Lewyt Big Wheel
- Thread starter countryguy
- Start date
Help Support VacuumLand:
aeoliandave
Well-known member
1. Don't get too hasty with the lid sealing ring yet, Gary. We're so close now to resurrecting the 105 it would be a shame to bojack it any further. 
It would be near impossible to find a correct rubber strip that fits the lip. The suction of the machine pulls the lid down tight and so how the ring has settled over the years will be a perfect fit. If it is not crumbling and you can remove it, a bath in warm water, magic eraser and a saturating with rubber/vinyl auto trim restorer will work wonders.
2. Take the panel out of the lid, inspect and clean the Power Dial disc - this may be the source of a leak on Full Suction setting if the disc is rusty or the spring is weakened.
But wait...there's more!
The only Big Wheel originally equipped with a cotton weave hose was the first Model 77. Lewyt went to their excellent vinyl clad coil hose with the model 88. These rarely split.
I started messing around with and wiggling the hose couplers and the ends came out easily. As I thought I remembered I recalled, the Big Wheel ends are smooth barrels that are rubber cemented to the vinyl hose with collars covering the joint. Both ends swivel on their barrels, btw.
So all we need to do is find a decent soft vinyl hose length that will snugly fit the 1 & 3/16" OD barrels and you're in business. I suspect the hose for the 105 is a creamy white and again I will see what I have in the hose bin over the weekend ('cause I gotta dig for the box).
A Kirby, Westinghouse T-6 or Rainbow hose is the correct diameter which is smaller that a Lux or GE - this I know. And of course it wants to be 7 or even 8 feet long...or more.
More queries:
Does the vacuum still have the rubber exhaust plug in the bottom? If not, I use a bathroom sink rubber plug with the lip edge, carve down the finger ring tab to fit and add a brass crossbar to lock it in place - makes a big difference to scattering dirt across the floor while venting the exhaust out the sides. LOL I bought a dozen of these plugs at Homo Depot because they are a perfect fit, the lip covers the side slots and the center cup is the perfect fit for a Lewyt Scent Tablet.
If the checked Mylar trim panel surrounding the toggle switch is curled and peeling off, no worries. Rubber Boot cement will stick it back down flat. If it's missing, the old rubber adhesive can be cleanly removed with cement solvent.
Ok Mister, I showed you mine. Now show us the 105 in it's before state - for posterity.
Dave
It would be near impossible to find a correct rubber strip that fits the lip. The suction of the machine pulls the lid down tight and so how the ring has settled over the years will be a perfect fit. If it is not crumbling and you can remove it, a bath in warm water, magic eraser and a saturating with rubber/vinyl auto trim restorer will work wonders.
2. Take the panel out of the lid, inspect and clean the Power Dial disc - this may be the source of a leak on Full Suction setting if the disc is rusty or the spring is weakened.
But wait...there's more!
The only Big Wheel originally equipped with a cotton weave hose was the first Model 77. Lewyt went to their excellent vinyl clad coil hose with the model 88. These rarely split.
I started messing around with and wiggling the hose couplers and the ends came out easily. As I thought I remembered I recalled, the Big Wheel ends are smooth barrels that are rubber cemented to the vinyl hose with collars covering the joint. Both ends swivel on their barrels, btw.
So all we need to do is find a decent soft vinyl hose length that will snugly fit the 1 & 3/16" OD barrels and you're in business. I suspect the hose for the 105 is a creamy white and again I will see what I have in the hose bin over the weekend ('cause I gotta dig for the box).
A Kirby, Westinghouse T-6 or Rainbow hose is the correct diameter which is smaller that a Lux or GE - this I know. And of course it wants to be 7 or even 8 feet long...or more.
More queries:
Does the vacuum still have the rubber exhaust plug in the bottom? If not, I use a bathroom sink rubber plug with the lip edge, carve down the finger ring tab to fit and add a brass crossbar to lock it in place - makes a big difference to scattering dirt across the floor while venting the exhaust out the sides. LOL I bought a dozen of these plugs at Homo Depot because they are a perfect fit, the lip covers the side slots and the center cup is the perfect fit for a Lewyt Scent Tablet.
If the checked Mylar trim panel surrounding the toggle switch is curled and peeling off, no worries. Rubber Boot cement will stick it back down flat. If it's missing, the old rubber adhesive can be cleanly removed with cement solvent.
Ok Mister, I showed you mine. Now show us the 105 in it's before state - for posterity.
Dave
Lewyt Big Wheels-Why aren't these still made today-seems like a classic design like Kirbys,'luxes.would love to have one-still lookn!and if you build them-make them METAL not plastic!!!At last a canister cleaner that can roll over its cord,carpet edges,and door threshholds without "tripping" or having to use a Railroad "car puller" winch to get the thing moving.
