Got another Royal today

[dartman]

Like it says I've been watching a dirt cheap Royal complete with the accessory pack on Craig's List for a while and finally contacted them today. She was selling a vac that looks almost identical to the free Stark's 5700 I found a few years ago so I figured at least I get all the extra hoses and all that you get when they are new.
She was only asking 25 bucks so figured worth it easily for the extras kit and possible spare parts if it doesn't work.
It turns out to be a 4000s model at 10.5 amps, what a BEAST, and LOUD. I paid her and drug it home and when I fired it up quickly outside it didn't catch fire and immediately sucked itself tight to the piece of leftover carpet we keep on the steps/porch thing under the car port front door. Turns out the brush roll plate was off so no wonder but crap, I couldn't pry it off the rug and deck till I turned it off.
It has some minor issues and she rigged up a few things but everything seems to work except for the missing headlight and LED brush moving indicator. I didn't need another one but the accessories will be nice to have and I can see why some say these uber high amperage units aren't easy to live with compared to my fairly quiet 5700 7.5 amp machine. Going to get a couple of new belts and figure out what needs fixed or unbent and see how it does if I get everything right again.

 

[rivstg1]

they are LOUD

Yep, those ARE a beast of a Vac!! I got one in perfect condition for about the same money...maybe a bit more and I like it..... but, I vacuum with headphones when using it!! haha. I concur.......the 10.5amp monster sucks incredibly...but like your experience....I tend to use my 'weaker' model Royals much more often (4.5 and 5.4 and 6 amp ones) due to the more calming our of the motor and less volume.

K

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

dartman

Terry,

One of these days you might find one of these older burgundy-trimmed Royal uprights:
Model 889 (1987-1988), with white cord
Model 8000 (1988-1990), had white cord in its first year
Model 9000 (1988-1990), also had white cord in its first year
Model 9005 Classic (1989-1990)
Model 9089 Classic (1989-1990), was similar to the 9005 but was the first Royal ever to have the BSI (brush speed indicator) light, predating the 9700 Classic by one year.

Some of the Stark's exclusive equivalents of the above, prior to the fall of 1990, were black, including:
5000/NA (1987-1988) (NA = no attachments included)
901 (1988-1990)
5700 (1990)

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I have a royal 9000 10.5 amp. I also have a 6 amp burgundy one in Ben's pics. It's a drop in motor. I have newer royal 1026 idk the model but it's 7.5 amps. It has a drop in motor too.
The issue with my 7.5 amp is bearings behind fan are spun. I tried quick fix but didn't work.
The drop in motors have no carbon brush screws or plates. It's weird but nice at the same time.
The carbon brushes on both drop in motors are larger than Kirby's g series carbon brushes.
I did have a 1030z but didn't have it long.
The 1030z was 10 amp but not a drop in motor.
The drop in motor vacuums seem louder to me. I have not owned an Everlast.
I have a couple 400 amp royals and they are the quietest vacuum. The 7.5 royal and 10.5 are my loudest. My sanitairre is pretty loud too.
They are nice vacuums. You could take brush roll out and just use straight suction and clean better than most vacuums.
Les

 

[dartman]

Looking for proper headlight for both etc

Well we got 3 new belts today and the new monster doesn't bog down the minute the brush hits the carpet. Both of mine needed new belts, the 4000 the belt was slipping badly and the 5700 was missing some chunks so sister bought 3 new ones at Stark's by her work. Tried the 4000 belt in the 5700 and it started smelling like burning rubber so it was definitely done. Both my machines have the burgundy trim but the new one is missing the bumper trim on the headlight cover and most of the removable parts are kinda loose. I think it's lived a hard life and little things like the cover for the scent pellets holder in the headlight area is gone. Looking them both over the 5700 still has most everything it came with, runs fairly quiet and smooth, and parts were replaced as they wore out. The new one seems to rattle a bit but runs strong and will pick up the carpet when it's down super tight like you probably shouldn't run it. I spose I should get some pics of the accessories and box that came with it. 
Also, what light does these guys use. It looks pretty much like a 12 volt car taillight. I have found a few that clam to be right but some look wrong and some are spendy for just one bulb. Others are dirt cheap but then they want what seems like a lot to ship one small bulb.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

dartman

Terry,

No one light bulb will work across all Royal uprights. So here's a list of what bulbs are compatible with what models.
Order part no. 1-880629-000 (120 volt) if your Royal has the old-style non-drop-in motor (3.0 to 7.0 amps)
Order part no. 1-725629-000 (12 volt) if your Royal has the drop-in motor assembly (7.5 to 10.5 amps)

~Ben

 

[suckolux]

I think mine is the 889, nice sound

 

[kirbyklekter]

Can somebody explain the difference

between a "drop in" motor and the other type used in Royals. How would I know I was looking at a Royal that had one or the other? Thanks in advance.

