Ebay purchase, Dutchtech DTX1100

[fantomfan57]

This may apply to all vacuums.

The vacuum arrived very dusty, I wiped everything down and put it outside to test the motor. I came on, blew out a puff of dust, powered on, stepped down and stopped.
Further investigation, I found out the dust was the carpet fresh powder. I dismantled it to find about a 1/4 cup of this stuff inside and all over the motor.

Question, can the motor be saved? Would it have stopped because it overheated?

Please advise.

Notice how clean looking the vacuum looks when photographed? Do you think the seller used the powder to get rid of foul odors and then shipped it?

 

[cam2s]

It’s hard to say what the original sellers intentions where. If you really want to you could pull the fan stages apart and clean them. As long as the motor sounds fine though I wouldn’t bother. Maybe just run for a while without the final filter to clear it out. Most clean fan motors will collect a bit of dust on them anyways as the vacuum ages, it won’t hurt it unless it’s a bad build up.

BTW, did you get just the canister or the entire vacuum with hose and power head. I really like my DutchTech, it’s a neat machine. I wish could find the bag holder for it

 

[wstonehockertv]

A lot of people tend to forget about the Oreck Dutchtech. You see, Oreck is more about selling lightweight upright machines. But props to them for breaking out of their comfort zone.

 

[luxlife]

No comfort zone required.

Oreck only offered canisters when it would be lucrative and easy for them to do so. That usually involved acquiring an expired patent license from another manufacturer. The DutchTech machines were originally older designs of Philips canisters, hence the "Dutch" in DutchTech. The Ironman was previously an older Douglas. The Buster B was a old G.E. design from the late 60's/early 70's. I'm not sure what the orange CELOC canister was, but I'm sure someone else here does. I'd be very surprised if it was an original Oreck design.

 

[fantomfan57]

Thanks for your responses....

Being a collector, I immediately pulled the vac apart to expose the insides...!!!!!!!about a 1/4 cup of carpet powder inside. Motor is not seized. Carefully "blew" it out with electrical contact cleaner. Can't get to the bearings because there is not nut securing the fans to the shaft. The mini power nozzle works.

I bought the whole shebang. Now I am working with the Seller who claims they wiped it down before packing it. Wiped what down? And why, was it covered with powder when it arrived (poorly packed). Maybe jostling around by the shipper spread the powder around.

I did find one of the connectors to the motor had a bit of burning on the plastic insulation. I can replace that, but may end up pulling the motor from a parts DTX 1400 parts machine.

Does anyone remember or know of instructions to better dismantle the unit?

 

[luxlife]

DTX1400 motor…..

Be sure to check the wiring on the 1400 motor because it might be different. It’s a variable speed motor and I don’t remember if it had 2 leads or more.

 

[cam2s]

Here is a video of a vac shop tearing one apart. I does look to be a bit fussy to take to pieces.

 

[kloveland]

Great vac! I've had two of the white ones. The smaller PN is my favorite. Good score!

 

[fantomfan57]

Update x 2

Ebay seller is ignoring my messages about the vacuum. The original motor died completely. I tested it once again out of the vacuum,

I removed the motor from my parts machine this morning. I know works fine. These motors are not serviceable. Inside, there is not nut holding the fan to the shaft, there is some sort of ring/washer that is press fitted.

Here is what I found, there is a lot of dust getting inside these machines! I am going to find ways to better seal mine.

 

[human]

Dang...

It stinks that the seller kind of misrepresented the machine. Different people obviously have different ideas of what constitutes a thorough cleaning. Some would consider wiping down the exterior with a damp paper towel sufficient, but others of us wouldn't. Hopefully eBay Buyer Protection will take care of you if the seller chooses not to. Be sure to submit photos when you open a case.

 

[fantomfan57]

Unfortunately,

I did not take pictures of minimal packing, pictures of the dusty contents of the box or pictures of it being dismantled. I did take pictures of the disassembled machine outside (just the washable parts) just before I sprayed it with soap then rinsed. I used one of those hose end sprayers with the soap dispenser.

Lots and lots of that carpet fresh powder. Who still uses that?

Lastly, I did manage to install the parts motor and it sounds good. Took me 5 minutes to figure out this one piece which turned out to be part of the exhaust.

Tip, always put the cord reel in first.