Dave,
Thanks for all the information. I really didn't have much time to take a good look at it last night as I was having a new organ delivered from a dealer in Michigan (I traded the 3 organs that I had so now I am down to one! yay!). Anyway back to the Lewyt. It does have the original rubber stopper on the bottom and if I remember correctly it does have the trim panel around the power switch. One thing I noticed is that the power switch is backwards i.e. up is off and down is on......or is that the way Lewyt installed them? I don't know how well the rubber seal on the bag chamber will clean up. I'll have to examine it more closely over the weekend.....if I can drag myself away from the new organ
Gary
Thanks for all the information. I really didn't have much time to take a good look at it last night as I was having a new organ delivered from a dealer in Michigan (I traded the 3 organs that I had so now I am down to one! yay!). Anyway back to the Lewyt. It does have the original rubber stopper on the bottom and if I remember correctly it does have the trim panel around the power switch. One thing I noticed is that the power switch is backwards i.e. up is off and down is on......or is that the way Lewyt installed them? I don't know how well the rubber seal on the bag chamber will clean up. I'll have to examine it more closely over the weekend.....if I can drag myself away from the new organ
Gary
aeoliandave
Well-known member
"Survey Says..."
'Upside down and backwards' must be the way Lewyt installed them, as my three post-77 Big Wheels operate this way. Up is OFF, down is ON. Something to do with the idea that one operates the switch with one's toe? Maybe because previous Lewyts including the tubs used a foot paddle pressing a spdt pushbutton switch (same as Air-Ways and Filter Queens) so the 'press down to turn on' action would be familiar to owners?
More musings:
While vacuuming one wants the vacuum running for a time. Once one has attached tools, wands, hose and deployed the cord one would be standing up ready to go so a simple press with the foot would be easier that hooking one's toe under the toggle to turn it on. But once finished one would naturally be stooping or crouching down to detach tools, hoses and winding the cord so flipping the toggle up would not be that awkward.
Not that I consider one method more logical than the other.
Clearly I am giving this too much thought. LOL
Great news that your plug is intact. It indicates that all the rubber is probably in good shape because the plug seems to be the first piece to dry out from the exhaust blast loaded with carbon dust, shrink and crumble - which causes it to fall out of the hole and get torn off by dragging on the floor/carpet.
Same-ish thing about the trim panel - it indicates the vacuum spent much of it's life in a stable environment - not to be confused with a horse barn...
I'm looking forward to seeing it in person and hoping for a good weather weekend in the next few weeks where we can arrange me a visit to smarten the 105 back to useful and deal with your Eureka hose, too.
This rainy weekend I'll find a suitable hose for those 105 ends and post a picture.
I can only assume the new organ is a big step up from the three traded and the other bonus is the floorspace re-claimed (although I'll miss having a shot at the MX)
How about a picture of the Lewyt with the new monster organ?
Dave - somewhat Looney about Lewyts, Bullish on Big Wheels
'Upside down and backwards' must be the way Lewyt installed them, as my three post-77 Big Wheels operate this way. Up is OFF, down is ON. Something to do with the idea that one operates the switch with one's toe? Maybe because previous Lewyts including the tubs used a foot paddle pressing a spdt pushbutton switch (same as Air-Ways and Filter Queens) so the 'press down to turn on' action would be familiar to owners?
More musings:
While vacuuming one wants the vacuum running for a time. Once one has attached tools, wands, hose and deployed the cord one would be standing up ready to go so a simple press with the foot would be easier that hooking one's toe under the toggle to turn it on. But once finished one would naturally be stooping or crouching down to detach tools, hoses and winding the cord so flipping the toggle up would not be that awkward.
Not that I consider one method more logical than the other.
Clearly I am giving this too much thought. LOL
Great news that your plug is intact. It indicates that all the rubber is probably in good shape because the plug seems to be the first piece to dry out from the exhaust blast loaded with carbon dust, shrink and crumble - which causes it to fall out of the hole and get torn off by dragging on the floor/carpet.
Same-ish thing about the trim panel - it indicates the vacuum spent much of it's life in a stable environment - not to be confused with a horse barn...
I'm looking forward to seeing it in person and hoping for a good weather weekend in the next few weeks where we can arrange me a visit to smarten the 105 back to useful and deal with your Eureka hose, too.
This rainy weekend I'll find a suitable hose for those 105 ends and post a picture.
I can only assume the new organ is a big step up from the three traded and the other bonus is the floorspace re-claimed (although I'll miss having a shot at the MX)
How about a picture of the Lewyt with the new monster organ?
Dave - somewhat Looney about Lewyts, Bullish on Big Wheels
aeoliandave
Well-known member
More 105 trivia
Besides confirming that up is off/down is on, I noticed reading over the Lewyt 105 Owners manual that not only are the supplied wands (extension tubes) for this model collar-less but they use a positive click push-latch system. I've not seen these.
I wonder why Lewyt returned to the rubber cuffed friction snug method in subsequent Big Wheels?
Well, the rubber cuff version just looks better and more upscale to my eye.
Dave
Besides confirming that up is off/down is on, I noticed reading over the Lewyt 105 Owners manual that not only are the supplied wands (extension tubes) for this model collar-less but they use a positive click push-latch system. I've not seen these.
I wonder why Lewyt returned to the rubber cuffed friction snug method in subsequent Big Wheels?
Well, the rubber cuff version just looks better and more upscale to my eye.
