1980-1995 Royal (All-Metal) Upright Model Chart

[ornery]

Servicing The 9700

Only vacuum I've really "serviced" as far as the motor goes, is the 131. I've added drops of non-detergent, straight 30 weight oil to the rear oil port, but nothing in the front.

I've assumed these 7 amp motors have ball bearings in the front, and was actually looking forward to replacing one. Seems kind of silly having that highly accessible oil port on the rear, and none on the front. That's where all the stress is. Maybe it's a simple sleeve bearing in the back, and ball bearings in the front. I don't know, but if you're worried about it, you'll have to pull it apart to get at it.

Not as hard as it sounds. A phillips screwdriver, and small "crescent" wrench, and you can be looking at that bearing in 10 minutes. I bet it's sealed, too. The 131 had sleeve bearings front and back, and the front was worn oversize/ egg shaped about .010-.015". The rear was like new. The felt packing around the front bearing was cooked and dry. I go off track in a hurry, eh?

Anyway, I'm guessing there's not much you can do to the front bearing as far as preventive maintenance. I'm SURE somebody here will chime in with the correct info about it. I think I looked at the brushes when I got it, and there was plenty of meat left. Beyond that, there's nothing to do, but run it, and run it and run it...

 

[lindley89]

Thanks for the info John; I will continue to do the same as what you were doing. I'm new to these vacuums so i'm still learning about them. My 2025 has the drop in motor so I can't add oil to it.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

John (ornery),

I now have a 1993 Stark 5700 which is a version of the Royal 9700 sold by the Portland, OR-based chain Stark's Vacuum. I will get pictures of it shortly.

~Ben

 

[gj3476]

I’m getting a royal model 606 for my birthday! I looked up the watts, it’s 350. So that makes it made around 1966 or to 1971. The serial number is 606-32083

 

[vacuumdevil]

Good information! Makes me want to grab an oil Can I can hear the Royal wheels squeaking now.

 

[scoloheros]

Gaudy Wheels?

I just found one of these and cleaned it up, it's awesome, I have two Royals now. It's the hotrod of the Royals. I think the big wheels is a performance design. I know this thread is kind of old but others will find it, like me. The wider the wheels on these Royals, the more surface area so the better they drift/slide while turning and maneuvering over carpet, they surely had that in mind in the design. It's perfect, I feel like I'm playing with a big Hot wheel. I like the Kirby's I have, they have more uses but the Royal beats my Kirbys when it comes floors. The Kirby's are great for cleaning out cars and other tasks but for floors, the Royal, ...IMO! I WISH it had hub caps, it would keep the dirt out that causes wear on the wheels against the axels.

 

[tolivac]

Royal wheels-the wide wheels also make it easier to push-they don't sink down in deep carpets as narrow tread wheels do.The hubcaps should be on ALL of their models-commercial ones,too.Some of the wheels on my Royals have been suffering some sort of dry rot-will have to have them replaced.For me--my Kirbys are still better than my Royals-but very close.The Royal is a good "poor mans Kirby"GREAT for those folks who don't want to buy a Kirby.I do a test involving old maid popcorn kernals from the workplace popcorn machine.The Kirby gobbles them up QUYICKLY-the Royals beat them around underneath and pick them up more SLOWLY than the Kirbys-Avalirs and the Royal 10A Commercials.Use sunthetic bags in both.Tried a 7A Royal and it ate the popcorn faster and BETTER than the 10A ones.Quieter,too!The 10A Royals--NOISE-from two places the bigger motor and the faster turning nozzle brush.Vacuuming cars I WOULD NOT use a Kirby for this.Remember the fan is turning faster so that pebble or coin picked up from under the seat may BLOW your fan!

 

[scoloheros]

To each their own no doubt. I have 5 Kirbys but find myself almost always going for a Royal, it maneuvers much better for me. If the back wheels of the Kirbys with the drive could also rotate independently, I might change my mind there but NOW I'm getting picky haha. I have a few new backup blades for the Kirbys, they aren't getting any cheaper. Breaking a blade on a nickel could happen but it's been working for 20 years using it for my truck with no problems. I just re-packed the front and back bearings on a 1976 Kirby I found at a thrift store, feels really good to keep these old things going.