 

[kirbylux77]

Garry

Sorry to hear you went through that experience with this Ebay seller - sounds like they totally misrepresented the vacuum. I had a similar experience when I bought my Miracle Mate....looked good in the pictures, no signs of damage. But on arrival, the metal tube on the pistol grip hose handle was totally bent out of shape, the telescopic wand was seized, pin inside the bag door to hold the hose in place was missing, and the cord in the cord winder was badly torn right at the base. Pretty much was a complete basketcase LOL. Needless to say I blasted the seller in my feedback for the purchase.

Those Oreck DutchTech canisters are really nice vacuums! I had actually considered buying one, but what put me off was the brown paper bags, and there doesn't appear to be a source for HEPA Cloth bags for it. Also, the design of the vacuum would make it difficult to substitute another HEPA Cloth bag, like a Miele GN bag for instance. Plus it does look like a heavy beast of a vacuum LOL. But, seriously though, they have good powerheads, nice design and the optional HEPA Filter looks like it would last a long time and be effective.

Luxlife - Considering that David Oreck was employed by Whirlpool before starting Oreck, and the very first Oreck upright was a Whirlpool design, it would not shock me if that first Oreck Celoc canister was a Whirlpool design as well. What I would like to know is where they sourced that first round tub commercial canister vacuum with the cage on top to store the hose that was out in the 70s....that looks like one beast of a machine!

Rob

PS - Just a thought, Garry, but would you care to share the seller's Ebay name? I personally would like to avoid dealing with them now that you have shared your story.

 

[fantomfan57]

Thanks to all those who read this thread........

I successfully changed the motor using my parts machine. The seller will remain anonymous because they apologised and came through with my request for a partial refund. I did not want them to come away with nothing. I got the machine I wanted working, and the other components were fine.

As for bags, yes, I think the paper bags leak. UK and Aussie synthetic bags are available, but TOO EXPENSIVE. For those who don't mind, the bags that will fit would be for a PHILIPS OSLO. (Did anyone notice the bag holder is embossed with "OSLO"?) The alternative was going to be reusing Dutchtech collars and hot gluing them to a Miele aftermarket hepa bag or any other hepa bag. That worked. Today I noticed I can use another US brand with a small alteration.

So this chapter closes.

 

[huskyvacs]

As a response to kirbylux77's question - I myself have kept a burn list of bad vacuum sellers both on eBay and otherwise. It's in a rough draft stage and I add to it as I get burned - which sadly happens very often. This year and last year were awful years for buying vacuums for some reason - lots and lots of rip-offers.

 

[eureka1998]

Bad eBay experiences

Got my first ever Windtunnel Self Propelled for Christmas last year, or so I though. It looked rather ok in the pictures, minor scuffs, etc. Machine packaged absolutely horribly, pull the thing out of the box, the entire base was cracked beyond repair. Brush roll drive mechanism broke as a result of that. Dirt falling out of the bottom. Pictures were sent and we were furious. Luckily I went to the thrift store a few days later and found one. The one we got went right to the dumps.

 

[kirbylux77]

Garry, I understand your reasoning for not wanting to disclose the Ebay seller who sold you the DutchTech. However, I personally would have, for the simple fact that they should have disclosed in the listing description that the motor was starting to fail and would require replacement. They likely didn't because they knew they could make more money by NOT disclosing that flaw, and they were looking for a sucker to dump the vacuum on. What would have happened if the buyer did NOT have a spare motor, let alone the skill to take it apart and do the repair themselves? Chances are good that Oreck would have seen a landfill if it was anyone else but a collector.

Huskyvacs - That's a good idea! We should all make a list up of bad Ebay sellers, and then make a thread on Vacuumland and share our experiences. Maybe if these scam artists, ahem ahem sellers, knew they were going to be exposed and it would cost them business they would be more honest in their dealings online .

Rob

PS - Garry, what was the other bag type you found the DutchTech could use with a modification?

 

[fantomfan57]

Okay,

The Seller was: jacol-5928.

The Bag I found may or may not end up working is the synthetic Electrolux S bag.
Requires punching a slot to hold it in place, trimming of side nibs and now I realize the collar would be best if it was thicker.

My first choice will be to use the Riccar bags for the 1400-1800 series, /Simplicity S38,36,24,20 and 18. But reusing Dutchtech bag collars.

I don't think the Dutchtech collars will last long if hot glued. We shall see.

 

[fantomfan57]

I think I found something......

...with the genuine Dutchtech bags, I removed the collar from the paper bag on two to find what looks like the "glue" did not hold onto the paper a couple of different places. The tacky glue stayed on the cardboard instead of the paper bag. Could this be a flaw that allows dust out of the bags?