Hoover 1060 Motor Slows Down When Vacuuming Carpet

[mjt]

I've been a reader of Vacuumland for sometime, but I've never posted before.

I purchased a Hoover Convertible 1060 at a local thrift store that appears to be in fair cosmetic condition. (It looks as though the hedlight cover has been replaced.) However, when you turn it on and start vacuuming carpet, the motor immediately begins to slow down and the agitator will stop completely after a short time. If you raise the nozzle off the carpet the motor speeds up. It seems to run fine when the cleaning tools are attached.

My vacuum repair experience is limited to belt and brush replacement. (I did change the fan in my neighbor's Decade 80 about ten years ago, but that is the most complicated repair I've ever attempted.)

Any ideas what might be wrong here?

Thanks in advance for your expertise!

Mike

 

[ncovert]

It is possible either the belt is worn or on backwards. If that doesn't help, maybe new motor brushes would...

 

[nycwriter]

Alas ...

... this is EXACTLY what was plaguing Mom's 1060 back in the early '90s (after rock-solid service almost daily since 1968).

Our vac shop guy ended up replacing the motor with one more powerful, but it seemed to only just make it *louder*. Eventually that "bogging down" problem came back.

That's why conditions were ripe when Mom was introduced to the Amway Cleartrak.

And goodbye to the Hoover.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

bad belt... seen that symptom many a time on convertibles who havent been used in a while

 

[nycwriter]

That doesn't explain ...

... my Mom's 1060 bogging down with regular use and fresh belt changes.

 

[mjt]

It has a brand new belt and it's installed correctly. It's not the agitator that slows down, but the motor itself. The sound of the motor actually changes.

 

[vacman1961]

It sounds like carbon brush problems to me.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

may want to check the brushroll bearings. if the grease is dry or bad, the brushroll will impede the motor. also the motor bearings may need service. oil on top, grease on bottom.

Will Hemb

 

[super-sweeper]

The same is happening to my beloved U4047!

Fresh belt, and just repaired the brushroll, The motor and brush-roll seem fine on their own, But when combined, The performance of the cleaner is GREATLY impeded- And how would one go about "Oiling" and servicing a convertible?


 


Thanks,


-Alex.

 

[jfalberti]

I agree

First thing to check is the carbon brushes.  You'd be surprised what a new set, properly seated, will do.  Probably wouldn't hurt to clean the commutator on the armature as well.

 

[anthony]

will

the fan spin freeely with the belt off old grease can cause lots of problems and i agree new brushes and a clean comutator can work wonders

 

[mjt]

Thanks for...

for all the quick responses!

Both the fan and agitator spin freely and easily when the belt is off, so I'm guessing that it might, indeed, be the motor brushes. Is replacing the brushes (and properly seating them) a job that a reasonably handy (and adventurous) person can attempt? Or, is it best left to someone with experience?

 

[centralvacs1928]

Upper bearing?

A worn upper sleeve bearing will cause the motor to run fine until tension from the belt is applied. The problem may be worse when the motor has heated up from a minute or two of use, too. Just something to check...