Awesome find

[nubz3760]

Look what I bought for $10 at a thrift shop.
Its an Oreck XL2. It came with 8 bags, 5 belts, and some scent tablets; as well as some other oreck bags for a canister.
When I tried it at the store the cord was shorting out where it goes into the motor, so I offered the guy $10

15 minutes later and other than a fairly worn bag its good as new

 

[jmurray01]

Looks good, did you get the problem sorted?

Great television by the way, love those old cabinet ones - what was that you were watching out of interest?

 

[nubz3760]

I just cut the wires inside the housing and fixed it with wire nuts. It works VERY well. and I believe it was matlock haha

 

[kenkart]

Someone!!!

Is lucky! And watching In the heat of the night on that old console!! You have good taste in TV shows !!LOL.

 

[nubz3760]

It was my grandmas show, I hardly watch tv. Even though I like those old shows.
But back to the oreck. It picks up very well, but it cant hold a candle to my royals ability to clean edges. My mom and I are custodians so I let her take it to work for the night to see how it holds up. So far she loves it. All in all a great machine for only $10

 

[mieles7]

Orecks were primarily designed as hotel vacuums, so it makes sense that iit work work well for a custodian.

 

[mieles7]

I meant to say that it would work well, not iit work work well.

 

[nubz3760]

yea my mom said it worked wonderful on the bare floors as well as carpet.
I'll have to see for myself with the bare floors, uprights have never impressed me there.
At home is a different story, its horrible about picking up things at the edges, and doesnt pick up the pile like my kirby or royal. it sucks up the rest pretty good though, I was surprised how much I had in the bag after half a room

Its still a darn good vacuum for $10. Heck, the extra bags and belts are worth that!

 

[nubz3760]

I might add that I hate the motor sound, its loud and high pitched. Really annoying, I actually enjoy the sound my Royal 801 makes.

 

[nubz3760]

Its funny that you mention orecks being used at hotels. When I was 11 I would have to go to the University of Michigan hospital for chemotherapy. My mom and I would always stay at the same red roof inn. I got to know the maid staff and would hang out with them. They used red orecks and I was always fixing them. I even remember the staff bought me a playstation for xmas.

 

[joshuak420]

Orecks are fairly good machines. Good warranties on the high end models and can take a crap ton of abuse, I've known a couple of my friends mothers who kill vacuums easily, and they love they're orecks because they take it so well. Coins, screws, nails, large rock etc, are known to kill any vacuum but I've never seen a broken oreck fan, fan housings yeah but never a fan. I've seen them wear down to nothing. Older models I don't favor is because they aren't as powerful, and feel cheaper. I hate when people say that orecks only have 4 amps. Amperage is measured by how much electricity it uses. It has nothing to do with power. The newer orecks have stiffer rollers, and dig into the pile well. Grooming is fantastic too. My best friends mom favors her oreck over her filter queen majestic because it cannot be killed. And she vacuums up anything. I'm the exact way with my oreck. I've not had a fan or housing break yet. I get more impressed the more they improve which they tend to be doing now.

 

[tolivac]

You should have seen the Oreck XL I bought at a yard sale.Fan and fancase were destroyed-Kevlar fan.The vacuum picked up several coins-quarters no less,nails,screws,3 keys(what did they go to?)Several spent .22 cases.Did get some of my money back when I bought the machine-the quarters it contained.So--Orecks-like any direct air vacuum are vulnerable to damage from things picked up.The parts of the machine are in my junk box.

 

[nubz3760]

on the subject of broken fan housings; I plan on replacing the plastic fan with a metal one, does anybody know if they make metal fan housings? If so, where could I buy one? I want this thing to be a tank lol

 

[tolivac]

I don't think metal fancases are available for Oreck vacuums-indeed,would be an improvement.

 

[thermokid]

Oreck vacuums

I have an oreck XL21. I used to hate Orecks, But I love my Oreck XL21 it is great for light cleaning.

 

[nubz3760]

The XL21 is one of the best orecks. It is an all around improvment on the classic oreck. it has a bigger fan and larger fill pipe for more airflow, as well as a better brushroll.