Dave
collector2
Well-known member
Hey Dave:
Actually the ruber cuffed wands ended with the 97. The 105 had the plastic clipped ones that you have pictured (usually the plastic cover broke off pretty quick) then the 120 changed to a metal clip as in your picture at the start of the thread which actually lasted the best of any of the styles. The 70, 81, 103, 200 series and later shetland lewyts all used a twist lock type of connection.
Doug
Actually the ruber cuffed wands ended with the 97. The 105 had the plastic clipped ones that you have pictured (usually the plastic cover broke off pretty quick) then the 120 changed to a metal clip as in your picture at the start of the thread which actually lasted the best of any of the styles. The 70, 81, 103, 200 series and later shetland lewyts all used a twist lock type of connection.
Doug
aeoliandave
Well-known member
As ever and always Doug, thank you for the clarification.
Here's a mash-up of my filthy Model 2139 showing the twistlock aluminum wands of which you speak and the logo-less Lewyt-style upholstery nozzle, the only tool this Shetland came with from the Thrifty Store. :-(
Dave
Here's a mash-up of my filthy Model 2139 showing the twistlock aluminum wands of which you speak and the logo-less Lewyt-style upholstery nozzle, the only tool this Shetland came with from the Thrifty Store. :-(
Dave
Thanks for the wealth of info Dave and Doug. I will try to remember to take pics this weekend (the old memory isn't what it used to be!). The MX-1 has long been gone out of the house as I ended up giving it away to a work colleague about 3-4 years ago. It has been a very rainy couple of days up here also - the flooding is starting.
Gary
Gary
Here are the pics
Pic #1
Pic #1
Pic #2
Pic #3
Pic #4
Pic #5
Pic #6
Pic #7
aeoliandave
Well-known member
Exceeding Nice Score, Gary.
Lovely colour combo, paper labels intact, excellent rubber, original cord & plug, no major dents or dings. A few paint splats on the lid that will pop off cleanly with a sharpened wood toothpick (no scraping with metal knives, please).
The chamber rim rubber looks to maybe have had a repair by the hinge? That tape bump could be a leak source but without seeing it I can't tell if it's necessary. Since the other rubber bits are in such nice shape I expect the gasket will clean up with Magic Eraser and be fine - if it's torn at that repair site a dab of silicone will look better.
The dusting brush you have is the optional white bristle one - cool. You can pop out the bristle ring and wash it in dish detergent - the white will return. Dry it out over a floor register to prevent corrosion.
The warp in the crevice tool is a prevalent situation with Big Wheels from its placement on the post while the cord is wrapped and unwrapped. The cord bundle forces the tool outward while it sits in the closet. I straighten mine out by bringing to just boiling gently in a pan then easing it back straight with gloves on. Hold it straight while it cools down under cold running water.
This 105 is a machine well cared for and well worth the rescue, especially for $5.
Still haven't got to the hose bin and I'm thinking until proper wands show up a pair of aluminum Electrolux wands would look smart. I wonder if I'll find a gray Lewyt upholstery nozzle in the nozzle bin?
Dave
Lovely colour combo, paper labels intact, excellent rubber, original cord & plug, no major dents or dings. A few paint splats on the lid that will pop off cleanly with a sharpened wood toothpick (no scraping with metal knives, please).
The chamber rim rubber looks to maybe have had a repair by the hinge? That tape bump could be a leak source but without seeing it I can't tell if it's necessary. Since the other rubber bits are in such nice shape I expect the gasket will clean up with Magic Eraser and be fine - if it's torn at that repair site a dab of silicone will look better.
The dusting brush you have is the optional white bristle one - cool. You can pop out the bristle ring and wash it in dish detergent - the white will return. Dry it out over a floor register to prevent corrosion.
The warp in the crevice tool is a prevalent situation with Big Wheels from its placement on the post while the cord is wrapped and unwrapped. The cord bundle forces the tool outward while it sits in the closet. I straighten mine out by bringing to just boiling gently in a pan then easing it back straight with gloves on. Hold it straight while it cools down under cold running water.
This 105 is a machine well cared for and well worth the rescue, especially for $5.
Still haven't got to the hose bin and I'm thinking until proper wands show up a pair of aluminum Electrolux wands would look smart. I wonder if I'll find a gray Lewyt upholstery nozzle in the nozzle bin?
Dave
westingman123
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2009
- Messages
- 286
My jaw is still dragging the ground. What a steal for $5.00! Congratulations, man!
hoovercelebrity
New member
I think every Lewyt crevice tool I've ever seen has had that curve to it. I don't think it was caused by the cord...
That is a great machine.. I've never seen a filter like that, nor have I seen that color scheme. I really love Lewyts; they are so maneuverable and easy to use.. everything's right there (tools)... and quiet, too. Definitely worth the $5!
That is a great machine.. I've never seen a filter like that, nor have I seen that color scheme. I really love Lewyts; they are so maneuverable and easy to use.. everything's right there (tools)... and quiet, too. Definitely worth the $5!
Sounds like you guys think the $5 was a good investment LOL I've been back to the store a couple of times hoping the hose and wands might be there but no luck.
Gary
Gary
