Inquiring Minds Want to Know - Electrolux Epic 6500

[sireluxomatic]

I was doing a Google search the other day for an archived topic on this forum, and one of the results that came up led me to a website called "howtomendit.com". Anyway, I decided to search this site for vacuum cleaner questions, and when I searched for "Electrolux", a surprising number of questions came up about the Epic 6500. Was this a particularly troublesome model for Electrolux, I wonder, or does this just indicate that quite a few people bought them and don't know how to use them, or perhaps abused them? I have an Epic 6500 and have never had a problem with it.

http://www.howtomendit.com/search.php?keywords=electrolux+epic&cat=&page=1

 

[pr-21]

Epic 6500

I don't think so, I had a couple of them and they worked fine. People thought the dial was for suction adjustment and thought it did not work. It is for what type of debris you are picking up. Fine, course, normal etc. I did like the older style power nozzle and wands better. You can actually still buy them and use them on the newer Aerus canisters except the Guardian.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Yes, I can see many people not understanding the automatic full bag/motor shutoff function. I agree about the older style hoses and wands. The 6500 style is fine for carpet cleaning, but cumbersome for anything else. That's why my Epic rarely sees use, in favor of my older Electroluxes.

 

[kenmore81]

I have seen that site before also. I think you are right about the 2nd part. People don't know how to use/care for things. Every Epic I have seen 1.lasted for years and still runs/looks good or 2. looks like its been through the wringer a few tinmes.And the owner says gee it just don't work anymore.

 

[joe22]

i love my epic 6500s, have 3. looking for a 6000, same vac with the metal wands, large powerhead with light.

many owners never read the instrudtion book. thats the first thing i do.

 

[ohio_tuec]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Renaissance the most troublesome Electrolux to date? I've heard nothing but complaints about the hoses....

 

[joe22]

yes the hose had a touch pad control for the 3 speeds, and brush roll.

lux changed to sliding switches on the guardian 8000

 

[sireluxomatic]

Epic-tastic

The Epic 6500 I have (white with gray and red trim) was bought new in 1999 (I have the original receipt around somewhere) by an aunt, and given to me after her passing. Its seen regular use since then, and nary a problem. Its even free of scuffs and scratches, except for some minor scarring on the power nozzle bumper. Of course, I do give it the clean-up treatment now and again.

I know there was a dark gray version as well; was this out at the same time as the white/gray/red version? Also, was there a blue and white version? I know the 6000 came in blue and white, but I'm pretty sure I've seen a blue and white 6500 as well, which had the bulkier hose handle and wands.

As for the Renaissance, I've heard of the problems with the hose handle controls, but I've never used one. They seem to be rather elusive, at least at decent prices.

Oh my...prices...now I'm in the mood to have a complete Epic lineup

 

[bimmer740]

Epic 6000/6500

I had a gray 6500 that was the daily driver and also used by the house keeper for many years. I bought the machine from a Kirby dealer for about $50, but the motor needed to be rebuilt because its bearings were shot. I rebuilt the motor before putting it into use and it never gave me any trouble at all. I have an Epic 6000 that I pulled out of the trash late one night a few years back. I looked it over the next morning to discover the only problem was its hose was clogged. I put a new headlight bulb and genuine Lux brush roll in it and it works wonderful.

The plastic wands on the 6500 were ok, but they were very clumsy and heavy for most tasks. I prefer the older style that my 6000 has which combines the best of both worlds, a nice very light weight canister with the traditional Lux power nozzle set up with the additional steel tubes for bare/above floor cleaing.

As for the colors of these models, the 6000 was only blue and beige. The 6500 started out in the same blue and beige color scheme, then changed to all grey with gold accents, then around 1998 changed to white with gray trim and red accents.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Thanks for that information, Steven. Sometimes its hard to keep track of all the derivations of models Electrolux had in the 80's/90's.

