Mini-PN for TriStar CXL?

[floor-a-matic]

SideKick vs. HEB160

The Wessel Werk HEB160's brush roll spins FASTER (around 5000 RPM) than any other electric hand brush. So that means the SideKick seems to bog down like a turbo brush (although it has stiffer bristles, trade-off for faster RPM) on thick carpet. Does anyone notice that between the HEB160 vs. SideKick?

 

[floor-a-matic]

What a shame that when the Kenmore Power Mate Jrs became smaller, they switched from geared belt to a flat belt. Or did that happen before the PNs shrunk?

Why did the PM Jrs get smaller? I prefer back when they were 6" wide AND had a GEARED belt drive.

Compare the Power Mate Jr to a RainbowMate or SideKick & the last two are BETTER in every way; although I'm VERY satisfied with the Wessel Werk HEB160.

At least the HEB160 has a swivel elbow AND the nozzle angle can be adjusted to any desired angle.

 

[Sanifan]

Wow. Looks great. WW PN is on my list!

 

[kirbylux77]

Erik, the Kenmore Power-Mate Jr's NEVER had a geared belt....they have always used flat belts. The Power-Mate Jr was made smaller because there was never any way to store it onboard....so, someone at Panasonic figured it was a good idea to make it smaller & design a carrier for it, which sits on the wands.

Rob

 

[floor-a-matic]

The early gray Power Mate Jr w/switch on back (Has both a reset button AND On/Off slide switch) that I had has a geared belt; I'm not sure if the motor/brush/belt has been changed at some point?

 

[kirbylux77]

Erik, thanks for the correction....I have both the earlier gray Power-Mate Jr & the newer style Power-Mate Jr, & both have the flat belt. So, I was not aware that there was an earlier version of the gray one with a geared belt & on/off switch. I guess this proves ya learn something new every day, LOL!

Rob

 

[floor-a-matic]

Here's a VERY early Kenmore Power Mate Jr. w/geared belt.

My guess is they came out in mid/late 80s or very early 90s?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120820117227?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[Sanifan]

Sidekick with Tristar...

Hi, floor-o-matic.

Say, does the Sidekick fit right onto the hose sockets or did you have to use a little pigtail extended to connect it?

I want to do the same on my Tristar but am not sure if the Sidekick will work without an extension pigtail.

Thanks!

 

[floor-a-matic]

When I use the pistol grip hose (like shown above) I use a pigtail cord.

When I use the gas pump hose, the SideKick fits perfectly fine w/o pigtail cord.

 

[floor-a-matic]

At last!

Here's my TriStar w/Wessel Werk HEB160!

The ONLY problem is the PN doesn't lock onto the hose handle, & I'm waiting for a mini wand that will fit the TriStar.

 

[floor-a-matic]

HEB160 vs. SideKick

The HEB160 is a bit wider than the SideKick; & the HEB160 has brushed edge cleaning on BOTH sides.

 

[danemodsandy]

Looks Good!

But I wonder what you mean about "waiting for" a wand with the lock button. Do you mean this part is available, and you have one on order, or are you saying that you hope Wessel Werk will produce it someday?

 

[floor-a-matic]

It's like the mini wand that came with the Eureka built PN for older Compacts & TriStars.

You can buy the mini-wand alone from Air Storm; they're about US $10 more/less there.

http://www.air-storm.com/collections/frontpage/products/electric-mini-handheld-brush

 

[Sanifan]

Speaking of Mini Nozzle...

I just got a Sidekick for my Electrolux tank. It's in mint condition and appears not to have been used much.

Question #1: is it supposed to be really loud? I'm surprised at how loud it is.

Question #2: Did Electrolux outsource the manufacture of the Sidekick to China at some point? Mine says made in USA, but as I was shopping around I distinctly recall seeing one that said made in China.

Question #3: Mine does not have a power switch on it. I'm using a Classic style Ultralux 80th Anniversary model. With the vac plugged in, the Sidekick comes on right when I plug it onto the nozzle. It's not controlled by the power switch on the vac body. I'm afraid the leads will burn out plugging and unplugging it into a hot wire like that. Did some of these come with a switch? I recall seeing something like that. I'm sure it won't be hard to install a switch myself. Just wondering why they neglected to put one on knowing the main vacuum switch does not control the hose power supply.

Finally, would a Rainbowmate mini PN work with an old pistol grip Tristar hose? It has the required pig tail connector, but it doesn't seem to have the hole to lock onto the hose end. Is this correct?

Thanks!

