Today I was vacuuming with my Oreck XL 100C, when I noticed the motor slowing down, returning to normal speed for a brief instant, then continuing to run at half speed. While doing such, the commutator arcs like crazy. I took the machine apart and found that the brushes had plenty of life left. I know at Oreck when such a problem occurs, we'd just tell the customer they need a new motor. Does anybody with a better working knowledge of motors know what is happening? I know the cleaner is approximately 25 years old, but considering the condition it's in, and the light use its had, this shouldn't have happened. I hate like hell to replace the motor, as the new 4-amp motors are noisy as anything. I'd like to keep it as it came from the factory. Any suggestions?
Motor Failure Question
- Thread starter ohio_tuec
- Start date
Help Support VacuumLand:
Sounds like...
Sounds like the armature has gone out on you. One of the windings internally has rubbed and rubbed and rubbed and finally shorted out inside. This causes, the slowdown, the arcing, usually a smell of ozone, and in some cases, vibration.
Check to make sure the bearings aren't binding. If it's free to turn, the motor is bad.
If you're handy with a multimeter, you can actually check the armature to prove it to yourself. Set the switch on the 20Ω scale and check segment to segment on the commutator, moving one segment around as you go. If you get a different reading on one segment pair, you KNOW you have a bad motor. Nothing to do but replace it seeing as how it would cost more than a high-end vacuum to have the armature rewound......that is IF you could even find a motor shop that would do it!
Sounds like the armature has gone out on you. One of the windings internally has rubbed and rubbed and rubbed and finally shorted out inside. This causes, the slowdown, the arcing, usually a smell of ozone, and in some cases, vibration.
Check to make sure the bearings aren't binding. If it's free to turn, the motor is bad.
If you're handy with a multimeter, you can actually check the armature to prove it to yourself. Set the switch on the 20Ω scale and check segment to segment on the commutator, moving one segment around as you go. If you get a different reading on one segment pair, you KNOW you have a bad motor. Nothing to do but replace it seeing as how it would cost more than a high-end vacuum to have the armature rewound......that is IF you could even find a motor shop that would do it!
Thanks so much for the info Tristar. No, the bearings aren't binding at all. There definitely is a smell of ozone in addition to the arcing. No vibration though. Like I say, for a machine that's seemingly seen such little use, this shouldn't have happened! I only got this vacuum a few months ago off eBay. It's the first time I've actually had a motor fail on me. No, I wouldn't waste my time getting the armature rewound. I'm gonna mothball it for now, as it might make a great donor cleaner for one of my future projects.
Yeah, I know. Like everything else, I guess the Oreck has the ability to fail. I tried to remove the commutator from the motor housing thinking maybe I could use a donor commutator - no dice. Oreck never intended these motors to be serviced. I have a copy of an appliance repair manual from 1981, showing how to service an early XL-4000. Even on those it says if the motor is defective, replace it. I believe the Panasonic Jet-Flo is that way also.
vintagehoover
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Eric...
'LEAVE ORECK ALONE!'
'LEAVE ORECK ALONE!'
ericaustin
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OMG! I am laughing so hard right now! LMAO!
electroluxxxx
New member
hmm
oh my I must say "that is a Fabulous Pic of Chris Crocker." has anyone watched his vids. lol
oh my I must say "that is a Fabulous Pic of Chris Crocker." has anyone watched his vids. lol
brandon_w_t
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lmao
Just leave eric alone! (im with you on this one!
Just leave eric alone! (im with you on this one!
brandon_w_t
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and finally
Seth green wants us to leave it all alone! lol. this is so lame
Seth green wants us to leave it all alone! lol. this is so lame
electroluxxxx
New member
yes I will agree he is odd
vintagehoover
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Um...Brandon? Huh?
vacuumfreeeke
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Just wanted to express my condolences. I know that is your favorite Oreck! Do you have another 100 CC or is that your only one? Do you have other Orecks? My 100 CC is my only Oreck... just finshed using it. If I ever found an Oreck I liked more, I'd send you mine to use as a donor machine... but I'm sure by the time that happens you'd have a new motor in yours already!
