Gotta Love the Hoover W2

[singingrainbow]

Well I noticed that my W2 had been lacking in suction lately (even though I hardly ever use it) so I decided to clean the "self cleaning" HEPA filter. At first glance I expected it to be a minor annoyance judging by the six screws that I apparently needed to undo to gain acces to the filter, however the picture below shows how big of a project it turned into. I was just wondering if anyone else have had any runins with this ill- fated (and very overcomplicated) cleaner and if so, what was your experience?


Scott

 

[singingrainbow]

W2

The self-cleaning system has been doing a poor job.

 

[singingrainbow]

W2

Is all this really nessesary? What's rong with a bag, motor, fan, belt, and beater bar?

 

[singingrainbow]

W2

Don't get me rong, it is a reasonable performer when it works, but that is not often.


Scott

 

[eurekaprince]

Scott...do my eyes deceive me?

Is that a Sunbeam upright vac I see in the back? (Sorry to divert off your topic....but I miss seeing Sunbeam on vacuum cleaners....)....

EurekaPrince Brian

 

[singingrainbow]

Eurekaprince

Yes! that is a sunbeam vacuum that I got from a tuesday morning store.

 

[eurekaprince]

Cool! That must have been a short-lived revival of the Sunbeam name on vacs....the Sunbeam/Jarden website does not feature any vacs at the moment:



http://www.sunbeam.com/Splash.aspx

 

[szymonrules]

Oh..

what I wouldn't do to get a Windtunnel2! Anyway, good luck repairing it!

 

[floor-a-matic]

I think the BAGGED version was better; it's more efficient than the "self-cleaning" filter.

Nice find.

 

[gmerkt]

We've talked about these machines on a post here before. You're not wrong, the W2 bagless is overly complex and a downright poor design. That would-be self cleaning filter is as bogus as a three dollar bill. The Hoover Z-400 and Z-700 used the same concept and they were also poor performers but a little easier to work on than the bagless W2. Making things worse, the plastic parts they used in the W2 are fragile. Oh, and don't even look at the price of a replacement filter. The whole thing is just too awful.

The bagged version, on the other hand, it a fairly decent machine if you can get around the expensive bags they require. They share the bottom end, which is overly complex with an double indirect drive brush roll. Worst part about the bottom end is that the frame is prone to breakage where the handle release pedal is mounted. If handled roughly, the frame will break rather than the pedal. $$$.
I've got a busted bagged W2 sitting out in my storage building, just waiting for a donor machine to come along that has an intact bottom frame. Problem is, most machines that I run across at my intake price point have the same broken part.

 

[szymonrules]

Gary...

I know you're probably intending to keep your W2, but I wanted to ask, would you be interested in selling yours?

 

[dustin]

My Hoover Z700 has the same setup, but only requires the 6 screws to be removed. It has a really agressive brush, but unfortunately is also a pretty poor performer.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Scott,

ask that question, (fan, belt, BAG) in Glen Willow.

 

[director12]

I agree, the W2's so-called self cleaning filter is a lie. The bagged version is better, but the bags are expensive. A regular Windtunnel is better.

 

[briguy]

Scott,

I had one of these recently too. It was a free leftover from a garage sale. Anyway I thought I would have some fun with it. Long story short, it is as you say overly complicated to disassemble to get to the filter. The cost of a new filter was also not something I wanted to invest in. As I got into it further I realized the nozzle base had the same brittle & broken plastic screw posts as the Saavy line of Windtunnel machines had. After saving a V2 Saavy type model, I didnt want to spend the time or money trying to save this one. So in the dumpster it went. It was fun to see the electronics & such when I took it apart. Seems like they would be fun to use in proper working order. This one also had a hard life. When I turned it on the first time, nails & coins shot into the dust cup!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Amazing that it picked up all of that.

I got a bunch of filters very cheap in a dept store clearance. True:  The real 'Windtunnel' is a great vac.  I have 4: 1 is the Anniversary model, in silver.  Thought they only made blue.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I echo what Dustin said... My Hoover Z 700 has the same set up, and 6 screws have to be taken off every time to clean the stupid filter... if you don't do it, the already abysmal airflow becomes virtually non-existent. The agitation is wonderful, but I got it because it was a unique, niche vacuum, not because I expected it to perform well or the filter to work properly... but I'm still amazed at how poorly the self cleaning mechanism works (or doesn't work rather). I've never used a W2, bagged or bagless, so I really can't comment on them, except I feel your pain, because looking at that picture reminds me of my Hoover Z. Nightmare indeed )