2 craftsman vacs i found on the curbside

[ridgidwd0670]

Two Sears Craftsman shop vacs

16 gallon w/detachable blower mdl #11317066

9 gallon vac mdl #113177420

Both are curbside finds; the 9 gallon vac makes a sizzling noise when its turned on. It also barely has suction & shoots sparks from the top. What could be the problem? Can I buy motor parts only instead of a new motor?

Where can i purchase the old style filter cage (uses a nut to secure the filter) Emerson part #823201-1. I dont like the new style filter cage with 'qwik-loc' (filter held on by pushing the rubber bottom of filter over hump on rod of the filter cage) Emerson part #823201-3

 

[fan-of-fans]

It sounds like the carbon brushes are worn down, to me. New brushes might fix it. But to me these look like they were used pretty heavy. The one on top looks like it spent a lot of time outdoors, the red is faded and looks like the plastic has gone powdery from the UV exposure.

 

[ridgidwd0670]

I dont know whether to buy a new drum or leave it as is or paint the drum tank (like the vac on bottom)

btw the craftsman 17066 looks like a odd ridgid vac

If i choose to leave them as-is, they might become piggy banks so my kids can go to Harvard (I was a BGSU graduate)