Electrolux Discovery Special Edition Rebuild Questions *Advice Needed*

[loganvac]

Hi, all. I'm currently rebuilding this Electrolux Discovery Special Edition that was given to me by my aunt. I just cannot figure this thing out. Being mechanically inclined to fix many things, mainly vacuums, I am not used to being so perplexed by a seemingly simple vacuum. To begin with, I plugged the machine in an outlet outside for good measure. Luckily, this good measure came in handy, as white smoke was rising out from the motor and the top of the bag cover as it was running. This vacuum is a duel motor vacuum, which I new from the start. The motor that spins the roller worked fine. The suction motor wasn't so lucky. It was moving rather slow and it wasn't very loud at all. After maybe eight seconds, I saw the smoke and quickly turned off the vacuum and unplugged it. The motor also had barely any wind down. So my first question: Is the suction motor able to be repaired? Moving on, I obviously want to get to the motor. I started to disassemble the cleaner head and took off the handle. That left me with the machine body, which is the bag cover or holder and motor housing, which is where I'm at with the cleaner now. On the lower part of the body are the two bottom cord holders. Also, the cord enters there in between the bottom hooks where it connects to the motor. I inferred that the body is two pieces. Is this true, and if it is, how can I safely take the bag cover or holder off of the bottom part of the body that holds the motor? I can't get it off. Thanks in advance for the help and advice!

 

[bikerray]

There are four screws that hold the bag chamber and bulkhead to the motor housing. There are two screws in the back and two screws in the bag chamber, both will be in the front corners of the bag chamber.

Once you get the screws out the bulkhead (where the cord holders are) the top section will lift off, but you will have to maneuver the housing around the black plastic tube ( Duct Assembly ) that brings the airflow up to the top.

The suction motor should be serviceable ( bearings, brushes, etc. ) but if it was smoking (Is it old enough to smoke yet?) the armature or field may be toast.

 

[loganvac]

@bikerray

Thanks! I found those screws, which were hard to get out but I managed. I then took the motor out of the shroud. I got to the motor and took the top part that holds the bearing off and found that the commutator was completely black with carbon dust, so some sand paper took care of that problem. The brushes looked ok, as there were plenty left to them. I then put the motor, shroud, bag cover and handle back together to test the motor. The motor turned on, but... It was still unusually slow and turned on for a few seconds. Could this be a brush or bearing problem or an armature problem? I'm completely clueless as I've never dealt with a vacuum motor quite as bad as this one. Could I even be better off with another motor? And I think this machine may be an earlier Disvovery II, so the bad motor was something very expected and probable, mainly because my aunt told me that she got it from a friend who vacuumed at least twice a day with this machine.

 

[ronni]

Would you please post a photo of the cleaner? I am familiar with the Discovery II and Special Edition, but have never heard of a "Discovery Special Edition"--unless it's a bojack (assembled parts from different cleaners).

 

[ronni]

Regarding the motor's operation you may want to check:

1) the power nozzle and hose for any obstructions
2) the brush roll bearings for threads, hair, or other contaminants that could impede operation
3) the belt
4) the condition of the fans--dirt on the blades affects the suction

 

[loganvac]

@ronni

I had the machine completely apart from top to bottom. I did realize that the belt was missing, but no obstructions or blockages were present in the vacuum. As far a pictures go, my phone won't let me post any so tomorrow morning my moms computer will hopefully be used to upload some of the cleaner.

 

[ronni]

Oh--ok. I didn't mean to insult you, but sometimes we overlook the obvious. The only other item that came to mind was a possible defective armature.

Looking forward to the photos whenever you can post them.

 

[ronni]

One more thing ... did you carefully examine the fans for metal fatigue or other damage?

 

[loganvac]

I'm not insulted, and thanks for the advice! Some pics will be posted as soon as the computer is free to use later this morning. I once again took the vacuum apart to the motor because it only operated very slowly for about five seconds, and this was after cleaning off the commutator. And yes I think you are correct about the armature being shot because there doesn't seem to be any other issues. I've never had such a seemingly troubling issue with a motor before.

 

[collector2]

Before you cleaned the commutator did any of the bars look to be discoloured? It sounds to me like either there is a dead spot on it or one of the bearings is seized up. I would suspect the latter as white smoke would tend to indicate plastic burning from overheating, which tends to happen if the motor cant turn fast enough to cool itself. With the brush housing off the motor try spinning the commutator by hand. If there is resistance its the bearing.

 

[compactc9guy]

Electrolux Dioscovery Rebuilt

If the motor was smoking and no wind down its gone in the ... replace it i dont htink its servicable i would not risk it . I rebuilt a discovery 2 my self a few months ago clear the suction tube the brushroll replace the belt check the switch ect those lil elctrolux are great work horse when perfroming at there peak . But if the motor was smoking its shot sorry . I f you need pictures i have some on my profile when i dissambler my electrolux discovery 2 .

http://www.vacuumland.org/COLLECTIO...rebuilt achoo dusty in here @COMPACTC9GUY.jpg

 

[compactc9guy]

more pictures

here ios another picture to help .

http://www.vacuumland.org/COLLECTIO...o the power head on this [email protected]

 

[loganvac]

@ compact9guy

Thanks! I was afraid to mess with the motor more. I'll just somehow get another one, as I planned to use this machine as my daily driver. And for anyone who was interested, my morning didn't exactly go as planned, so pics should be posted later... as soon as I figure out how to post them.

 

[kirbykid63]

Ditch the motor

In my forteen years of working on vacuums I have found that electrolux motors built after 1984 are not worth rebuilding.My advice is find another electrolux upright and harvest the motor.

 

[suckolux]

Makes me glad mine is an 82!