Hoover Convertible Thrift Find

[beekeyknee]

Thought I'd sneek over from the washer side and show you guys what I found yesterday. I must be reverting back to my youth as I was wild about vacuums then, so yesterday I went hunting for some unknown reason and found this.

It's nothing extreamly special but it was in really good shape so I snaged it for $15.00. I gave it a complete tear down and rebuild. There wasn't much wrong with it except it needed a new snap on the bag and new paper bag and belt. I don't have the Hoover grease gun, but I managed to work quite a bit of grease in the bearings after washing them out with kerosene. Unfortunately it doesn't have the original plug.

Either I'm getting weaker in my old age or I don't remember correctly, but this thing really has a lot of suction. I guess I'm just spoiled by my power drive Kirby. It's fun to play with a Convertible again.

 

[super-sweeper]

of course is has

A LOT of suction! It's a true HOOVER! Everyone's happier with a Hoover!

 


The older Convertibles are real treat to use, aren't they! You've gotten yourself a good deal with good paint! That's a lovely KitchenAid dishwasher, too!


 


Welcome to the forums, too!

 

[marks_here]

I totally agree

The ones with the metal base & the 2 heights have tremendous suction. You did an excellent job on the referb. With low nap carpet, I could barely get it to move & with plush carpet, forget it. Congrats on your find...that's what it's all about!! Cheers!!! Mark D.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have 3 of them.

Excellent machine, (even for a 'basic' model).LOVE that color..how could you not????? My next door neighbor had this cleaner as her 'second floor' (extra cleaner). I used to hear her run it all the time when I was a kid. When she died, it was given to me. NOT a trash find, mind you. But... a nice piece of my childhood.

 

[beekeyknee]

Cord Length?

Pardon my ignorance, but since the plug has been replaced on this machine, what is the proper length of the cord for this model? It's 15 ft. , 9 inches long. Seems kind of short.

When I tore down the machine for it's rebuild, I wasn't quite able to get the motor as quiet as it was originally. I put the brushes back in it the way they came out. They were in good shape. I fiddled with the top motor bearing for quite awhile and got it pretty good but not as quiet as it should be. Makes a bit of a grinding sound when it's winding down.

Alex, Thanks on the KitchenAid. It's original post is in AW's Imperial section last week.

 

[rugsucker]

early Convertibles

Very nice Mo 36!
Others will know more but some differences are--
Standard(31,32,33,---)-shorter cord,half bumper,snaps on bag.
Deluxe(65,66,67---)-longer cord,full bumper,zipper on bag.
Both-QUALITY with same motor,fan,agitator,belt,bag,etc.

 

[super-sweeper]

don't worry about the cord,

Keep in mind that houses in the 1950s and 1960s were smaller then houses of today, you didn't need 30,40,50 feet of cord, you could walk outside and start vacuuming the car without ever changing and outlet with such cords! I doubt much of the cord has been lost, I would measure my U4047 cord for you, but I put it into 'cold storage' the other day! I'm sure our resident HOOVER guru, John Long (gottahaveaHOOVER) can fill me in here!

If the Convertible is louder than it's usual famous hum, the first culprit to check is the fan. You and me both LOVE how easy Convertibles are to work on! Take the hood off and remove the 5 screws on the very bottom. The motor will lift right off, check the fan for any broken blades or other damage. Slowly turn the fan, listen closely to find if the grinding is coming from something stuck between the fan and the motor. If it is not, then your bearings are the likely culprit (another EASY HOOVER fix!)

 

[beekeyknee]

I've already done all of that, so it might be the lower bearing. It's odd though. After I cleaned and lubed the bearing it startede turning smoother. And it's not loose either. No slop at all.

It seemed like it had something to do with how the top bearing plate went back on. When I adjusted it and retightened the screws the sound got better. The first time I put it on it wasn't lined up properly and was binding the rotor. It's like working on an old fan. If you don't get everything lined up properly, it won't run. I took it off and adjusted until it didn't bind any more but it still wasn't as quite as when I took it apart. Sounds like brush noise, but I don't know why. I put them back the way they came out. They seated good visually.

I cleaned the top bushing with a Q-Tip and some Zoom-Spout oil, then put a few drops of Zoom Spout in the top bushing, turned it right side up on a paper towel and let it set for awhile. I think I remember reading that this was the best way to treat that bushing. It's really not too bad. Maybe I should leave well enough alone unless someone has a better suggestion.

 

[super-sweeper]

be sure to

Run the vacuum without the belt attached to eliminate the brush-roll as a problem!

 

[constellation86]

Nice find! The cord would have been 16 feet long originally. The deluxe models were 20 feet. I tend to use an extention cord with short ones like this.
Nicholas

 

[gus]

Hey Guys, you are a fountain of information. I always learn sth. new from you all! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Gus

 

[beekeyknee]

It makes the same sound with the belt off. I turned the fan by hand and can hear quiet clicking sounds a regular intravals. It has to be brush noise. The comutator was clean and shiny. I may take the hood off and take the brushes out and see if the clicking stops. Then I'll know. It could be possible that I got one in upside down and it hasn't seated.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

I've had that happen to me sometimes with carbon brushes.. I know the noise you mean.  You can try replacing the carbon brushes, taking them out and turning them around, or letting it run for a while with the belt disconnected.


 


I love the model 36, that color is such a nice shade of turquoise. 

 

[super-sweeper]

clicking,

That's your problem! The carbon brushes are riding on the armature! Go ahead with taking the brushes out, that will eliminate the possibility of another issue causing the issue! If you find the carbons are the cause, clean the armature with a cleaning stone. Take the hood off and run the motor. You're likely to see sparks fly everywhere.this means your carbon brushes are not properly seated, you've likely installed them incorrectly, perhaps you have them upside-down or reversed?

 

[kirbyvertibles]

That is something special lol. That was the very last to be called the Convertible special, meaning the budget model. The fact this still has it's original bag is special. Tom Anderson had once told me these 36 bags were rare as hens teeth and I have to agree. I have come across many of this model as well as the gold 704 models with replacment bags.

 

[rugsucker]

"turned the fan by hand"

As an old Hoover service manual explains you should only turn a motor in the direction it normally runs.A good motor can make noise if turned backwards and then sound good when turned in the proper direction.With the Convertible turning(while UNPLUGGED)the brush with belt on,toward fan will turn fan toward bag.