 

[sleepdoc]

Power switch

The Epic 6500 had a frequent issue with the power switch button. The large foot button had a little prong made of the same plastic that was the only actual contact with the electric switch. That plastic could wear and reduce the contact with the switch, making the button slip along and then off the switch without effectively pressing it. I think the only repair was to replace the button or a spring mechanism whose details I can't really recall. I didn't read the site you referenced, so I don't know if that's the problem they were talking about, but I think that the Epic 6500 was very reliable otherwise.

 

[sireluxomatic]

A quick glance through some of the questions reveals a variety of problems...seems a lot have to do with the automatic full bag motor shutoff control. Perhaps they have it set to "1", or something like that. As for those large "bar" foot switches, I've never liked them. I can't say I've had a problem with them, but they feel a little too fragile, and seem to have the potential of going wrong, especially if stamped on by careless users.

 

[bimmer740]

Perfect Bags

I don't mean to change the topic of this tread but does anyone know if there is any risk of damanging a Lux motor from using the Perfect canister bags? I keep my Lux Diamond Jubilee at my grandmothers house for when I go there and do some cleaing. She has a year old Hoover non s/p Windtunnel that I think is ok but certainly not suitible for the many barefloors and above floor cleaning. I have always used genuine Lux bags in all my machines but I would love to use the hepa like Perfect bags. I find that the cloth like bags seem to cut down on any odor from the dust in the bags, especially in my Kirby and I do notice improved preformance from the machine.

Thanks!
Steven

 

[kenmore81]

I can't speek from experience but I woulnt think so. I belive the Perfect has the same Lamb motor as most of the current Luxes/Aerus' vacuums.IIRC

 

[sireluxomatic]

Perfect Style C Bags

I'm glad you asked the question, Steven, because I asked the very same thing on the recent Dyson/Rainbow thread. I find myself wondering how these bags would work in one of the older Lux canisters with the "perforated basket" style bag chamber like the G or 80 series.

 

[elux89]

Perfect bags work fine/6500 problems

I'll address two issues, problems with the 6500 and the use of Perfect bags.

Were the 6500's problematic - no. Does this newer wand system have more problems than the older steel style - yes. One must remember that the more moving parts one has, the greater the chance for breakage/problems. Originally, the wand system had actual swivel metal to metal contacts in the power head elbow. Kinda somewhat like how the hand grip contacts are. Later Lux changed this system to actual hard wiring. The wiring runs down the elbow and into the motor. No moving electrical contacts. This new style does work better. Also, the opening in the swivel body where the wiring runs was mad smaller, lessening the chances of the wiring getting cut/pinched. Also, certain areas on the swivel body, the plastic was beefed up,(made thicker) making it more resistant to cracking/breaking. Yes, more repairs are made to this style of wand system, but more units are being sold with this type as well. Compared to many other swivel body assemblies out there, this system isn't that bad. I'd take it over many others.

The other area that did cause some problems are the actual contacts in the wands. Alot of this is from user abuse of the wands. Part of this is from people dragging the wands in dirt as opposed to using the little insert to prevent breakage of the contacts and rounding the edges off the wands.

Now in regards to the Perfect Bags: I will not use a paper bag in any lux again. The Perfect bags filtering ability is far superior to any paper bag. I also find the airflow to be greatly improved as well. What a great benefit. The only problem with the Perfect bags is that the collar is about 50% thicker than the standard lux paper bag. This does make it a little more difficult to close the door. I can also see the rubber gasket on the inlet becoming a little compressed over the years if you're using the perfect bag.

One last final rant, lamb motors are not being used in lux products.

 

[floor-a-matic]

"I will not use a paper bag in any lux again"

How good are Endust brand HEPA bags vs. Perfect brand bags? The only things I know is ever since I began using HEPA bags in my Lux vacs:

1. The bag chamber is 100% clean & dust free
2. The bags' rubber seal seals onto the bag fill tube better than the 4-ply bags' rubber seal
3. Exhaust smells better than when I used the 4-ply bags; on the Diplomat & Epic 6500SR, I might not need to change the exhaust filters as often