Electrolux Super J bag door keeps popping open when on

[lazzlazz]

A relative has a gold electrolux super J that runs ok (it probably needs cleaning to improve suction) but the bag door keeps popping open when it's on. There's a light that goes on that says the bag is full, but it's not. Anyone know what the issue is? I was thinking maybe the plastic piece that locks the door closed might be worn, but since the light is going on, I'm not sure about it. The relative hasn't used the vacuum for years; it's been in the attic storage, but was brought out as they're planning on moving.

 

[centralvacs1928]

Sounds like the automatic control valve is faulty, or maybe the tubes/ports are clogged and need to be cleaned out.

The front cover will need to be taken apart (four screws) and the controls can either be cleaned/replaced/bypassed...I'm mentioning the last option as it might be the best way to address a bad control valve unless you have a donor machine. Parts are long discontinued.

If you do bypass the automatic controls, you'll just have to check the bag manually to make sure it isn't full. Fortunately, the machine will still tell you if there is no bag in it (a very helpful feature indeed) by illuminating the bag lamp and not starting the motor.

 

[centralvacs1928]

Also, re the low suction...if they are still using the original hose with a braided covering, this is almost certainly the reason for poor performance. A new vinyl hose will wake that vacuum right up!!

 

[cheesewonton]

About 13 minutes into this video you can see the bag door being disassembled and a discussion of how the automatic control valve works. He revives this machine by cleaning out some of the orifices that had become clogged with dirt.



So my question for the Electrolux heads here is this; you can still buy the automatic control valve for a plastic body Lux. They sell for around $40, but it has a knob attacjed. I am wondering if one can remove the knob and find the right gear underneath to work in the door of a steel body machine?

 

[lazzlazz]

Also, re the low suction...if they are still using the original hose with a braided covering, this is almost certainly the reason for poor performance. A new vinyl hose will wake that vacuum right up!!

Yes, they are. And here I was thinking it was good the braided hose was still there. Thanks for the info.

And thanks for the video .. that will be helpful. Really appreciate people with expertise who do these detailed videos!!
If I can't solve the problem by cleaning the valves, if I can by-pass that function (and they would just check how full the bag is by opening the door and looking), that would be ok.

 

[cheesewonton]

I don't know if anyone noticed but the vacuum in that video was a model 1521 Marquis, not a Super Jubilee, a much older model. Performance Reviews at its finest : /

 

[lazzlazz]

I did notice but assumed the doors were similar across the two vacuums? The video poster did include Marquis in the video title; I just assumed he included Super J because the two vacuums are similarly built?

And thanks for the link to the video!! Very helpful to see.

 

[cheesewonton]

I did notice but assumed the doors were similar across the two vacuums? The video poster did include Marquis in the video title; I just assumed he included Super J because the two vacuums are similarly built?

And thanks for the link to the video!! Very helpful to see.

The automatic control valve is the same. It's just that the guy on those videos is kind of full of himself so it's funny when he makes a groaner mistake.

 

[lazzlazz]

I think I've solved it. I opened up the bag door and took one of the clear tubes off. It seemed pretty clean but I blew through it. The others looked more difficult to get off (at least one end) so I decided to wait on those. I got bag door screws back in then noticed that in the bag compartment, there was lint in the screened hole at the back of that. I cleared that out as well. Tested the vacuum and door seems to stay shut. So either one or both of the things I did solved the problem.

Thanks for all the help & video link!