Advice Regarding CWP Brush Roll and Hoover Convertible

[jscarlato]

I'm looking for opinions regarding a new CWP 4-row Hoover brush roll and my Convertible U4725 (5 amp). The original brush roll is clean and spins freely. I did a test with both brush rolls where these factors were equal: carpet area cleaned and running time (5 minutes). Afterward, I removed the baseplate, and here is what I noticed: With the original metal brush roll with 2-row brushes and Hoover beater bars, the brush roll itself, the belt, and the belt pulley were warm to the touch. With the CWP wooden brush roll, the belt and belt pulley were very hot to the touch. The rubber of the belt was hot to the point of being tacky.

I am wondering if the transfer of extra heat to the motor will eventually do damage to it. I also wonder if the extra heat is caused by the belt slipping against the smooth painted hardwood of the CWP brush roll. As a result, I don't want to chance running a CWP brush roll in my lower-amp convertibles (4.3, 4.8). Any suggestions?

 

[super-sweeper]

While I normally encourage the CWP brush in plastic-based Convertibles, I would NOT keep the brush in this vacuum! The brush is slowing down the motor, not a good thing! 

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Alex,

Are there any brush rolls that cause a vacuum motor to speed up (also not a good thing)?

~Ben

 

[super-sweeper]

I'm not sure if that would be physically possible! If a brush is super-well oiled and spins super-freely, then the brush could spin as fast as the motor's top speed! 

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Those wooden brushrolls

work well. But, they do not have a beater bar, they are NOT good in older, METAL Convertibles. You'll certainly notice a difference in the sound. Is it a NEW belt? Is it going in the correct direction? Is it a genuine HOOVER belt? These might seem silly..... but sometimes people aren't sure about these thingsJust trying to help.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

keep the original roll with the beat bar and buy new brush strips ( there are many places you can get them). the cwp rolls dont agitate as well.

 

[timborow]

I have mixed feelings about these

I have a u4387 from the 1980s. I replaced its brushroll with a CWP and find that it works very well. The carpet looks very well-groomed and the sound it makes is very pleasing. It is my opinion that it doesn't agitate as well as the original. I would probably go back to the original one if mine were in good condition, but I'll use the CWP for now.

Tim

 

[eurekastar]

I never thought about it before, but I guess the additional two brushes does create more drag (and eventual belt slippage and more heat).

 

[firebirdman55]

Had the same issue with a CWP in my Decade 80. Took it out and left it on the shelf. I will buy genuiHoover from now on.

 

[dysonman1]

I use a CWP in my Hoover model 66. There is some extra load on the motor from the additional bristles - but - the current 'convertible' (the Commercial Hoover) has a genuine 4 row brush in it, and puts the same drag on the motor.

Personally, I realize that the beater bar is far more effective on low pile carpets without a pad underneath them. The pad of a wall to wall carpet makes the beating action much less. The 4 row brush sweeps very well in my opinion and it certainly is quieter.

I do not think that the heat from the belt and a CWP brush will hurt the motor. After all, the heat at the point of contact between the commutator and carbon brushes is over 500 degrees.

 

[jscarlato]

Thanks for these responses. What everyone says certainly makes a lot of sense. In the U4725 I mentioned at the outset, I'm staying with the original brushroll. One factor to be considered is the type of carpet the vacuum runs over, as was just mentioned. Most of my carpeting is what you can see in my picture--a medium-pile carpet with half-inch padding beneath. This vac works well in the "high" setting. The higher setting reduces drag and allows for good airflow. It lifts the carpet and has that famous Hoover sound--and grooms the carpet nicely. The Hoover brand belt is installed correctly, and the brushes are still good.

I have two other Convertibles with a plastic base. In my U4387, the original Hoover brushroll is clean and rotates freely. It does a good job when used under the same conditions. I remember that some time ago, I experimented with a CWP 4-row brush. I ditched it when I wasn't happy with the grooming, and running it did produce more heat, but not to the degree as what I wrote about.

My other plastic-base Convertible is the U4349, and it is in it's original box in mint condition. I won't experiment with this vac. My other Convertibles are of the metal-base variety. Some time ago, I don't recall if I read or was told to NOT put a CWP brush in a metal-base Convertible, and I live by that advice.

