Electrolux Contour Z1435 'Chic'

[beko1987]

Went to a carboot sale in Abingdon for a change on Sunday, and the only machine I found was this..

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Never had one of these, I remember using a White one at a friends house back when it was new, but never seen one since.

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

It's pretty beaten up, early indications show it polishes up quite well, but at the sacrifice of the graphics, although alot of it is so faded anyway that it doesn't matter

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Is missing it's upholstry/dusting tool

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Also, how cheeky is that, the graphics say 1000w, rating sticker says 900w

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

The brushroll is also very worn, although I doubt I will be able to find another one. Will get new belts and bags for it on payday, may have bags though thinking about it.

Either way, it's nice to have one, and once stripped down will either loan it out or sell it cheaply, it's too beaten up to be a nice example! It's currently sat waiting for the panasonic to be finished so I can start on it.

 

[beko1987]

Looking at my list of spare parts, I have a pack of bags for an Airstream 1 & 2, and a Brushroll for a Glider. Will try and find these parts today, but does anyone know if they will fit the Contour since they all look very similar?

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Many vacuums have lower wattage than what it says on the front of the machine. For example a 2100w Hoover Purepower will have 2100w written on the floor head, but it will actually be 1900 - 2000w normal & 2100w max. By max I mean when you cover the hose with your hand to replicate a blockage.

 

[beko1987]

Every days is a school day, didn't realise that!

 

[hi-loswitch98]

I've known for months now, that vacuum wattages are usually 100w-200w lower than the one written on the machine

 

[turbo500]

Nice find, Sam.

I might have a replacement 2 in 1 upholstery tool for that if you want it?

The Contour Chic came later on. I believe it was the last Contour before the launch of the Powerline and Widetrack. The Microlite's were also rebranded as Chic and were dark green. From about 1996. What's the serial number on it?

 

[beko1987]

53501384 is the serial number I think, the picture I took was blurry though so will check when I get home. It's further up the page if you can decipher it!

I would be very interested in the 2 in 1 tool, thanks very much!

I also found in the garage a brand new (pattern) brushroll, bearings and end caps, and some bojack bags, which is great! Need belts and filters on payday, and hopefully it will make someone a nice little vacuum!

 

[Jakesvacs]

Nice find, are these of any help? There is a total of 7 bags and the packet is opened with one missing. Don't forget I have that turbo power 2 motor if you wanted it?

Jake

 

[beko1987]

Jake yes please! The manual as well, must resist the urge to keep it!
Pm me with how much you want for it all and the tp motor. I get paid on Thursday!

 

[vintagerepairer]

I must change my understanding of the word Chic, as the condition of that cleaner is anything but! I say this in good humour of course. As has been said already, it is the last of the Contour range, although the Chic cylinder version actually came in two styles, the first being a high quality cleaner based on the 3rd generation Lite cleaner, and another, much cheaper quality, based on the Microlite model. I have no idea when the latter ceased production, but the better quality Chic cleaner was still on sale in my local Co-Op as late as 1997. They stopped selling it when the Mondo took over. They also had stocks of the Chic upright well into the same year, but then switched to the flexihead models without height adjuster.

 

[beko1987]

I reckon it can be saved, certainly made into a useable cleaner for someone! Will never be concourse sadly, but useable certainly

 

[beko1987]

Well, Amy went out to work, daughter went to nannys and I went to see the Contour



From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Tools were gathered. Not shown was spotify blasting out

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

One of the brass bushes did it's usual thing of coming out of the moulding

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

The brushroll is shot, however...

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

I found a brand new pattern part brushroll in my massive stash of spares! (knew it was worth buying it!)

It was needed...

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

I'll clean up the ends and bearings and put them in supermarket, their still useable

Belt and belt holder out

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Wheels off

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Under the hood

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Ruined seal

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Horrible horrible pedal release. Didn't see how it was, it fell out before I could, and I can't seem to get it great. Hey ho

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Chassis

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Pedal release

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Down to a weeble

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Bag door

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Then found a random bit of metal on the carpet too, not sure if it's even from the lux

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Handle

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Motor cover

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

The beating heart

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Thermal cutout

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Refrence shot of the wiring

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Mean anything?

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Very dry top bearing. Cleaned and oiled as best I can. Can't get near the other bearing though, so left that be

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Dusty bag door seal

Switch and switch cover

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Wiring

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

No wiring

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Bag chamber

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

plate shot so far

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Sadly this mark didnt come out

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

And all cleaned up and drying! Need to put it back together now

 

[jmurray01]

You don't do things by halves Sam!!

I would hazard a guess that your Chic uses the same 900 Watt motor as my Contour Varipower but they just stuck a more "rounded off" wattage figure on the body to make it look better. I could be wrong.

Those Contours are fantastic vacuums and although they do show a decline in build quality, they will still last a few decades easily.

Glad you managed to keep yet another Contour on the carpet for a wee bit longer at least!

 

[beko1987]

Cheers J!

The decline in build quality is noticeable, lots of plastic welding rather than rubber seals and screws! Still, hopefully it will prolong it's life for a few more years, and I get to see how one goes together!

Everything is dry now, will put it back together in the week at some point!

 

[beko1987]

Re-ssembly

Had another crack at the Contour last night!

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

All nice and clean!

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Motor in, needed a bit moe lining up but got there in the end!

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

It's a rubber seal again, rather than a piece of plastic. I think that's what was killing the suction to the brushroll

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Fiddly release bar held in place with tape until I got the hood on, as the cleaner requires flipping to do that. However ti seems to be holding it very well and making it work better than before, so bonus!

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

My £1 belts arrived from ebay (non genuine)

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Brand new brushroll fitted!! Will put the old one up on supermarket for spares soon

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Bit of a difference

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

Getting there now

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

And done. Not going to try and polish it up at all, it will never be pretty!

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

From Electrolux Contour Z1435

However, it does work incredibly well now! Complete transformation from before, I can't wait to vacuum the flat with it properly later!

 

[dysondestijl]

Can't wait to see the dyson DC07 strip-down next lol!!

 

[turbo500]

it is the last of the Contour range

That's not entirely true. The Flexihead's and Contour 1000's, later rebranded Contour 2, ran after this. The 97 Argos catalogue shows the Widetrack, Powerline and Contour 1000 as the basic model.

 

[beko1987]

Been shopping for bits for the DC07, hopefully work will commence tomorrow night

 

[jmurray01]

Fantastic restoration - I shall watch that video tonight!!