Hoover Portable makes strange sound.

[vac_whisperer]

So, when I am running my Portable, it sounds normal. But when I turn it off, it sounds like a jet landing. What does this mean, or is it normal?

VW

 

[brandon_w_t]

Does it make that sound on start up? That is what my Filter queen triple crown is doing, however probably 10x worse!


Its the bearings on mine. I had an electrolux L that was the same way. Ran fantastic, but sounded awful on shut down. The whole machine would shake violently.


That machine is now a piece of artwork at Mark Goodall's place here in town!

 

[kirbyds80]

Bearings

Bearings are bad in it. I'd get them either greased or replaced if all else fails.
-jayson

 

[hoovercelebrity]

I bet the fans are dirty. Those Portables had horrible filtration, and just about every one of them I see sucked all sorts of crap thru the motor. Dirt builds up on the fans, then the fans remain in balance when the motor is running -- but when you turn it off and the motor slows down, the fans vibrate from the extra weight on the blades. Same motor in that as a Dial-A-Matic--but with an extra (third) fan on the belt pulley. Either way, they're a pain to work on. Not so much a pain; just a lot of tedious work.

~Fred

 

[moderncleveland]

Hey, this sounds exactly like my new Kenmore. I never greased bearings before but I'm willing to give it a try! What kind of grease do you use and how do you do it? Is there anything I want to avoid greasing that might ruin the machine?

 

[moderncleveland]

Just wanted to 'bump' this thread and ask: has anyone ever greased the bearings on a vacuum before? How do you do it? I think my Kenmore has the same problem that vac_whisperer is talking about here. Thanks!

 

[hoovercelebrity]

All motors are manufactured differently; some motors are meant to be serviced--and easily disassembled... others aren't.  I've never had any experience with a motor like the one in your Kenmore... perhaps someone else on the forum here who maybe has worked on one of these cleaners could supply some input... or if all else fails, you could take it into a vac store and perhaps get their opinion..


 


Thanks for the 'bump'


 


Fred

 

[moderncleveland]

Thanks Fred. I'm doing some searches now on the forum to see if there's a FAQ about fixing vacs. I'm pretty new to this! It sounds like what you're saying is that there's no say basic repair steps that are universal or apply to most or many vacs. I was wondering if it would be useful to come up with a repair thread or FAQ or something that we could use to solve common problems, but maybe it's more complicated than that? I did take it to our local vac guy when looking for bags -- he didn't have any -- so maybe I can ask him about greasing the bearings. Just the sound of it, though ("greasing the bearings") almost sounds like something I can do here at home ... but for all I know, it's a no-no!