Hoover Elite II issue

[fan-of-fans]

I bought a Hoover Elite II at the thrift store recently. Unfortunately I found out that the label is missing, so I don't know the model number or date. It's a dark gray color with a gray soft bag with stripes on it. The bag reads "Dual Purpose Vacuum" and the base has "Hoover Elite II" and then something that's rubbed off like 5.0 or 6.0 and then "with Headlight".

When I turn it on, it runs but makes a dry rubbing noise. Also when I looked at the bottom, the brushroll seemed kind of slow and didn't coast down for long when turned off. I looked at the motor and it seems okay not corroded or anything, and checked the brushroll bearings. Could the motor or brushroll bearings need oiling, or is it more likely the belt that is making the noise?

 

[bagintheback]

I think I know what noise you are talking about. Elites almost always develop a slight grinding noise after many years of use, and most of the time it comes from the brush roll. Why don't you try running it without the belt on and see if that makes any difference. Then you can know for sure if it is the brush roll or the motor.

 

[durango159]

Hoover agitators do need their bearings greased and its very easy to do. Also with Hoover brush rolls, depending on how badly they are abused, the plastic end caps get ground up by hair. Remove the brush roll from the vacuum, stand one end on the floor and support other end with your hand. Then spin brush. You want it to roll very freely, smooth and relatively quiet. Agitator disassembles very easily by grasping end caps firmly and turning in opposing directions. from there, clean all end caps, clean bearings. If end caps make a grinding/ sanding sound then you have chipped plastic. You can smooth it out the agitator ends and end cap insides with fine steel wool and "smoothing" with a cloth rag. In other words, encompass agitator end with cloth rag, grasp with hand and turn back and forth really trying to work the rag to smooth out plastic--- IT WORKS!!

Their diagrams available on line to ensure metal washers and bearings are re-installed properly.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Thanks for the info. I will check the bearings.

Also does anyone know when this vacuum was made? I would guess around 1991-92. My camera batteries are dead so can't get pics right now.

 

[bagintheback]

To find the manufacture date, just look at the serial number on the bottom on the machine. The first four digits is the date code. 0295 would be February 1995. I think I've seen the model you have. I would say it's somewhere between 1991-1993.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Unfortunately the sticker on the bottom is gone. Really I should have waited for something in better condition, but I wanted an early soft bag Elite II and this was there.