 

[dartman]

Well both of mine are the higher amp versions so probably 120 volt. However I do have a really nice Fluke multi meter so I can double check the voltage to make sure, then hunt for the proper bulb now that you gave me both part numbers.

 

[dartman]

One of each

Well the 4000 is 12, actually more like close to 10, and the 5700 is 120, more like 118 ac, so one of each. I guess the 5700 is only 7 amps so not the later drop in motor. It also looks like the 4000 is missing the rubber o-ring that goes into the collar at the base of the bag so I need to get that too. She did have two other Royals she was selling for 20 each but I figured I have enough vacuums now and didn't want to spend too much or have to store them. They both looked pretty complete. One was the no headlight commercial looking version and other was a normal possibly blue trim version with a light. She said they were probably parts vacs. If anyone is local and interested I can shoot you her number. Her ad on Craigslist for mine might still be up too. She was selling all kinds of stuff to clear up her property.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

dartman

Terry,

The old-style "non-drop-in" motor assembly, used on the pre-1995 machines ranging from 3 to 7 amps, meant the field and armature were individually replaced.

The new-style motor assembly used on the 7.5 to 10.5 amp machines had the armature and field self-contained.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

dartman

Terry,

These machines with the non-drop-in motor can also be identified by the presence of the carbon brush access caps on either side of the motor housing. That is what your 5700 has.

~Ben

 

[dartman]

Yeah, I noticed those on it and figured they were to access the brushes, clever design and makes sense for easy service. New one doesn't have them so like you said, just drop in a new motor if it ever dies. Probably cheaper to build and possibly less steps if it breaks though I'd bet it makes it more expensive to repair as you buy a whole new motor. I used to swap out the brushes on the hand grinders at work as they were cheap and a 10 minute job on a good day. We'd finally junk them when the windings on the armature burned out. I've actually had them catch fire before but usually they just overheat, start smoking and stop.

 

[lesinutah]

Drop in

The vacuum I recently acquired has a drop in motor that's been replaced. How do I know this. Inside the motor housing is a model plate. I've never seen it before.
In late 80s early 90s the Duke royal vacuums with 5 amp where one of the first drop in motors. I don't think it was self contained until around 2000. The Duke vacuum is the primer colored royal with a red bag with red and blue royal logo on the top left of the bag.
I'll attach my pics. It's pretty cool.
The first two are outside model plates. The second is in motor housing. The third is the motor where you can see the date stamp on motor on the motor with serial number is 7.5 which indicates motor amperage.
I noticed it was drop in motor and was excited thinking another 10.5 or 10 amp but 7.5.
Les

 

[dartman]

Got a couple of headlights

Sister went by Stark by her work a few days ago and the repair tech sold her the 120 volt one for 2 bucks. She knew I was looking for a couple and also ordered one from Amazon. Almost 5 bucks for exactly the same bulb. I haven't got the 12 volt one yet because at first wasn't sure which one I needed till you posted the part numbers and which vacs they worked with, plus double checking the actual voltage. It is so old school yellow and dim but it works and lights up the floor just like I remember from the Kirby we used to have when I was little.

 

[lesinutah]

Hmm

The bulbs are interchangeable. My 1949 Royal and my 2003 all take same bulb.
Les

 

[dartman]

Yes, as long as all your machines are the standard motor and not the drop in version which takes a 12 volt bulb that otherwise is physically the same. Many sewing machines take that 120 volt light and possibly the kirbys but I don't have one to check. I might try one of the LED versions eventually too as the lights on my newish Shark cordless are very bright and white. Makes it easy to see what your doing in the dark corners.

 

[kirbyklekter]

dartman, I hope you're enjoying

your latest Royal. It looks like the beast I have been reading about. Nice! Thank you to Ben and Les for clarifying the difference between drop-in and non drop-in motors, now I know! Billy

 

[dartman]

Well the thing is a bit beat up and needed a belt badly but with a new belt it works. It is so LOUD I think I'll wear ear plugs like when I mow my yard, I like being able to hear. It also needs the rubber o ring for where the bag plugs onto the motor but it has so much suction it kept gluing itself to the carpet and being hard to push. The back wheel axles look a bit bent but I doubt it makes much difference in using it. Somebody must have really dropped it or something to do that. The new belt seems to help as it doesn't bog down and pull straight into the floor as easy. I think I like my 5700 better, it's way quieter and still really deep cleans and grooms the carpet.
It even has a grounded 3 prong plug and I bet it needs it.
If you want a beast that can either super deep clean carpet, or pull it off the floor this is your machine.