Elux-O-Matic

[fantomfan57]

Snagged this Model 88 this week. Mediocre packing, but it survived! Needed cleaning, really needed cleaning.
The bag basket smelled of....? So it needed to come out. Minor issue with removing the front door frame, but it came off. The basket went into a hot water soapy bucket to soak.
This allowed the removal of the top handle because.....the switch would not stay on. After some extensive investigation, I found out where that loose spring/clip needed to be to make the switch stay on and stay off.
After a good scrubbing, the bag basked was as good as new.
When I removed the basket, there was quite a bit of rust inside confined to the inside body. Wire brushing and a coating of Rest Reformer took care of that. Had to wait to do that because of the outside temperature.
Got it reassembles and it works. Motor sound good. Did a bit of cosmetic work for the scrapes and chips.
I will try to find a color match to spruce up the worn areas.
I already have the tools for this model.

Would love to have a copy of the User's Manual. I downloaded one, but the scan was not straight nor flat.

 

[huskyvacs]

Wow! Nice find getting a Canadian model so far from Canada!

 

[fantomfan57]

Paint,

headed to Advance Auto Parts Thursday to find a close Duplicolor match to the color on this vac.

Probably will not take the whole vac, just an attachment. Wish me luck!

 

[luxlife]

Is it a straight suction model?

The port for the power nozzle cord is covered in the front portion of the handle, if it’s on this model.

 

[ct77]

Very cool! It looks to be in good condition - after all your cleaning!

By the way, how did you remove the door? There is a little bit of a weird smell in my Model G and I want to clean the bag compartment. I saw a couple of screws on the edge which I think should free the bag cage if I remove them, but I would have to take off the door first. I assume it's probably similar to your vacuum.

- Chris

 

[thevacomaticiec]

I can take pictures of the booklet for my zb 89 for you Nice 88 !!!

 

[countryguy]

I have pics of the ZB89 instruction manual in my photos



https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/sendit-COLLECTIONS1.cgi

 

[fantomfan57]

Hey there,

Lux, it is, a straight suction model. So now I have one of each.

Chris, that picture is the B4 pic. I will add an after soon. Not sure about the G, but this was kind of odd. There are two screws exposed when the front door is down, they go into two square nuts, which also come free when the screws are removed. Those screws also serve to retain two fat pins, who hold the front door hinges in place/aligned. There is a counter sunk screw at the top of the door frame. Then begins the task of carefully tapping the door frame from the vac body. A rubber mallet works really well to replace it. Take care to not damage the body to frame gasket. The bag basket slips right out after the door frame is removed.

Antoine, that is very kind of you to offer, I am looking for a book for a Model 88. But I am sure someone on here would like the Z89.

Gary, is that the right link?

 

[countryguy]

Yes it is the correct link....just tried it. Perhaps it doesn't work for you because you are not an upgraded member? Here are the pics for the manual.

Gary

 

[paul]

That's a swell-looking Elux-O-Matic made between 1957-61 (the first digit in the serial number indicates the last digit of the exact production year). Its official color is Jamaican Bronze. Great job on the clean-up & congrats!

I purchased a '67 ZB88 (with bumpers) from the 1961-68 version from Doug Smith along with its original straight suction attachments, a later sealed hose, and a users manual.

I'm sure you'll enjoy yours as well as I do mine.

 

[paul]

@luxlife - reply #3

I believe the 1957-61 version lacked the pn port.

 

[eurekaprince]

Made right in my hometown of Montreal! I should have gotten a job there on the assembly line before it closed in the 1980’s….

 

[kirbylux77]

88

Nice find Garry! Looks like it was well cared for by it's previous owner. The rust inside the canister is normal, have yet to see a 80 series canister that didn't eventually get rust inside. Is the hose still airtight?

Just to warn you, if you ever have to change the carbon brushes in the motor, you will have to change the entire motor. The Models 83, 86 and 88 used a different set of carbon brushes and carbon brush holder on the motor than the 89 did, and are NLA as far as I know through any supplier. The 89 used Super J carbon brushes though, so not a issue with that motor.

By far, one of my favorite North American Electrolux models. A little more powerful than the American Model G and Model L, and very simple machines mechanically, very hard to break in everyday use, and they get the job done without a lot of fuss.

 

[fantomfan57]

Thanks,

The hose seems not to leak if at all. "It sure is purdy". I found a Duplicolor Auto Spray Paint today that looks close to the original paint color. I took a floor brush with me to match the color. I will do touch up work, let it dry for several days and polish the machine to a shine.

I read to use the spray paint; the temperature needs to be higher than 50 degrees.
We are expecting colder weather tonight and this weekend. I am debating changing the color of the gleaner floor brush from green to red.

 

[fantomfan57]

Thanks,

to all those who responded. I ended up repainting the floor brush. I am STILL debating if to repaint the whole machine or even parts. There will be so much, to tape up and there is the fine white paint writing on the unit.

If I do repaint, I will post a final picture. If not, this ends this post.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

You could get some metal  polish and  bring a shine to  it    and use a magic  eraser  on the bumper to   make it  shine white again  thats what i did o n  my  C8   .


 


Some polish and  bring a shine to it  would make it look  like  new almost   all  it  really  needs  .

 

[fantomfan57]

That is an idea,

It is just that there a nicks and scrapes in so many places on it, that I would like to get it all one color. I tried touch-ups, so it looks kind of crappy now.

I think I may wait for a while to leave it or repaint it.

In the meantime, I want to bring it in the hose and start using it. The wool post filter is in really good shape, so I will use it for a while. I understand you can use a Rennaissance model post filter and cut it to size.

Thanks again for all the positive responses.

 

[eurekaprince]

Though I have never owned one of these Canadian Electroluxes, I remember using one in the 1970's at a friend's house. It was a pleasure to use and sooooo quiet. But I always found the placement of the handle to be a mystery to me. With the weight of the motor at the back end of the cylinder, the handle is really placed too far forward...the back sags down when you try to lift the unit with that handle. Thoughts?

 

[thevacomaticiec]

I agree on this   it  tends to sink at the back  end there   true  tristar really nail the handle placement