Hoover Elite vacuum has become deafening loud

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snakes

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Joined
Jun 11, 2014
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6
We have a Hoover Elite vacuum that is probably 20 years old. Model U4617-930. Maybe slightly older, not sure.

Still works fine, but the normal vacuum noise recently became exponentially louder. This wasn't the quietest vacuum to begin with, but now it's totally unbearable. I have a headache and my ears still hurt from using the vacuum a full hour ago. Same goes for everybody else in the house and they were a few rooms away.

Any idea if this can be fixed?
 
If it vibrates when used it's probably the fan. Most likely one of the plastic blades has broken off. You can check by taking off the handle/bag once you take the screw off, just pull it off. Take a flash light & look into the exhaust where the bag slides on while turning the brush roll. You should be able to see if the fan is broken or not. If that isn't it it could also be the motor bearings.
 
Thanks for the quick reply. None of the blades are detached (some are slightly chipped) but I do see one blade that is cracked near the base. I can't tell how deep the crack is or how loose the blade might be without disassembling it further.

What do you think, is it worth replacing the fan?
 
You can do it yourself, the fan on ebay is around & about $10 so I don't know what your local vac shop would charge for it but I would fix it if that the only thing wrong. Mark D.
 
My brother's Elite had a few small chips but noticed the noise and buzzing in the handle. I think the fan from dealer here was $7.50 2 years ago. Easy job
 
I took it apart and with power applied, the noise seems just as loud, with or without the fan screwed on. My ears are hurting again. The fan does have a couple cracks in it, but I think the motor bearings are the culprit because the motor shaft doesn't spin very smoothly or quietly by hand.

If I attempt to spin the motor shaft with fan attached, it stops turning within 1/16 of a turn. Not sure what is "normal" for a motor of this type, but it's missing that nice gravy feel of an electric motor in good working order.

How does this change things? I'm guessing it's no longer practical or economical to repair?
 
I'm going to let some of the other members weigh in on this. For me if you really like it then go for it, you might even find a replacement motor for it on ebay which might be the easier way to go. I don't think it's that hard to pop the bearings out, it's been so long since I worked on them, we had the commercial ones at the hotel I worked for, I was replacing fans every once in a while but I can't remember the bearings, I would just switch motors around when one went bad that I didn't want to mess with. Mark D.
 
Okay you might want to scratch the idea of a new motor, they are going for $69.95 on Ebay so if you want to give it a go & try changing the bearings go for it also get a new fan while your at it...only if you think it's worth it. If it's too much, put it aside, most likely they'll be one coming up for action that you can get for an easy transition. I've done so many machines in my time & asked myself was it worth spending that much money on parts only to have something else go wrong when it could have been cheaper to go out & get a new one (speaking about repairing the ones at the hotel). Let us know what you decide & just know you came to the right place for questions because there are so many good opinions on here in what to do. Cheers!!! Mark D.
 
I would replace the motor on the machine... honestly it is worth it, for being 20 yrs old god only knows what could go wrong next with it. In all reality that is a QUALITY Hoover machine that is no longer made so it is best to keep it running with a new motor! :)
 
Fixing it was a nice thought.

I experimented with the motor to silence the extra noise, applying power without reattaching the cover that fits over the fan. Remember how I said the fan had a couple cracks in it?

A chunk of the fan decided to let go just as I was testing it. It broke off and jammed downward causing the motor to seize just briefly. Sparks were flying inside the motor, so I reached to disconnect the power. As I was doing this, the broken fan piece unjammed itself and struck me in the ankle. Not too much blood. I'm actually really happy it happened this way compared to say, striking me in the arm or face. (yes, I had safety glasses on, but not a face shield) The momentary motor seize also caused pieces inside the motor to break loose and fall out.

Oh well. I have an almost identical Hoover Encore Supreme from our other home that can take its place for awhile. Thanks for all the suggestions, you guys were most kind.

snakes-2014061123094109628_1.jpg
 
You think it's worth buying a new motor and fan, electroluxxxx?

How much would a comparable brand new vacuum cleaner cost me today?
 
I'm tempted to chuck it into trash unless somebody talks me out of it, or wants parts.

The trash truck will be here in an hour. Let me know.
 
A decent machine today will cost more than the replacement parts for that machine, if you were to purchase a new motor hopefully it will come with a fan. These machines were made to last and by the sounds of it you did take care if yours so a new motor would orally be worth it. Try ebay you might find what you want :)
 
trust me!

You'd get better quality from a replacement motor then the junk they sell today!


 


If you're talking about the older 1990s HOOVER Encore Supreme, then that is a good substitute! It's not very different from your Elite, you should keep the broken Elite as spares for your Encore. It's a shame HOOVER doesn't make these vacuums today!
 

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