Got my Hoover Decade 80 Running but may have a problem

[aprules2]

I recently found a Lime Green Hoover Decade 80 on the curb, I went and found a new cord and modified it to fit. After an hour or so of work the vacuum was running. The motor sounds unbelievably powerful, like it would suck up my dog if she got too close. Then I noticed the brush roll wasnt turning, so I opened the bottom to see why. The belt was missing, but when I looked at the shaft the belt rides on I noticed there is a huge chunk of plastic laying in there. It looks like its broken off the base of the shaft the belt rides on. Is that just a guide for the belt? Is it nessicary?

 

[super-sweeper]

Yeah...That's not a good thing.....from the picture it looks like the fan is completely shattered.....


 


But don't worry! You can pop this baby open real easy. There's 2 screws that attach the hood to the base, look to the right and left of the bottom of the vacuum, you'll see them. Undo those, turn the vacuum over and take the hood off. Should be about 5 screws to take the motor out. Send some pics when you get there! 

 


Luckily these fans are real common, you should be able to find one at just about any vacuum shop.

 

[aprules2]

Thanks, I just ordered one off eBay im glad it was cheap only $12

 

[durango159]

Fan replacement on Youtube!

Very nice find on the Hoover Decade 80! I don't know how familiar you are with the service of them but here is a youtube video! The entire process is actually 2 videos for start to finish of fan replacement. Here is the link for Part 1.

The part 2 video will probably pop up after the 1st video ends or be searchable by the same author.

Hope this help you!

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx0WNRTPclM

 

[aprules2]

So I followed the directions on the video, and installed my fan, cleaned out the housings and lubricated everything. The motor runs so quiet its unreal. It almost sounds like a canister.

The belt was missing when I found it so I bought a NOS Hoover Belt and put that on. Now that the brush roll is spinning the vacuum significantly louder. It almost seems like the brush roll is vibrating the whole vacuum. I took the brush roll apart and cleaned the crud out and it spun better but had no effect on noise or vibration.

Then I knocked the bearings out of the ends of the brush roll then cleaned out all the crud inside the brush roll. Then cleaned the bearings completely and oiled them then packed them with grease.It was a lot quieter but still the vacuum had like a deep vibrating sound to it. Is that just characteristic of the vacuum or do I have a bad brush roll?

 

[super-sweeper]

Sounds like the bearings in the brush are going bad! 

 

[aprules2]

Kind of what I thought. My brush is the one that has bristles and then it has a plastic strip inbetween. I think its a beater brush? I have a lot of those low chinease rugs, hardwood, and only like 2 or 3 rooms of cut pile. Should I get the same brush or is it better to just buy one with only bristles on it?

Also the metal plate on the bottom, you remove to change the belt seems to not grab super tight to the body of the vacuum. I tightened the screws on the clips but it didnt make too much difference. It looks to me the gasket has compressed a little over the years. Almost seems like I could slide a sheet of paper between the gasket and the base, its not loose and floppy just slight clearance. Do they sell the gasket alone or do you have to buy the hole metal plate?

 

[durango159]

I've never heard of a gasket replacement for that but I've never worked in a vacuum store either. I suppose over time the gaskets could get super compressed. I guess the real question: Is it broken off anywhere?

My gasket looks compressed but it seems to still seal all the way around. With base plate installed it looks there is a gap from the metal to the plastic housing but the gasket takes care of that. I have to peel the plate up a little bit once I release the clips.

Bearings for the brush rolls are very cheap. Though I'm surprised being fully cleaned and regreased they wouldn't work well. When I clean mine, I have to take an unfolded paper clip and scrape it out along with a scrub brush going on the sides so the bristles get inside. Brush roll should spin smoothly manually once end caps are reinstalled. With Hoover brush rolls too, the metal washers have to the center facing up towards the bearing and ends down towards the brush roll center. I've noticed on Convertibles and Decades to make sure I push firmly down on both sides of brushroll when re-seating into base. I've been able to reinstall the base plate without the brush roll being fully down on both sides!!

Belts for these are still manufactured and easy to find!! I like the commercial belt: 044783AG But you can also use the Hoover residential belt: 049258AG available in package style 48.


I hope some of this helps you!!

 

[durango159]

Also these vacuums are powerful and aggressive!!

There will be a definite deep brush roll growl. It shouldn't be a heavy vibration but it is noticeable. Not the quietest uprights I've noticed but the tone is pleasant and they are powerful!!

 

[aprules2]

My brush roll has the molded ends so I was able to unscrew them to clean all the crud out between the bearings and the end. Then I actually knocked the bearings out of the metal ends. When I looked in them they had no grease left in them and were filled with caked up dust. So I soaked them over night in Berryman Chem-dip which got them super clean. But I noticed they do have a decent amount of play in them. But anyway I dropped 3 in 1 oil into them and spun them to get them nice and free, then packed some synthetic bearing greese into them until they were oozing out. But the diffeence is only slight. The machine doesnt seem to have a pleasent hum to it, its more of a growl with the brush roll running. I didnt know that the bearings were availible untl reading the post above. I found them and I think I will order the bearings, shaft, and the thrust washers just to get everything taken care of. Im not sure where this thing was stored but the shaft for the brush roll is just covered in rust. So odds are the bearings are pretty sad too. I had to leave the plastic ends a little loose or the brush wouldnt spin freely.

I have a new HOOVER TYPE 48 Belt on it now whats the difference between that and the commercial one?

 

[nazard]

the video is VERY very intesresting !!!!

 

[durango159]

Sounds like you did a fantastic job cleaning up those bearings. Just a shame they may not be in the best of shape. However try the below advice, cause I've experienced what you have with the brushrolls until I learned years ago. I've worked on many Hoover brush rolls over the years.

Your brush roll not turning right and having to have the end caps a little loose tells me that you may have the brush roll washers in upside down or perhaps one is missing.

The Hoover brush roll has 1 washer and 1 bearing for each end. The washer needs to go in below the bearing. The ends of the washer should touch down towards middle of agitator and the raised middle is up towards the bearing and the bearing will rest on the middle of the washer when it is assembled. The bearing goes in with the white or black top up towards the end cap. There should be 1 washer and 1 bearing on each side of the brushroll. Then both end caps should be thoroughly tightened.
Stand brush roll on its end and holding it by end cap it should spin very smoothly with no resistance, or rubs. YOu can also put it into the machine but without belt. It's always good to spin brush roll very quickly manually with no belt near to see how it rotates listening and feeling for smoothness! When you have achieved that result your Hoover brush roll is ready to be installed with a belt.

The link below is a Youtube video of a good sounding Decade 800. As all these Hoover motors are extremely close in sound, the video gives a pretty good idea of the approximate sound tone you're looking to achieve!!

I hope this helps!! Hoover Convertibles and Decades are great machines.

Happy Hoovering and please keep us posted!!

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4CG5Lom3Kw