60's Eureka/Sanitaire HELP PLEASE!!!!

[Jukeman]

Hello Friends, I have a chance to buy a rare and very nice old Sanitaire from the late 60's or so. Appears to have a pancake style motor but not sure which one. The owner says it runs well with minor bearing noise.

I called my local vac shop and they said stay away from it, the motor has sealed bearings and it cannot be serviced.

I would really love to have this old machine but I also REALLY don't want to take any chances of it eventually giving a problem that I can't get corrected. Should I just pass on it? I don't know the model but it's green and white, 4 position dial-a-nap, rocker switch on the back left corner of the hood.

PLEASE someone HELP ME as soon as you can!!

Thanks,
Brian

 

[vacuumlover]

Surely you can replace the bearings with new ones?

 

[vintagevaclover]

Grab it as fast as you can!

Bearings can be replaced and if that turns out not to be an option, the motor could be replaced with a newer one. I would love to see some pics of it!!

 

[super-sweeper]

Jump on it! Not literally....it'll survive if you do, though! 

 

[Jukeman]

I dunno..

Well, I really wanted to be able to service and keep the original motor (probably would be years before I'd have to anyway). Just called another vac shop and they too said it's not serviceable. I thought almost all older ones were. The guy that's selling it said "minor bearing noise not serious", yet he won't service it for me. Bummer. MAJOR bummer.

 

[fantomfan57]

What is...

The Model number, I would like to see if I can google it....curious what it looks like.

 

[rugsucker]

"won't service it"

That is my Sanitaire that was recently on EBay (leisurelady65).I try to give a complete (but not lengthy) and honest description of all items with pictures of all sides and areas.If you read the feedback many buyers feel my items are as good or better than described.
This style vac is still sold as a commercial and they are sold,serviced and repaired every day all across the country.I'm not sure what types your local vac store is most familiar with but you might want to try a janitorial type dealer the sees more of them.
Among the reasons I "won't service it" are--an Electrolux and Eureka customers brought in today and want back tommorow,8 upstairs windows that need minor repair and weatherstripping before cold weather turns colder,dealing with a house and contents (out of town) that now must be done with the death of my second parent this year and more and more.
You consider it "rare and nice",the replys in 2 & 3 are also positive.It does need a new home along with many more.Just let us know.

 

[bvac6]

Bearings

You can oil those bearings. Yes, they may be sealed but those bearings loosen up over the years. Use blue bottle 3 in 1, a few drops on the tops of those and itll work its way in. I have several Eurekas and I have successfully lubed them up with oil. Give it a try!

 

[eurekaprince]

Eureka's Dial-a-Nap height adjuster did not appear on the scene until 1970 at the very earliest. I would venture that it is from 1973 or so as that was the year Eureka-Williams had some avocado green vacs.

Go for it!

 

[Jukeman]

Thank you...

Thank you all for the replies. I would like to share with EVERYONE that "Leisurelady65" is a wonderful seller and a very kind, sweet person. She has been very helpful in every respect and I trust her without hesitation. My ONLY concern is an apparent inability to get the Sanitaire the attention it might need locally since no one will even discuss it (they will happily sell me a new machine though). Everyone I've talked to is too busy with modern machines or is otherwise just not interested.

I'm somewhat handy, but not enough so for a rebuild of a motor. The vacuum would be a gift for someone and I'd love to have it but if I have to pay to send it somewhere for bearing attention (and if it can't be addressed that way) I've got a problem.

At any rate, just thought that I'd throw that out there for all to see. Leisurelady65 COULD have sold me the machine by representing it as perfect but she didn't. She was HONEST about its condition and even tried to get me more detail on its issue. Rare commodity these days, and one I happen to be very thankful for.

What to do about the Sanitaire? Well, I'm still trying everything I know. I even talked to someone who had a shop 75 miles from me, just in case he'd help!!

 

[vintagevaclover]

Did you end up buying it?