Airway Sanitizor 55A motor disassembly

[bob_smith]

Greetings to all.
This is my first post on these forums, and I am happy to have found them.

I recently acquired an Airway Sanitizor 55A, which I am rather excited about restoring. Due to that excitement, I am seeking the advice of people who have worked on this model before, because I do not want to end up damaging it.

My question concerns the motor assembly. I have yet to figure out how to disassemble the motor for cleaning and re-greasing. It seems to me that the bottom plate is "freefloating", and blocked from being pulled off the lower fan by an inner insert piece. I can't help but assume that said insert is supposed to pop out, but I'd prefer to get directions before blindly hammering away at thin stamped metal.

Any advice at all will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[bob_smith]

Update

Turns out, sometimes you've already figured out the answer, but haven't realized that until later. The inner piece was tightly fused to the outer shell by rust, the only rust I've found in the entire vacuum, apparently caused by scratches in the plating.
The motor itself was in impeccable shape, aside from a heavy buildup of carbon dust. Seems that the felt bag that slips over the motor entrapped it as it wore off the brushes, over many years of service.

After a cleaning, regreasing, and polishing, here it is. There's no true answer as to which vacuum is the most stylish, but this is certainly a solid contender. I absolutely love everything about the aesthetics of this vacuum.

Its a shame you can't readily get bags with the same performance as the originals, but at least there are some workarounds in that regard, thanks to the archives here.

I can only hope that I can track down a hose, wand, and attachments. If anyone can point me in a direction, or has spares they are willing to sell, it'd be a huge help. There's nothing I would love more than to see it working once again.

 

[rugsucker]

Bob Smith,

One of the great vacs that now looks near new!
As for style I prefer the later Mo 66 but it lost the hose storage rack of the 55.I will have wands,attachments and hoses as I am restarting a vac store cleanout that didn't finish during the year of Covid.AirWay parts will take some searching during my limited time but they are there.The last 55s used the new,matching atts of the 66.
If you are in the western part of NC I am very close to Boone & Asheville.
Jimmy Martin
423-268-4841

 

[bob_smith]

Rugsucker,

Thank you, I'm quite proud of how it turned out.

The model 66 is certainly another spectacular looking vacuum from Air-Way. The company's offerings sure had a record of amazing form and amazing function through the years.

Regarding the possible parts you mentioned, I am very interested in your offer. I attempted to send you an email inquiring about them, through the address in your profile, but it kept giving me errors. If you could email me back, or send me a message through this site, I would love to work something out with you.
-Bob Smith

 

[rugsucker]

Bob Smith,

My message is to call my phone,423-268-4841,anytime before it is turned off in evening.I hope to add a work table upstairs at old vac shop this weekend to help sort by brand & models.Then-some will be kept-most newer goes to local vac dealer-most older offered to collectors-then metal to scrap yard-other to dumster.AirWay items available should include-old & new style attachments,Mo 55,66 & 88 & 1 motor upright parts.And then MUCH more of other brands and decades.
Jimmy

 

[tylerhawkins84]

Do You have any NOS Royal parts Jimmy?

Jimmy, do you have any NOS parts for the last Royal metal tanks. I have a 4700 my grandma gave me I have restored to near new condition and would especially like to get an upper wand part No. 2470130A00. I would also be interested in other miscellaneous parts you may have as I also buy, refurbish, and re-sell them and like to have parts on hand both for that and my own vacuum.
-Thanks, Tyler

 

[rugsucker]

Tyler,

Royal parts?Some.NOS?Probably not except for NOS metal UR brushes.Should have some genuine bags & good used hose,wand,attachments.Also a nice tank Royal mostly complete & good but broken 'saddle' that holds 4 atts.
Jimmy
423-268-4841

 

[tylerhawkins84]

Thank you

Okay, Thanks for getting back to me