filter Queen parts from an authorized FQ dealer is a very expensive proposition.   Some parts can be found for less online.  The most important issue is taking apart the motor to get cleaned out and assess any damage from being run cone-less.


 

 

[kenkart]

NO Guys!

The Optima is a rare machine, Health Mor introduced it as a cheaper machine, it does NOT use a cone, it uses a BAG!! which now is next to impossible to get, they had much trouble with dust leakage where the bag attached, it is set up very much like a Lewyt 55 or 66, KEEP THIS!! it is rare!

 

[hydralique]

Interesting . . .

How did the Optima relate to the Princess line? I thought that was Filter Queen's "economy" vacuum.

 

[FilterQueenEthan]

A separator cone can be installed if the base is the same diameter. Shouldn't cost much to do and would involve installing a grommet in the bottom of the base to put the screw. If it needs a motor a whole 'nother story.

 

[huskyvacs]

What is there to "upgrade" with this?

This is a rare version of the Filter Queen, called the Emerald, that uses a bag system, it was a flop and only made for a short time then never spoken about again. It takes bags. No bagless, and no filter mesh. There are collectors here from the 2000s and 2010's that had one, look in the archives.

If you are not a collector, I would suggest selling the Optima to a collector/eBay because you would likely get $250 for it in and of itself, and put that towards getting a newer used Filter Queen if you are a fan of the manufacturer and used to them. A vacuum shop would just butcher the hell out of it to try and retrofit it and make it work to a vacuum that already exists that you can just buy at any possible moment. Getting this to work is easy but probabaly not something a non-collector would want to fool with. You'd need to find an example of the original bags and then make your own out of raw HEPA bags using the old bag as a template. Or find a substitute style to bodge in.

EDIT: Just now saw this is a thread from 15 years ago.

 

[FilterQueenEthan]

What is there to "upgrade" with this?

This is a rare version of the Filter Queen that uses a bag system, it was a flop and only made for a short time then never spoken about again. It takes bags. No bagless, and no filter mesh. There are collectors here from the 2000s and 2010's that had one, look in the archives.

If you are not a collector, I would suggest selling the Optima to a collector/eBay because you would likely get $250 for it in and of itself, and put that towards getting a newer used Filter Queen if you are a fan of the manufacturer and used to them. A vacuum shop would just butcher the hell out of it to try and retrofit it and make it work to a vacuum that already exists that you can just buy at any possible moment.

Very true. I have seen an Optima for sale with a cone system installed. As a Filter Queen diehard, I wouldn't want one, but that is because I only collect Filter Queen branded Filter Queens! I want to buy a 2nd but it either will be a 700 Canadian, a 95X steel inner cone, or a chrome 500 complete with 1950s chrome attachments.

 

[cheesewonton]

A separator cone can be installed if the base is the same diameter. Shouldn't cost much to do and would involve installing a grommet in the bottom of the base to put the screw. If it needs a motor a whole 'nother story.

Even a new motor is maybe a $100 proposition depending on what motor is in there. Ametek 115923 motors are abundant and usually under $100 if you shop around. But the motor that is in there ought be something that can be disassembled and cleaned for half that price.

 

[cheesewonton]

Since it is the only F-Q that used a bag that is the only one I have looked for. Dumping that metal bucket and replacing filthy cones is offensive to me in so many ways but if it uses a bag I'm like there dude. That's the F-Q to have.

 

[FilterQueenEthan]

Even a new motor is maybe a $100 proposition depending on what motor is in there. Ametek 115923 motors are abundant and usually under $100 if you shop around. But the motor that is in there ought be something that can be disassembled and cleaned for half that price.

True, but many wouldn't tackle it. This is by far one of the rarest Filter Queen machines in existence!

 

[cheesewonton]

True, but many wouldn't tackle it. This is by far one of the rarest Filter Queen machines in existence!

Changing a motor on one is straight forward. Less work to remove the motor than a Lindhaus Aria or Sebo C3.1. I haven't looked but imagine there are videos on Youtube showing how.

 

[FilterQueenEthan]

Since it is the only F-Q that used a bag that is the only one I have looked for. Dumping that metal bucket and replacing filthy cones is offensive to me in so many ways but if it uses a bag I'm like there dude. That's the F-Q to have.

I do jobs somedays that would gag a maggot. So to me it's all I know as they are what we have ran for 67 years. Easiest way is to take a kitchen sized trash bag and put it over the top of the opened canister, and then dump it.

 

[FilterQueenEthan]

Changing a motor on one is straight forward. Less work to remove the motor than a Lindhaus Aria or Sebo C3.1. I haven't looked but imagine there are videos on Youtube showing how.

Yes very easy to do and due to ease of repair is why I love them.

 

[cheesewonton]

Not easy to find bags for the Optima. Saw an image of them and it looks like some other bags would fit like maybe a bag from Numatic.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Sam Watson (beko1987) put a Numatic bag in his Triple Crown.

 

[cheesewonton]

Sam Watson (beko1987) put a Numatic bag in his Triple Crown.

I understand he modified the hose connection to use a Numatic bag spout. He didn't just pop a bag on the existing spout.

The Optima was intended to use a bag from the get go and the bags I saw images of looked like an old Kenmore or modern Numatic dust bag, or even a synthetic shop vac bag like the ones Casa Vacuums sells. It has the wheels turning .................

 

[centralsweeper63]

It know his was most definetely a bagless one to start with.