dial-a-matic power drive

[funvacfan]

I picked up a blue dam power drive about a week ago. It came with everything! Even the manual. I would rate the cosmetics as 8.5/10. Lucky thrift shop find.

Is there any maintence required on these vacs? Does the power drive require lubricating? How about the motor? Works great, however, not as quiet as a convertible.

Does anyone have advise for me?

Guy

 

[myhooverco]

Congrats on your DAM! It is rare to find one complete like that. You must have been in the right place at the right time and the Vacuum Gods must have been smiling down upon you. Those old DAMs run forever. They were not particularly quiet even when new. I would just clean it up and put in a fresh bag. Then I would change both belts and grease the agitator. Then you should be ready to clean or display whatever your pleasure. How about a pic?

--Tom

 

[petek]

Great. Weren't you just saying you couldn't find one anywhere or found one missing its bottom plate. LOL

 

[funvacfan]

Indeed Pete I was. I now have the bottom plate for the first one I got about a month ago (again, courtesy of a junk store that sells vacuum bits and bobs).

I guess things show up sometimes!

Tom, what kind of grease should I use on the agitator bearings. I've asked at local vac shops, but they seem to harbour this piece of information like a secret formula! I understand though, it is their livelyhood!!

Guy

 

[convertible68]

Congratulations on the DAM. The reason these are so loud is because they're clean-air machines, therefore they use a canister motor. You'll also find that if your machine has a tool kit or you obtain one, the tool suction is on a par with most canisters; very powerful. At least until the suction drops off with that Type D bag, on which there was plenty of room for improvement. Looking at it, you would think it goes the other way...the base of the bag level with the inlet is actually lower than the top! It's best to keep a few of those on hand, as when I use my DAMs, end up changing them frequently.

The DAM motor is the same one that powers the Hoover Portables as well as the Slimlines I believe. What was interesting is that before I sold my Portable on eBay, it was actually quieter than the DAM as the casing muffled the noise a bit.

I use white lithium grease on my machines (that can be found from any auto-parts store), but really, any type of grease will do.

Out of curiosity, what is the model number? Is the front panel dark or light blue?

--Austin

 

[myhooverco]

Guy...

I just use axle grease red in color in mine. I put it in with a plastic syringe. I know that they make a grease gun for this purpose, but my method works. It really quiets the bearings. I have never noticed a decrease in suction in my DAMs. I grew up with one and my mom would FILL the bag. That motor just keeps on going too! What is the model number on your latest DAM? They are great Hoover cleaners with a great unique design. Keep us posted on how the machine turns out.

--Tom

 

[tommymilan]

My Powerdrive DAMs

Hello, I have a couple of Hoover DAMs mod. U 6033, one in white/orange, the other in white/light blue.
Both work fine and have great suction, both have new brushrolls, which I suppose have been replaced very little before I found them, because they looked like new, and turn very smoothly.
But the machines are VERY noisy, probably the noisiest machines in my collection and I think it is because of the transmission feature, because all of my standard/deluxe DAMs, independently from the brushroll's bearings status are much smoother and quieter (if a DAM could ever be defined quiet...). I suspect that these powerdrives were quite noisy even when they were new.
However I wish I could do something to grease the transmissions, but I don't know exactly how to open them and put them back together without damage. If anyone had some pictures of them doing this thing, they'd be much appreciated.
Take care you all!
tommy

View attachment 1-28-2007-07-28-12--tommymilan.jpg

 

[tommymilan]

here's the picture

 

[74simon]

I love the Power Drives,

When I'd first fixed the drive on mine (missing bearing), I was quite disappointed, as the drive wasn't as powerful as I'd expected. But using it back to back with a standard DAM type, you really notice the difference! I find my standard DAM quite a tiring machine to push, but the Power Drive glides along like a hot knife through butter! I'm glad I don't have to carry it up stairs though...

Noisy though they are, I'm sure they're quieter than modern machines - less frentic sounding anyway. Or maybe I'm just biased...

Si

 

[funvacfan]

Tommy, my power drive is just like yours on the left (blue, with a filigree in the center.

Guy

 

[tommymilan]

I love them, anyway! Such a great invention, epecially for the time when they were introduced. almost uneffortless cleaning for large areas.It must have been a dream!
tommy