 

[danemodsandy]

Khoi:

I have no explanation for the lack of a power switch on the later Sidekicks, but I do have a fast, easy solution: Get an earlier Sidekick that does have the feature. I consider it essential, because if you attach a Sidekick while the hose is "live" and the brushroll starts turning, the brushroll can injure your hand if it happens to be in the wrong place.

So far as the noise is concerned, Lux PNs are noisy. They just ARE. I have Lux PNs that have been serviced, are all OEM parts, are in perfect adjustment - and they are still noisy. What's odd about that is that, before PNs, Luxes used to be famous for their well-bred, "hushed" sound in use, the perfect "maid's vacuum" that wouldn't disturb Milady while she was nursing a hangover.

PN-1s and PNs 5 and 6 are quieter than PNs 2 and 4, because of their plastic housings. But I still wouldn't call them quiet. And my Sidekick is the noisiest of them all.

 

[Sanifan]

Thanks, Sandy. Actually, I think the noise problem solved itself. It must really have been a NOS brush. It was unusually loud. After I ran it for a minute or two, the sound worked itself out. While it's not quiet, it was nowhere near as loud as before. I'm taking it to be one the rough edges of a newish product working themselves out after running for a minute or two and getting settled in.

The lack of power switch is baffling. What it does have on top is a reset switch. The only other PNs I have with a reset switch have a cogged belt and an auto shutoff feature. Sure enough, a glance in the nozzle shows a cogged belt.

I'll sooner or later purchase another one with a switch. But in the meantime I think I'll cut a little square hole into the top cover and install my own rocker switch. Pretty simple I think. Since the voltage is AC, I'll take a continuity measurment on the prongs of the polarized AC plug to determine which prong of the PN connector corresponds to hot. I'll clip that wire and put the switch in series with it.

I guess the main thing is to get tight tolerance for the hole so the switch doesn't rattle around.

 

[Sanifan]

By the way, do all Sidekicks have cogged belts? Mine looks just like the one floor-o-matic posted, the one sitting next to the Wessel Werk. Except mine does not have an on/off switch. Around the same area on top is the little round black reset button.

If the Sidekicks with on/off switches had cogged belts, were the reset switches on the bottom?

 

[danemodsandy]

Khoi:

My tip about the PN starting while holding it is based in painful experience. On my 1205, the hose is NOT live if the cleaner is switched off, and I only attach or remove the Sidekick if the cleaner is switched off, because it's altogether too easy to forget if the switch is on or off (the markings are symbols that must be interpreted, rather than the impossible-to-misunderstand words "ON" and "OFF"). I have hurt a finger pretty badly with the Sidekick as a result.

My suggestion here would be: If you install a rocker switch, use a labelmaker to label the "ON" and "OFF" positions very clearly. With words, not symbols.

 

[floor-a-matic]

The Electrolux PN5 & PN6 (even the current Aerus PN) is a bit quieter with the new improved genuine brush roller than with the old style or aftermarket roller.

btw, the Wessel Werk HEB160 PN is the QUIETEST of all PNs I own. I'll never look back to the times I used straight suction or turbo brushes on upholstery & automobile interiors.

 

[floor-a-matic]

@Sanifan
Yes, a RainbowMate will work on a TriStar's pistol grip handle; if you want it to stay onto the hose handle, you can purchase a mini wand from Air-Storm.

Just tell them that you'd like to purchase the mini wand (mini wand shown attached to Wessel Werk HEB160 PN)

This is the mini wand that you need.

http://www.air-storm.com/pages/contact-us

 

[Sanifan]

Hi, Erik.

Thanks for the link to the mini wand. I did get an older Rainbow Mate of ebay and it seems very good.

Because there is hardly any space for the pigtail once the mini nozzle is pushed onto the pistol grip, that extension wand is necessary. I was actually going to saw down one of my spare plastic extension wands and use the whole getup friction fit. The Rainbow Mate has no provision for the locking button, so it would be friction fit on that end regardless. I have a feeling it may work well. I'll probably drill a hole in one end of the wand so it can lock onto the grip side.

The Wessel Werk sounds great. I will have one of those sooner or later!

 

[floor-a-matic]

A few updates:

Now that it's been over a month since I bought the WW HEB160 PN, I'm still enjoying the brush so much.

Another thing I like about the PN is that it has vents on both sides for edge cleaning & so the brush & vacuum can work more efficiently.

Only ONCE has the built-in overload circuit breaker tripped, & it's easy to reset it; just turn off the vac & wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.