FOUND A WILDCAT!! HELP NEEDED!!!

[nicktechtalk]

Hey all! Hope everybody had a great day. Went to my local vac shop, and I almost collapsed in excitement when I found this down there, along with a Lightning, and Euro Pro Twister. Only problem is, there is no collection bin Unit powered on fine and seemed to have the handle just barely intact which is suitable enough for use (common issue with these machines with the handle breaking off). So here is where I need some help. I need a bin to either a Wildcat, or a Westinghouse Unplugged cordless vac. If you have either of these parts, post below and we can go from there. Willing to pay a good amount for this machine to be complete minus attachments. Let me know if you have anything to help me out here!

 

[man114]

This is going to be hard to find. It was hard to find before Fantom went out of bussiness.

I bought a wildcat at a Kmart that was closing back in 2001 before Fantom even closed for $7.99 brand new at 95% off on the last day. It was darn near impossible to get a bin. I found one after calling dozens for shops for $8.

The unplugged was a terrible seller. We literally sat in a pallet for over a year (I worked in housewares while I was in college). We demoed it, you could not sell them, it was too expensive. It's probably even rarer than the Wildcat which several shipments were sold.

 

[nicktechtalk]

Was the...

Build quality the same on both machines? I know that the Wildcat is very flimsy, but I figured that Westinghouse might have improved slightly with the unplugged due to it being released later.

 

[fantomfan]

Did you get the Lightning as well?

Congrats on finding a Wildcat so fast! I wouldn't be surprised if that has been down there for a while. Eventually, I will be going back to the vacuum shop where I found about a dozen Fantoms (most of which I took). If I happen to find a dustbin for a Wildcat, I will let you know. One more question, I saw a few of your Youtube videos and you seem to look familiar to me. Did you used to have a Vacuumland account, maybe three or four years ago?

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Google the vacuum cleaner exchange 1-866-234-3575. 900 s. Illinois st. Belleville IL. Tell them what you have. Tell them there is one on the top floor of the (mansion) on the North side in the corner by a window. It's the whole machine actually. Tell him one of the St Louis visitors friend of Rick sent you. He might not remember my name but you can tell him Phillip the Thermax guy sent you lol. I don'y know if they will ship but it's worth a gamble. Maybe he can bring it down and one of the colectors in the area will ship for you like maybe Alex Braun? I would but I'm about 8 hours away.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Also, and don't get to excited here but I might still have the dirt cup to my old unplugged. I did save it for a while in hopes someone would need it but I have cleaned a lot out of my parts shed since then. I will go tomorrow and see what I have left for that if anything but I can't promise.

 

[nicktechtalk]

FantomFan

I did get the lightning too! And it was for sure quick that I found it I'm not sure where you would recognize me from off of YouTube, but I did used to make vacuum videos though! They were just deleted when I started doing product reviews. I found a member who has an unplugged which they did not mind parting with so I might have a bin for the time being but do keep an eye out for a light green one for me!
Thanks!
Nick

 

[nicktechtalk]

Kirbyvertibles:

Thanks for that info! I'll give it a try later today. I did find a member who has an unplugged that they will be shipping to me, but if for some reason our deal does not go through I will keep your unplugged bin in mind!
Thanks
Nick

 

[myles_v]

The bin on my UnPlugged cracked in the front, a large piece broke off of it. My mother is actually the one who broke it, not me. I miss that machine, I should've kept it. I doubt the batteries would be any good now, though.

So the UnPlugged saw no, or next to no improvements in terms of durability.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I spent most of the day working in my storage shop and went through all my parts. I did part with those apperantly. I'm so sorry but it sounds like you have a couple of other options! I did find a Kenmore destiny version of the lighting and a destiny version of the thunder that id like to check out and see how complete they are. I'd like to sell them. I have the fantom models in my collection and that's all I need.

 

[nicktechtalk]

Thanks for checking for me!! Another member and I have reached an agreed price and all I need to do now is pay him once I get a quote on shipping. I'll update from there on about the machine

 

[nicktechtalk]

Kirbyvertibles...

I called Vacuum Cleaner Exchange, and they have a Wildcat bin!!! It is the copper/orange color, so they said they would check if they had another color but if not I am ok with any color as long as I have a complete vacuum. I also will be getting a couple of other Fantom Parts for my Cyclone XT from them. Can't thank you enough for the path to finding a Wildcat bin! I really appreciate it! I also did buy a Westinghouse Unplugged, so until I get the Wildcat genuine bin I will use the Unplugged one.

Will post an update when I get something in the mail

-Nick

 

[nicktechtalk]

Ok so Im kinda in a tough spot...

Belt does not rotate. So I removed the hood (what a nightmare). And noticed that somebody else had definitely been in there before because some screws were missing. I couldn't get the plate over the brush off completely, but it was enough to show that there was no geared belt. I turned it on to see if the motor at least spun, and it did, so I know that if it had a belt it would work fine.

Tried the belt from the Westinghouse Unplugged but it's way too big.

I really need a belt here now, if anybody has one or knows of one that may fit!! Very urgent as I'm dying to get this machine complete

Nick

 

[nicktechtalk]

Finished!!

Finished gathering spare parts and many hours trying to figure out how to disassemble the bottom of the unit. I attached some pictures of the bottom cover off showing the inside, which is very frustrating to work with when it uses such a complicated design. The brushroll cover was very hard to take off, as I had to figure out how to remove the large bar covering it. Anyway, final product came out great!