 

[huskyvacs]

Maybe I'm just an outlaw here, but I would never use a household vacuum in that environment for cleaning out a car. Too much variables in debris and danger to the parts. Not to mention they are not rated for outdoor use, should the wheels happen to roll into a puddle or some wet grass when you are tugging it along outside the car.

I use a Shop Vac with no bag installed for cleaning out my '02 Durango. I can vacuum the rust flakes out of the holes in the rocker panels as a bonus! haha One time had a nasty coin tray I didn't want to touch, I just vacuumed the entire pile of coins up and collected them out of the vacuum afterwards and rinsed them down with the hose. The hose is so wide I just pass it over the carpet in a uniform motion and it gets it clean enough to go over safely with the shampooer.

 

[scoloheros]

Well obviously "I'm" the outlaw. I live like a caveman, to me these things are made to suck it up and clean it up so, so what if a break a nail, there are always the fake "stick-ons" lol. My car Kirby handles the M&M that found purgatory for a while with ease, getting ejected into the yard like a BB, no issues.

 

[honestjoe68]

Hi everybody,

Beautiful Royal vacuums.. obviously these are machines of high quality to be 25 Plus years old and still look so great and still perform.

I’m new here but I thought threads on vacuums 20 years or older, Prior to 1998.. are to be posted in “Vintage”.

Just an observation as I saw dates all older than 20 years.

Awesome vacuums though.. I’m not a fan of old machines but yours look really nice.

Have a great day and No offense intended regarding this belongs in Vintage.

Patrick

 

[stanl]

Alva 895

I inherited an old 80's Royal Everlast(?) from my mother. It appears to be an Alva rebranded Royal that's had some parts replaced over the years (including the bag). I'm trying to buy a couple more pieces now and I think I've found what I need.

The official model says 895, but it looks like a RY8200, although I'm not sure.

Any ideas?

I'm looking to get some front wheels, a bulb and a nozzle guard. The wheels crumbled, the bulb is dead (and I can't read the voltage on the old one), and the guard is rusty.

 

[lesinutah]

The

Bag is not the correct bag. The Everlast models were made in the 2000s.
Your 895 was made in March of 1967.
I believe the bag on it originally was dark blue with silver and red writing on it. I have a similar model. The vacuum is the quietest vacuum I own.
The bag you have is upgraded with the model b bag setup.
The vacuum looks correct except for the bag.

 

[stanl]

Yeah, I realize now that this was the vacuum my mom used while I was growing up, but the bag has changed and there is a zip-tie holding some things together.

Any idea about parts for it? I'm pretty sure the wheels and nozzle guard of the RY8200 should work, but I have no idea about the bulb.

The one I'm looking at has a different shape so I'm concerned it's wrong.

 

[lesinutah]

Um

The ry8200 or the screamers ry 8100 8200 8300 had drop in motors and a different housing all together. There are really no websites that sell parts. Tthe last 5 years Henry vacuums and stark vacuums were the main places to get parts don't sell them. I'd just keep the vacuum as is and use ut as is. Ypu could spray paint the trim ypu have now but other than that you'll be hard pressed for parts.

 

[stanl]

I'm probably going to pick up the parts I found and let you all know how it works out.
Do you have any information on what the lightbulb is? The specs are burned off so I don't know what it was.

 

[vacuumman]

Bulb

I was able to get these LED bulbs to work in a Royal.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B21BFLDW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[stanl]

Wow. 50-75W equivalent? I'm pretty sure the Royals use a 15 or 25 Watt bulb. I bet that makes night vaccing easier.

 

[luxlife]

I’m still looking for a Royal

I’m not sure which model had the Adjust-o-Rite, toe adjustment on the rear wheel and also the lower amp motor. Every one that I’ve found has the bigger motor and I don’t want one of those screamers.

 

[vacuumman]

Small Motor Royal

A 992-997 should have the non-drop in motor, the Adjust-o-Rite, and the toe adjustment.