How do I get my Ohio vacuum impeller off?

[athanasius80]

Hey guys,
I recently picked up a 1920s Ohio vacuum cleaner, and I'm trying to get the impeller off so I can service the motor bearings and clean the commutator. Can anyone help me in removing the impeller?

Thanks!

Chris

 

[bikerray]

Looking at the parts list I have, it looks like the fan would just unscrew off the end of the armature. The motor bearings as just brass sleeve bearings that use oil.

Since you didn't have a front view of the fan, I'm guessing that the center of the fan has a raised nub in the center.

 

[athanasius80]

My bad. Here's the bottom of the impeller. Now is it screwed on or a friction fit?

 

[bikerray]

The bottom of the armature is threaded so the fan is screwed on.

 

[bikerray]

By the way that's a model 4 or 5. I think it may be the 4, if the switch is porcelain it is a 4, if the switch is hard rubber it is a 5.

 

[athanasius80]

The bag says "The Improved Ohio." Would that make it a model 5?

 

[bikerray]

No idea on that one.

 

[dysonman1]

In general, the armature should have a small hole in it, by the cooling fan, to lock it - in order to remove the fan. Usually a small pick or awl was inserted into the armature hole, which locked the armature, and the fan can be unscrewed.

 

[oreck_xl]

Definitely a model 5, unless there was a model after that. It's a late one for sure. This is the first Ohio I've seen with just the Ohio name on the nameplate. All others were called Ohio Tuec. Early models had a pull chain to start the motor. I've heard Ohio made uprights up until about 1928.

 

[athanasius80]

After a good oiling the bearings were whisper quiet so I'll leave it as is for now. Here are a couple pics of the assembled machine and the "Modernized Ohio" bag. That should be interesting to replicate. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[oreck_xl]

If you do fabricate a new bag, I'd love to see the finished product! Does your Ohio say on the top cap of the motor "the cleaner with the self-starter?"

 

[kenkart]

Stann Kann

LOVED these, they really are powerful for their time!

 

[dysonman1]

Stan Kann also loved the 'joke' that Ohio cleaners were made "a few blocks from Hoover's doorstep". He always started an Ohio demonstration with the words "they were made right under Hoover's nose".