Hoover Windtunnel 2/Z700

[thehooverman]

I'm Looking For Any Info/Pics Of The 2

 

[director12]

I remember the W2 and Z700 from when I was 9 years old. The self-cleaning filter sounded like a nice innovation, but nowadays, it is a flawed design.

 

[thehooverman]

I have the bagged W2

 

[szymonrules]

Oh what I...

wouldn't do for a Windtunnel II.

 

[bagintheback]

Z700

I remember seeing both the Z700 and Z400 sold at Sears right before TTI bought Hoover. The bagless design is a bit dated for 2012, but back then it looked very high-end.

 

[bagintheback]

Z400

"The World's First Sport Utility Vacuum"

 

[bagintheback]

Z400

"Patent Pending"

 

[sleepdoc]

Hoover Z

Did anyone actually like the Hoover Z beyond its being unusual? I thought they were too bulky and heavy and seemed poorly built - way too much play in the moving parts. I never had one at home or used one in a home, so I can't say if it cleaned well or not.

 

[guardsman69]

hoover z was a joint project of maytag and tacony during a time when maytag was dismantling north canton ohios main campus...true hoover enthusiasts know this was NEVER a true hoover product....just a poor idea of desparate maytag execs to compete with dysons onslaught of the american vacuum market.....john longs to show everyone his z at his minimeets.....i myself send my hoover customers z vacs straight to the dumpster and send them home with the hoover platinum bagless or our new max cyclonic pet UH70605....AN AWESOME VAC.....and a big seller in this showroom......

 

[gmerkt]

The self-cleaning filter design is such a flawed concept both theoretically and in practice that it's difficult to imagine how it made it to the production stage.

If the dirt and dust particles that got sucked into the filter in the first place do fall off in Hoover's advertisement scenario, gravity ain't gonna let them settle to the bottom the second time around.

I've worked on just enough of both Z-400/700 and the Windtunnel 2 to know that gravity doesn't take over against suction on these. The filters get packed and they are very difficult to service. Parts are expensive. Some plastic in the W2 is brittle.

The bagged W2 is a much better choice than the bagless. If you don't need the extra filtration of a genuine Hoover W2 polyfiber bag, you can buy the Envirocare generic paper bags that give fairly good filtration and they are much less expensive. Filtrete makes a polyfiber W2 bag that costs less than Hoover.

 

[cam2s]

Z400

Here are some pics of my Z400. Here it is in the "canister" position.

 

[cam2s]

Z400

Here it is in the "upright" position.

 

[cam2s]

Z400

Here is the attachment/cord compartment.

 

[cam2s]

Z400

Here is the dirt cup/filter contraption.

 

[cam2s]

Z400

Here are the digi touch controls.

 

[cam2s]

Z400

Here is the agitator cavity. (without the baseplate)

 

[dustin]

I have a Z 700, and it is very bulky and heavy in use. It has a very agressive brushroll, but rather poor suction. It is great on some carpets (deep, loosely woven), but performs rather poorly on dense carpet. I like it, but it is poorly designed.

 

[cam2s]

Z400

I think Hoover was trying too hard to be unique with this machine. Some of the features just don't work that well in reality. However, there are some things they did right with this machine. I'll make a list of some of the features that I like...

Is a dual motor system,
Has soft start with both the suction and brushroll motor,
Uses a serpentine belt,
Has a mostly centered suction duct,
Uses a diverter valve in the base, so the air either goes directly to the floor nozzle or the hose,
Has an adjustable handle,
Stores compactly,
Is very stable with the hose, even when it is fully stretched out, or you are using with the hose extension.

I think the real reason it's stable with the hose is because it attaches at the base of the machine, and not because you can fold it down. The weight of the vacuum also helps keep it planted.

 

[thehooverman]

thanks all for the info including: Cam2s And Bagintheback I've got a w2 bagged and it is much better than The Bagless One

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I have the Z 700, and it really is a conversation piece... as far as actual use, the suction and airflow are abysmal, but the agitation is good. It is super heavy and bulky... not agile or nimble at all... the electric height adjust is cool as are the headlights in the front, but that's about it... I am glad to have it since I am a collector, but if I were just a regular person and that was my only vacuum, I think I'd sweep instead! The bagless self cleaning filter doesn't clean itself well at all which makes the poor suction even worse and to clean it properly, you have to remove 6 screws... I just mine once every few months just for fun... Cord managemenet sucks because you have to get it just right for the door to close and sometimes the machine refuses to come out of the crouched position... I don't ever put mine in the crouched position because there is no reaosn to and I'm scared that it will get stuck....

I've never used the 2 except one time I went to Sears to try out the floor model... I hear the bagged versions were better which is understandable...

Here's a picture I shared when I first got it...

 

[thehooverman]

Hey Bobby The W2 Is Better
-Top Fill Bag
-DirtFinder
-Wand Is Handle
-Non D Grip
-Cord Rewind

 

[thehooverman]

@VacuumFreeke

hey bob look at your cat's eyes

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Cam2s, I have the same brown shag rug you do, and the Hoover Z 700 is one of the few uprights I can use on it... Kirbys and Eureka F and G style uprights work well too, but not much else does... I usually use the Sentria when I want to give it a deep clean or a straight suction for surface cleaning.... Royals almost do OK, but not nearly as well as the Kirbys... Kenmore Direct Drive works OK... Eureka Smart Vac, Sebo/Windsors and other Hoovers (like Platinum Lightweight Bagged, Self Propelled Windtunnel, Dial-a-matic, or Concept) do not work well at all... What have you found to work on yours?

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hooverman, I agree... I hate D/loop style handles, especially on uprights... I think they are too restrictive and don't really help...

 

[thehooverman]

@VacuumFreeke

im TheHooverMan On YouTube

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Cool... I'll check out your vids... I'm Aleroluver )

 

[thehooverman]

@VacuumFreeke

yes that W2 is better use should check into a used one they have a top fill bag and improves the things you hate about the WindTunnel

 

[thehooverman]

@VacuumFreeke

look at your cats eyes 0o

 

[thehooverman]

I can sing of your suck for ever...