Difference In Eureka Motors

[bagintheback]

I got I new Eureka, (which I posted as Goodwill Find in the vintage forums) and unlike my 2 others, it has a 4amp motor instead of a 7 amp motor. I was just wondering what the difference was between them, other than they sound different. Does one clean better than the other? Why did Eureka change the motors? Is one more valuable than the other?

Thanks for reading!

Nathaniel

 

[joe22]

older vacs had smaller motors, also the low end machines.

 

[swingette]

Its a lot more complex than small and large. The 2000-series early models and chromed Sanitaire models have a long-life, cool-running motor with about double or triple the number of bars on the commutator. The field is also much bigger on the pancake motors. Ever notice the 1400 series models with cheap motors have shorter fins on the impeller?

The pancake motor on my 70s metal commercial Eureka and the current 7 amp models is almost identical. Doesnt take a genius to figure out that the cheap smaller motors were a big cost savings for Eureka.

 

[bagintheback]

So my 1400's series Eureka has a cheap motor? Will it last long?

 

[swingette]

cheap motor?

Yes.

It can likely last a LONG time in household use where you might use the machine about thirty minutes every week. Commercial use, where the machine might run over an hour every day, thats different.

 

[bagintheback]

Okay, so which motor will clean better? The 7amp or the 4amp?

 

[normvac]

Eureka Man !!!

The 7 amp motor is a double ball bearing motor and will last
as long as Hoover 28 uprights have from the 40/50's. The 1400 series Eureka uprights, were made to sell below the lowest Hoover convertable.So they put the smaller motor in it. It
had a "sleeve" bearning on the top. So they burned out more
quickly. Everyone like the weight, the top fill bag, and the front wheel adjustment. Then they came out with 6.5 amp ESP (Extra suction Power). Then started the AMP war on the Uprights. So as to compete in the advertising market. If the 7 amp machine has the correct fan on it, and at least 4/6 position setting. Plus the correct beater bar/brush roller.
They will out clean and out last the smaller amp Eureka machines, by far.
Norm

 

[ohio_tuec]

I don't understand....

Why Eureka couldn't have put double ball bearings in their 4 amp version and just charge a little more? The cheap smaller motors were not only a big cost savings for Eureka, but for the customer as well in terms of electricity usage. I guess that's why you still see more Hoover Convertibles than Eurekas of the same era. Especially nowadays, with so much emphasis on "going green" the vacuum cleaner industry is still flooding the market with God-awful "gas guzzler" 12 amp motors. I'd like to see a bagless with an energy-efficient 4 amp motor. Don't think it'll ever happen....

 

[henrydreyfuss]

Updated 7 Amp Motor

Hey guys! Eureka actually just changed the design of their 7 amp motors. I'm pretty sure the classic pancake-design is no more. At work, we just started getting in Sanitaires that have cheaper motors. The top bearing is in a plastic cover now. The whole thing is smaller. It has a different, cheaper sound to it.

Despite the cheaper motor, Sanitaire just doubled the warranty on their commercial machines!

 

[bagintheback]

Thanks for answering! Which one do you think cleans better?

 

[henrydreyfuss]

The seven amp motors clean a lot better, but the 4 amp motors still do a great job. The seven amp models are a lot louder. They're almost too powerful!

 

[bagintheback]

Thanks for answering. I like both motors.