All said, I believe these Convertibles were designed and built for the motor and agitator to work together to produce good results and last a long time.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

 
Here was my reply from a different thread when someone referred to the CWP brushrolls as "crap" ..

I disagree that the CWP brushrolls are crap. I think they work very well on particular machines; in the end, it's certainly nice to see something modern available for a machine that hasn't been in domestic production in nearly 23 years.

I would not use a CWP brushroll in ANY Convertible earlier than the High-Performance models from the mid 70s. The earlier Convertibles don't have the amperage/wattage and motor speed to get the CWP brushrolls moving fast enough to not get bogged down. For this same reason, I am also careful to not use any genuine brushrolls or replacement brush strips comprised of white or red bristles - as they are stiffer than the black bristles. The new, stiffer bristles were introduced when the high-performance machines came out.

Any of the High Performance metal-base machines, or plastic base machines from the mid-70s onward would be an ideal candidate for a CWP brushroll, in my opinion. But again, I would never personally recommend or even think about putting a CWP brushroll in any Convertible from the 50s, 60s, or early 70s - unless you install a later motor in an earlier machine. That's not to say it wouldn't work, it just wouldn't be my preference.

 

[jscarlato]

HooverCelebrity, that is certainly useful information you provided, especially about the color of the bristles. Now I know why the later Convertibles have red bristles and the earlier ones were equipped with black. As for bristle replacement, it now becomes a challenge of where to find black bristles.

 

[eurekastar]

This has been a very helpful thread, because it applies to other brands too. Thanks for starting it!

 

[kloveland]

Personally,

I think CWP brush rolls are great! They really quiet down the later plastic based convertibles. As an added bonus we toured CWP at this year’s VCCC convention. A lot of hard work goes into making brush rolls. All VCCC members received a free brush roll. We had a lot of fun touring the factory!

 

[jscarlato]

Kenny,

I was there, too. The CWP brushroll I got there is the one I tried with my U4725 Convertible, and I removed it because it wasn't working for me in that particular model. I agree that it's a quality brushroll. I'll keep it on the shelf; perhaps I can use it in another Convertible. I enjoyed that tour of the CWP plant, and I have great respect for the quality and care that is exercised at each step of the production line. I especially appreciate the fact that workers along the way took time to talk to us what they do at their respective stations as their contribution to the finished product. If only we could have gotten such interaction with the workers at the Kirby plant.

Joe

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, there was a very clear reason why that didn't hap

at Kirby. NOT opening THAT can, but.......We were lucky to get in the door. glad to be given a brushroll. I won't use it, but.......... My very close friend, Tom A. put one in his 1070 (also added a stronger motor). It works great, but the sound IS different. Call me a purist.

 

[kloveland]

Joe

I remember meeting you. Guess I didn't look your profile closely, before I posted. The convertible that you have pictured is very close to the one my mom purchased at Sears around 1991. She had to ask for the attachments because they were purchase separately. I believe she purchased the display model because I don't remember a box or having to assemble anything.

 

[jscarlato]

Kenny,
The serial number begins with 0492000. . . I guess the first four numbers indicate that it came off the line in April of '92. Just a guess . . . I could be wrong. I bought the maroon Portapower from you at the hotel. It works well. I put a new foam filter in the exhaust port. I also have a Portapower I bought new in the early '90s, so I have a whole set of attachments. I also have a truck (set of wheels) that it can ride on.

Gottahaveahoove,
Nothing wrong with being a purist. I'm one too when I can. Back in my kid days of growing up in our mill town of Clairton, PA, many houses built in the '20s and '30s were situated close together so as to get as many on a street as possible--but they were big, wonderful, well-built houses. I always liked to help vacuum with the Electrolux. No one had air conditioning, you just opened a window and turned on a fan. Well, Mrs. Blakemore, our older, widowed neighbor next door, had a Hoover upright. With our windows opened and our houses being close together, that symphony of sound of her Hoover beating and brushing her carpets floated through our windows like an invitation to come over and play. I wanted so badly to see that vacuum. Oh the joy when my mother and I were asked to stop over one day to help ourselves to her supply of tomatoes. And what to my wondering eyes should appear poised in the corner of the dining room but that Hoover, the source of that that wonderful sound. I wasn't aware of models at the time, but it was one of the coffee-can Hoovers, and it was in great shape. Oh how I wish I had that vacuum.

Joe