Issues with bags ripping?

[thevacuumbarn]

So I got some type B HEPA bags for a Riccar 8000 series machine. I’ve been having an issue with them where the bag fabric starts pulling away from the top of the bag collar, and eventually rips so bad that I can see the gasket around the bag spout. This has happened twice now, and it seems to happen after a couple of uses when the bag barely begins to get heavy With debris. I’m on my third bag, and I’m wondering, am I doing something wrong or is there something wrong with this bag type? I never had this issue with the paper bags; however they filtered poorly and so I wanted to try the HEPA bags. Is this a common problem? In case you’re wondering, this is where I got the bags:

https://evacuumstore.com/p-25506-riccar-genuine-8000-series-type-b-hepa-bags-6-pack.aspx

 

[ralph123]

Sounds like a defective product.

 

[thevacuumbarn]

I hope not. Those bags ain’t cheap! The description on the site did say genuine bags, and there were no bad reviews. The other possibility is that it had something to do with me not being able to pick the package up right away when it was delivered, due to circumstances beyond my control. It sat out in the hot sun for quite a while before I picked it up and brought it inside. I almost wonder if that did something to the adhesive holding the bag collar and fabric together? The odd thing is, though, heat doesn’t seem to affect my other HEPA bags, like the ones for my Kirby, as the shop where I do my repairs and keep my supplies doesn’t exactly stay at room temperature in the summertime. Perhaps somebody who’s up to speed with what’s going on in the industry can tell us more about the bags themselves, and whether or not there of been problems of this sort with them in the past? I E VacuumDevil?

 

[huskyvacs]

Maybe what eVacuumstore is selling you is old stock, or perhaps where they store it has degraded the product? I have ordered from eVacuumstore before and I do not see them as a scammy company. I'd explain your situation and see if they might send you a replacement (might have the same problem).

Just to experiment, I'd try ordering the same product from someone else entirely as well to see if that would happen too.
https://www.amazon.com/Riccar-Hepa-Bags-Genuine-RBH-6/dp/B009KSE09K

If it still happens after that it might be either rough fitment, or something with the connection spout on your vacuum (rough plastic perhaps?), or just poor quality control in whatever - whenever - that batch was made.

I've had vacuum belts brand new snap apart when trying to fit them, it happens.

Also maybe Riccar is at fault and has cheapened the materials into substandard quality.

 

[thevacuumbarn]

I might try those options. I actually bought two boxes of them, so maybe I’ll try some from the other box and see if they’re having the same issue. If it’s defective, then the defective part would seem to be the glue they used to hold the cardboard onto the fabric. Another thing I’ve been thinking too, those bags are rather tricky to get on, and the last one that ripped wasn’t all the way on, as it wasn’t pushing firmly back against the plastic behind the spout. Also, nothing wrong with the bag spout; it’s as smooth as can be. One thing is certain though: I won’t be putting these bags in any machines I’m selling until I know for sure what is going on; I don’t want to give my customers a product that could break down within a couple of uses.

 

[thevacuumbarn]

Update

So I’ve tried another bag, this time from the other box, and I got the same results. Called EVacuum store, and they informed me that they get them directly from Riccar, and did not send me old stock. Since sending them back would just be too much trouble, i’ll just use what I have left, and I think I might try either some Kenmore type o bags or generic Riccar bags, since this does indeed appear to be a quality issue with the genuine ones.

 

[huskyvacs]

Makes sense - this vacuum is at least a couple decades old, I'm sure they are losing money on every box of bags before they leave the factory - so they look for any way they can lose less money and first thing to do is use less product and then use more substandard product.


This vacuum is more of a copy of Panasonic's MC-series uprights, perhaps can try what HEPA bags are available for Panasonic's models (I think they are type U...3 if I remember?)

 

[thevacuumbarn]

Thank you, one more question...

Do you think these would work? I couldn’t find genuine Panasonic bags since they’re no longer in business, but I found these Perfect substitutes. I just wanna make sure they don’t have a bad reputation with ripping like EnviroCare. Of course, if anyone else has experience with these, please comment.

https://evacuumstore.com/p-28880-panasonic-upright-style-u-u3-u6-hepa-bags-9-pack.aspx

 

[lesinutah]

Weird

Riccar HEPA type f bags are probably the best vacuum bags I've ever used. The type B does fit rather awkwardly. The VAC brand HEPA bags if there similar in quality to the IEC TriStar bags there right up there in quality.
I go to the thrift store and if I find a bag of vacuum bags I always buy them. I think I have like 60 Panasonic bags that I use on my riccar 8965. If the bag fits use it.

 

[thevacuumbarn]

@lesinutah's the problem I’ve been having with the type B bags isn’t their awkward fitting, but the fact that they rip right at the bag collar every time I use one. I’m not being rough on them either; they just don’t seem to have very good adhesive holding the fabric to the cardboard collar. It’s really a shame, as I love the self-sealing covers they have; the Panasonic ones don’t have that. All the same, I’d rather have a bag that held up without a self-sealing cover than one that has one and rips after two uses.

 

[ctvacman]

Curiosity got the best of me

I have the same Ricardo bags in my simplicity 7 series, and sure enough it’s pulling away like you described. Glad you posted this otherwise it would not be on my radar. Mine hasn’t pulled away enough to leak dust, but enough to cause concern. Guess I’ll keep an eye on it, had you not posted I’d never have looked. I don’t change bags often at all since I rotate, but now I’ll be checking all my machines, so thanks again and you’re not alone haha.

Colby

 

[ctvacman]

Riccar bags*

 

[thevacuumbarn]

Duly noted. Looks like it’s time to leave a bad review on the website where I got them. Not the websites fault, of course, but Tacony‘s for using such poor quality glue to hold the bag collar on.

 

[thevacuumbarn]

Problem solved

At long last, the bag problem is solved. Ran this issue by Performance Reviews on Discord, he looked at the picture of the bags I sent from EVacuum Store, and he told me that the bags haven’t been in production for at least 10 years. Hence, EVacuum Store must’ve been getting old stock from Tacony. He then sent me a link to some more recent bags, and so I bought those and they are on the way. A big thank you to Performance Reviews, and also to all of you for your assistance.