Hello, I had a few questions about my AP280 vacuum. It's a Canadian model, plastic body. Basically the same as the American plastic body Electroluxes.
For awhile when I start it, it stinks like ozone/electrical burning. It gets better after it runs for a couple minutes. I swear I could hear arcing and the motor speed surging up and down a bit.
Anyway I figured maybe worn carbon brushes, so I took it apart. There seemed to be a fair bit of material left on the brushes, but there was a whole lot of carbon dust caked in and around the commutator. I cleaned the holders and commutator as best I could, but the dust is kind of sticky/oily, so it was hard to get it all. I'm not convinced there isn't still some conductive crud between commutator segments. All the windings look fine.
Anyway I'll jump to my questions;
1. Is there any safe solvent I can use on the commutator?
2. Where can I get NOS or generic brush replacements? When I look online everywhere is out of stock, and the local repair place says he can't get them anymore either.
3. From my pics do the brushes look OK?
After reassembling it seems a bit better, but I'd like to install new brushes if I can find them. Worst case I may be able to buy a used (but good) motor from the local repair shop and either swap the whole motor or steal the brushes from it.


For awhile when I start it, it stinks like ozone/electrical burning. It gets better after it runs for a couple minutes. I swear I could hear arcing and the motor speed surging up and down a bit.
Anyway I figured maybe worn carbon brushes, so I took it apart. There seemed to be a fair bit of material left on the brushes, but there was a whole lot of carbon dust caked in and around the commutator. I cleaned the holders and commutator as best I could, but the dust is kind of sticky/oily, so it was hard to get it all. I'm not convinced there isn't still some conductive crud between commutator segments. All the windings look fine.
Anyway I'll jump to my questions;
1. Is there any safe solvent I can use on the commutator?
2. Where can I get NOS or generic brush replacements? When I look online everywhere is out of stock, and the local repair place says he can't get them anymore either.
3. From my pics do the brushes look OK?
After reassembling it seems a bit better, but I'd like to install new brushes if I can find them. Worst case I may be able to buy a used (but good) motor from the local repair shop and either swap the whole motor or steal the brushes from it.

