Electrolux Masterlux problem

[christoffer]

Hey, I have been clearing out my granny's house after shes moved into an old people's home. I found an old electrolux masterlux wet and dry vaccum, and seeing as I have had some bad spots on my carpet I decided to give it a go. It works fine but I've encountered an issue, it seems to spit out bits of dark foam but I don't where it comes from. It looks like it might be dusty carpet, but some of it literally looks like foam. It often spreads a fair bit of the stuff around the unit and it's really annoying, no other issues though. Any help?

I've attached a picture of the material that it expells.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

looks like insulation filter.

 

[christoffer]

Do you think it's just stuff gotten stuck after years of storage, should I try compressed air on the whole unit? I have no experience with vacuums but I'd like to keep using this one as my carpets finally looking better

 

[dysonman1]

Many vacuum cleaners user foam to surround the motor to quiet the operation. After many years (and much heat from an attic), the foam disintegrates. It's coming out with the exhaust air. Remove the motor cover and take out (vacuum out) the old foam and you'll be fine (although loader than when it was new).

 

[human]

Could be filter material...

Without seeing the machine, it's hard to tell. You might want to try a little disassembly and see if you find some deteriorating foam somewhere inside. It looks kind of like the material they make the optional after-filters for Electrolux Discovery/Epic/Genesis, etc. uprights out of. Also take a peek inside the bag and see if there's more of that material. It could just be something the machine sucked up.

 

[huskyvacs]

Two options since nobody has mentioned it - one, its the foam water filter inside the water tank that needs to be replaced that is being sucked through the motor, chopped up and exhausted - two, it's the post-motor exhaust filter. Both are types of foam that decompose and rot after 30+ years of storage, nothing that can be done to prevent it. It is just age degradation of the material.

You can take the biggest chunk of intact foam you have to an aquarium or pet store and ask them if they have rolls of aquarium filter foam of that density you can order a section of. (or compare density on AliExpress and order if willing to wait a few months). If it's the post-motor filter you would need to take the vacuum apart and have a parts diagram to see where that foam was sitting at to know how big of a piece you need.

If it is the water tank filter, you can see if Electrolux still sells them (most likely not) you might have do trial and error to find a similar size from a modern shop vac/wet vac.