Contemplating a little Electrolux upright project

[human]

So I have these two Electrolux uprights, a Genesis LXe and an Epic 3500 SR, each with minor issues. The Genesis had the handle and cord assembly replaced under a factory recall because it had the bad handle design with the cord coming out the back of the handle grip. This was replaced by the nearest Aerus shop, some 40 miles away. The new handle, however is totally the wrong color and the rocker style switch has never been exactly right. More often than not, the machine will not turn on when the switch is moved to the 'I' position for straight suction. I have to move it to the 'II' position for the brush roll and then back to the 'I' position to turn the brush roll off. This is minor and it wasn't worth a second round trip to the Aerus dealer to get it sorted.

The Epic has a little issue with the bag door in that I often have to give it a light tap to get the machine going. This is apparently an inherent problem with this model so my thinking is to swap the handle/cord assemblies between the two so the Genesis is 100 percent fixed. Of course, the Epic could then have both annoying issues that would likely send it to the barn to either become a parts donor or possibly be donated to my church's rummage sale.

As an added bonus, the Epic's handle is the same dark blue as the Genesis' original one so it would look more 'right'. As a further aesthetic touch, just because I can and I like the color scheme, I might swap the Epic's blue nozzle cover onto the Genesis.

I'm kind of bored this afternoon, so it just might happen, at least the handle swap, especially as it would satisfy my need to tinker with vacuums without actually having to acquire another one or spend money on parts.

 

[human]

The deed is done...

I just finished the handle swap. I also swapped over the lower handle from the Epic to the Genesis, which didn't have one. Might as well keep the best bits together, right? I haven't done the nozzle cover yet. I'll just have to let that one percolate for a while.

 

[human]

After taking a closer look at the two vacuums, I decided to stop at the handle swap. Some minor differences in the underside would have made it difficult to swap over the rubber bumpers and the Epic is just so pristine, I really can't justify molesting it further. I just hate that it has that little bag door issue. That said, the gray replacement handle somehow looks less 'wrong' on the Epic than it did on the Genesis. I don't know why.

 

[jo]

Nice

Yes it’s nice to at least get one of the two fixed up nicely. If one power nozzle cover is in better condition than the other I’d keep the one that is in better condition for the completed repaired vacuum. You might need to look at the bag switch that could be the problem with the bag door. Basically there’s a switch that pops up if there’s no bag inserted and when the bag door is open the switch engages shutting off the machine and that could be the problem.

Jon

 

[huskyvacs]

My Epic 3500 SR has the same black 3 position switch and when I bought it the seller said it was for parts and the motor was not working. I got it and when I was unwrapping it, I noticed someone had played with the handle. I opened it up and seen the wires were unplugged to the switch and there was gooey electrical tape all over and it smelled like strong paint thinner type smell.

I reconnected the wires and ran it a bit and it was all good but then I smelled like electrical burning smell and I felt heat wafting out of the handle when I opened it up after unplugging it. I wonder if my switch has gone bad?

I also have a 1 year only model of one of the Epics, I think it's the 3000, and it has a slide switch and not a toggle switch. I wonder why they changed it to a toggle.

 

[human]

Yeah, my Genesis LXe originally had the slide switch like my old Discovery II. I liked it much better and Knowing what I know today, I would never have taken it in for the recall repair. I've had the replacement handle apart and the switch looks fine. It was factory fresh when it was installed on my machine. It just never worked right from day one. After I took the switch out, sprayed it with contact cleaner—because, why not?—and reinstalled it, I could get it to work properly after it's run for a little bit.

The bag switch on the Epic is a different—and somewhat problematic, IMO—design than the earlier version on my Discovery II and my Genesis. It lacks the weighted rocker lever and instead has a spring-loaded metal tab on the opposite side that pushes straight down. When I press it with my finger, it will often move smoothly but it will occasionally catch. I feel like that is probably when it needs a little rap on the lid to get it to seat properly. I've never had things apart to see exactly how it works and thus I have no idea how it might be adjusted.

The ironic thing about what I've done is that while I have the Genesis fully sorted out and it's in overall good shape, the Epic is in nearly new condition. If not for the bag switch issue, it's really the one that should be getting the best bits.