My Electrolux Silverado has finally died perhaps.

[jo]

Just about and hour and a half ago I was cleaning the house with my weekly driver Electrolux Silverado which has been by regular household vacuum for the past 26 years, bought it used in 1994 from a vacuum store for $125 when my Hoover comvertible’s roller brush bearings crapped out and were too expensive to bother fixing and I really wanted an Electrolux anyway but couldn’t afford a new one back then. Since the vacuum store had this one used for a reasonable price I splurged and got it, Well in the last few years it would occasionally make a bit of the odd noise that is characteristic of a bearing going, usually when I first turned it on or after I shut it off, Last week it was making a bit more of the noise and today quite a bit more and was also changing speeds and then after getting through about 2/3 of the house it really went down to low speed and smelled bad. I shut it off fearing it could burn and unplugged it and the prongs of the plug were burning hot and the rubber plug also hot.

Almost certain it’s the main bearing that is seizing. When it stops now upon shutting it off, it stops fast as if something is braking it, likely the seized bearing.

Since it has not been run when it won’t turn I assume if the bearing is fixed it will run again fine, but I’ve heard from an Electrolux store when this happened to my Mom's Golden Jubilee some years ago and we brought it in for diagnosis that there is no repair, just replace the motor, or get a new machine. Is this true? Curious if anyone has fixed the bearings on these? I can part with it if it is not fixable as I have other Electrolux machines.

Update: Well the above was written last night but I didn’t post. I tried it again today and at first it was still bad immediately but then ok so I started to clean another room but it went down to low power again Before I could finish the room and immediately the bad smell came back as soon as it didn’t sound right and the lights on the same circuit were dimmed a bit and flickering when it was on so the motor either definitely needs repair or replacement.

It lasted 36 years...26 with me so it doesn’t owe me anything.

Just wondering if the bearing can be fixed or if it’s time to part with it. I’m not one to keep things that are dead because I just don’t have the space and would prefer to have space for keeping things that are good and useful. If it’s not fixable or worth fixing, I’ll likely keep the switch and perhaps the cordwinder, the swivel wheel and the handle as my Mother and Brother both have Silverados and Mom also has an Olympia and let the rest go.

Jon

 

[huskyvacs]

Of course a vacuum shop will just replace the motor because they have 100 vacuums a day to fix and it's easier to swap in a motor than to spend 5-6 hours to take the entire motor apart.

I'd guess it's both the bearing and the carbon brushes being worn out. The electrical arcing and motor strain are what is causing the voltage spikes as it's trying to turn the motor.

Not sure why you would throw the entire vacuum out. People sell vacuums on eBay with dead motors all the time.

 

[jo]

Hmm..

Well, selling is an option but I wouldn’t be including the anything but the canister itself as I would like to keep my good genuine Electrolux rubber hose I bought and all of the attachments as I have another canister that these fit which did not have any attachments and only a leaky woven hose and it’s always good to have spares too because there are several models all of this fits in my family and I’m everyone’s go to guy when they have an issue with their Electrolux and who knows, I may come across a working Electrolux canister at a thrift store but is missing attachments and or has a bad hose so I definitely will not be parting with anything but the canister itself. In that case...do you think just the canister alone with a bad motor would really have much market on eBay? The base where the swivel wheel is, is cracked...it has been since I got it...I’m guessing a kid decided to sit on it like a toy truck or someone stood on it or dropped it down too hard. I’ve seen those crack and it didn’t cause suction loss unless the bag compartment also cracked which mine was and I finally changed it last fall. The cordwinder works ok....but not beautifully and it does still have the original cord, but even that has signs of age. The switch mechanism was replaced once by me, with a genuine replacement. It has some small dings here and there so it’s not beautiful but it’s also not among the worst ones either...maybe average condition. To me it’s just easier to pull off the switch, the cordwinder, and the handle and wheel and put them in my parts tub and let the rest of the canister go to the landfill...Maybe someone would want the top panel but I’ve seen them sit on eBay forever too.

Spending a chunk of money for a new motor isn’t something that’s worth it to me...mainly because the condition of the bottom plastic at the swivel wheel area (I’ve tried tingle the crack with crazy glue and it didn’t work) and the cordwinder not being great either it doesn’t seem worth it to put $50 or more into it for a replacement motor. I have plenty of other Electrolux’s in great shape.

Maybe someone who has one that’s in terrible shape might want it to put their motor into one with a better body might buy it but I’m just not sure I see much market for it. I’ve seen people list vacs that actually work as parts models and those seem to sit on eBay forever.

If anyone here wants to buy it as is...make me an offer and postage is buyers cost in addition to the offer price. I won’t take any parts off of it in this case.

Jon

 

[real1shep]

You shouldn't have continued to run it when the speed first reduced. A lot of verbiage here.....just tear into the motor as you have nothing to lose.

By now you might have damaged the armature....lots of YouTube vids on how to test an armature. It's a big motor...first introduced into the Super J. It can take a lot of abuse, but you may have pushed the armature over the edge.

You won't find a new motor the equivalent to that one.....try to fix it. A repair shop would just fit in a new Lamb motor......not the same.

Kevin

 

[jayelux]

Solution

Jon, please contact me. I may have a solution for you. My email is in my profile.
Jay

 

[jo]

At any point when the speed reduced I did stop it. So it didn’t run more than 2 sessions of about 10 seconds each once the speed reduced. The second time I ran it it was fine for a while but then it went to reduced speed again I stopped it immediately again. I do know that these are excellent motors and this is why I wanted to see about replacing the bearing, i think this is all it really needs, but if it’s not replaceable....Then tearing into it would be a waste of time I imagine.

I had heard of someone on here that rebuilds these good motors and not sure if he would be interested in giving information on it or rebuilding it if I sent it to him, if anyone knows what the members username is I could see if they have an email and perhaps try contacting them.

I don’t know much about rebuilding motors myself.

Jon

 

[suckolux]

Sounds like your motor carbon brushes are worn out,arcing.

 

[jo]

Hmm could be

Perhaps that’s the case...Maybe I’ll open it up and see what the brushes look like. That wouldn’t be too hard to do.

Jon

 

[vacman1961]

The motor is easily removable, if you send it to me I can rebuild it for $50.00, or if you want I can sell you one that is already rebuilt for $75.00 with an exchange of your old motor. Private message me if your interested.

 

[real1shep]

My point.....

was not to badger you. But to illustrate the fallacy that once you smell something burning....that unmistakable electric smell everyone knows.....there can be some expectation that things will improve, or that just another brief session run won't damage things further.

If it's just worn brushes arcing out, you'll be lucky that's all the damage is. Certainly worth the inspection though, regardless!

Kevin

 

[jo]

Thank You!

Thank You vacman1961....I’ll take this into consideration as one of many options coming to light here. And this is definitely one I was looking for...since I have a complete set of all genuine attachments in great shape it might be worth the money to get it going again.

And Thank you to everyone who is responding. All information is apppreciated and helpful.

For the moment I’m gathering options and I’m even considering just using it as a “trade in” on a new Aerus. If it brings a several hundred dollar discount off a new one in its current state. ..that might be a worthy option to treat myself to a brand new Aerus at least once in my life!

Jon