Hoover Dial-a- Matic Issue(s)

[mattl]

Have an old dial a matic, from if I recall correctly about '67. It has the blue front. Anyway it's been through the mill and used for anything and everything a vac could be used for and ran great. I have it upstairs as a second vac.

I powered it up today and it seemed weak sounding. Checked everything, there was a gob of lint in the hose, got rid of that but still weak suction. Thought it might be an issue with the brushes and took off the belt, still sounded poor. Took out the bag and the screen and powered it up only to see blue sparks on the lower left side! I suspect the brushes on the motor are bad, the motor was running slow.

How difficult is it to repair? I seem to recall tearing into it years and years ago but it's only a dim memory at this point. Suggestions?

 

[ohio_tuec]

Sounds like you have a peacock blue Dial-A-Matic 1110. Are they difficult to repair - well no, just a pain in the ass in that you have to take the whole machine apart to access the motor. From what I've been told, Concept I's are even more difficult to work on since they have more parts to get lost. I'll have the pleasure of finding that out myself when I lubricate the bearings on my U3105. In all my years collecting DAM's I've only come across one that didn't work - an 1140 that I found in the garbage which didn't work at all until the brushes were replaced. I'd say definitely do it, as they are an extremely reliable machine.

 

[vintagehoover]

When I was in North Canton in Aug. 08, I went with Jeff and Michael to Tom's house one evening, and I watched Jeff taking apart the Concept One Powerdrive he found at a thrift store somewhere. I'd never seen that before, since any of the Concept series are rarer than rare over here!

I couldn't believe how complicated it all was - I can't remember if it was Jeff or Tom who described it as being 'like peeling an onion!'

The DAMs aren't quite as hard, but Hoover certainly didn't make it easy! I've only got one DAM (or Convertible!), but every time I've taken it apart, I've found myself longing for the simplicity of the pre-war machines!

 

[electroluxxxx]

it might be the brushes or the comutator, however I wish you the best of luck on it as I have never taken apart a DAM so I cant really give any advise but good luck

Mike

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I love servicing the concept but have NEVER serviced a DAM. I would love to know how to take one apart. But I can do Concepts all day long. I don't know why, because they really are a pain in the a$$, but I always feel like I accomplished something with those.

 

[74simon]

I'd definitely want to check out the motor compartment - one of my machines had a motor choked with fluff that had built up over the years, lining the compartment and the inside of the motor too, I seem to remember...