Eureka ESP Self-Propelled 5071D

[niclonnic]

This old beast is at my local food bank, which I have a volunteer job at on most Thursdays. I don't have much experience with vintage vacuums, so that's why I'm finally posting this to Vacuumland.

The Eureka ESP 5071D is a heavy and loud vacuum, but it cleans really well! When used on the dirty rug in the vegetable room of the food bank, the dirt particles dance in front of the vacuum before getting sucked in. Now that's power that even a modern vacuum can't match! I haven't used it lately, though.

However, this vacuum smells, and the headlight doesn't work.

Has anybody had experience with this vacuum? If so, how did it work for you?

 

[poconovacman]

The Eureka F&G style upright is one of the greatest carpet cleaning machines ever devised. Excellent brushrolls, extreme airflow, and gigantic paper bags to catch all the crap. You may recognize these as the ancestor to what we still know as the Sanitaire commercial and household uprights.

 

[super-sweeper]

A LOT better than that Bissell! buy a new paper bag and belt, it'll run like new. put a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract or your choice of freshener in the paper bag, wash the outer bag if needed! Perhaps they'll let you borrow it for a tune-up! 

 

[eurekastar]

I've never tried a self-propelled model before; however, I'd love to own one some day.  As per the smell, just change the paper bag.  If it doesn't go away, launder the outer bag as suggested. 

 

[hoovegroove08]

LOVE THIS VACUUM!

I have the blue model. GREAT VACUUM! I borrowed this picture from another member
(1926700) on here. It's such a fun vacuum to use. Especially with the color-scheme. If you ever get a chance to get the headlight replaced, go for it. The "Eureka Self Propelled" logo on top of the hood lights up. Also, when I first got mine I washed the bag in the washing machine, and it ended up breaking the plastic top into pieces. Luckily, I was able to find a replacement, but I would recommend hand-washing it so this doesn't happen to yours. Enjoy!

Mike

 

[super-sweeper]

DO NOT run that bag in the washing machine! Those are STICKERS on the bag, they come off easily! My early 1978 model with the early vinyl bag had this happen, although the stickers fell off with age. This is a GREAT vacuum,I love it, but mine needs some serious restoration! Those plastics on the hood are fragile, the hood is mostly metal, it's a modified 1970s Eureka hood. Their is a hole drilled in the top to allow the bigger motor, it's the plastic vent and headlamp assembly that fragiles easily.


 


Regardless, one of my favourite EUREKA models! 

 

[super-sweeper]

Note-the stickers may have only been used on the early vinyl bags, can anybody confirm this?

 

[dustin]

Yes, the stickers were only on the earliest bags- the one we had at our church had the later "Triple Filter" bag and I washed it by hand without issue. A great cleaner, although the drive cable was broken so it no longer self propelled. The one at our church wasn't excessively loud, just powerful sounding.

 

[jaker15]

Love mine

I've got the ESP model 2107 in burgundy, it's a newer model with the 6.5 amp motor. It has a micron filter outer bag, and man, does it clean! It's not loud at all, but like Dustin said, very powerful sounding. I'd go so far as to say it performs better than my Hoover Convertible U4387! 

 

[super-sweeper]

Thanks for confirming that! but even then, sink washing would be best! 

 

[eurekaprince]

Nice to see some love being given to the old Eureka company here. Those were the days, my friends.

"EUREKA. The very best in vacuum cleaners."

 

[niclonnic]

Thanks!

Nice to hear about all your experiences with this vacuum. The one at the food bank does have a "Triple Filter" bag. I would NEVER run the outer bag through a washer, anyway. I'm not sure how to replace the headlight bulb on it, though.

It's amazing that such an old cleaner puts modern vacuums to shame! These are things that even my young generation doesn't understand.

 

[super-sweeper]

Eurekaprince, you're about to see a whole bunch of EUREKA love when I post my rebuild thread on my latest visitor! 

 

[eurekaprince]

&#92o/!

 

[Valerie]

Need new rear wheels for Eureka 5071 D

Mine is working just fine, but the smooth cover on the rear wheels cracked and came off. I can't find replacements anywhere on the web. I might need the whole assembly if the wheels are not available, DK.

Any ideas? Or, if anyone has one that is no longer working, could have the rear wheels?

 

[niclonnic]

Wow

I can't believe it took me a few days to see that somebody has revived my old thread!

Sadly, I have no idea about obtaining rear wheels for this particular Eureka. All I can say is check with some vacuum repair shops.

 

[vac-o-matic]

I found out through experience that the wheels are part of the transmission, strange but true. I was lucky enough to find a brand NOS transmission through a friend of mine's vac shop, it was his last one, and the wheels came attached. I believe they are a discontinued part, so your only hope is long established vac shops, or ebay.

 

[azerahraven]

belt question

I have one of these but I'm having a hard time figuring out what kind of belt it needs. Do you guys know? Thanks!

 

[panasonicvac]

They use Eureka/Sanitaire type RD that are round.