No more regret: Hoover Powermax find

[broomvac]

If there was one vacuum which I regretted letting go, it was my Concept 1. Today, however, I was able to kiss that little bit of regret goodbye.

I purchased this BOL Powermax for $25 on Craigslist. Its only issue is a lack of upper bag support. The plastic eyelet seems to have cleanly broken off the top of this rather unique bag. Just about all Concepts and Powermaxes I have seen possess a “bag topper.” This machine does not. It doesn’t even have the usual suction diverter gate. Rather, its attachment set works similar to that included with many of the Elites; you have to manually insert the hose for above floor cleaning. No headlight either. That’s how basic this model must’ve been.

Everything else is present, including all of the tools. The machine is scuffed and missing the bag spring—I’ll source a new one from Menards, probably—but it runs well. This one will turn out really nicely, I’m sure. I’m very impressed by how high the nozzle lifts off the carpet when the vacuum is upright. This is the only—I repeat, *only*—vacuum without means to shut off the roller which I would trust for extended periods of hose use. That nozzle lifts more than an inch off the carpet!

When I get around to restoring this vacuum, I’ll come back to this thread. In the meantime, enjoy these “before” pictures.

 

[lesinutah]

Nice

I like the clear cover on front. I like the color and layout. Glad you found one.
Les

 

[oreck_xl]

Broomvac...

I have this same PowerMax, and mine does not have a bag topper either. I'm almost certain this one did not have a topper. As you pointed out, it was the BOL model. Finding a PowerMax in such nice shape is somewhat difficult these days. The ones I usually see have extensive damage to the front (even pieces broken away sometimes) or the hose that plugs into the port is broken. Congratulations on your find!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have a top of the line model.

I like it. But, it wouldn't be the FIRST thing to save in a fire.

 

[broomvac]

@Les: Thank you! I, too, am fond of the sea blue/green. The attachment system is, in my mind, a better use of space than the help mate.

@oreck_xl: Totally agree with everything you say. This vacuum most definitely never had a bag topper. It has, instead, a plastic bar sewn into the top seam for support. Presumably, there used to be an eyelet on this piece, but it looks to have been snapped off. I plan to drill a new hole below it and loop a replacement spring through it. Nobody will know the difference!

And yeah, I hear you on the condition of these. Almost all are train wrecks. The last one I saw before scooping this up was more like a “former” Powerdrive.

@‘hoove: Too loud? Too big? I can see how these...would not have been for everyone. One benefit of having the cheapo model is having (I believe) a less powerful motor.


I’m looking forward to making this one shine again.

 

[broomvac]

Update #1

This past weekend, the Powermax went under the knife. As I don’t have much time to commit to vacuums anymore, I anticipate slowly chipping away at this one.

First off was the bag. Straight into the wash. I must say, this bag is in great shape. No wear, no stains. From Menards, I sourced a new bag spring which does the job as well as the original.

The bag isn’t the only low-mileage part on this vac. Honestly, I was expecting more wear than I found. On these vacs, the power drive handle is one of the first things to show age. Not this one! The rest of the innards tell the same story; underneath the scuffs, this vac is not particularly used.

As I did with my former U3317, I intend to restore this vac not only cosmetically, but also mechanically. The few Powermaxes out there don’t sound great. With a total mechanical overhaul, I aim to make this one sound as it did out of the box. Both motor bearing will be replaced. I’ll press the needle bearing out and press in a new one, filled with the appropriate amount of Polyrex EM. The fan side bearing will get replaced with a new NTN 608 C3/EM sealed bearing. I’ll also put in a NOS fan just to ensure that everything is well balanced. The brush roll bearings will also get the cleaning and Polyrex EM treatment.

Should be fun!

 

[oreck_xl]

I can't wait to see the final result! Just out of curiosity, was there ever an even more BOL version of the PowerMax (by which I mean a non-powerdrive version like the Concept One)? I know the TOL model had a slide switch for the speed control. Early PowerMaxes had a metal brushroll like the Concept One, later models had an Elite style.

 

[broomvac]

@oreck_xl

That makes two of us!

By no means am I an expert on the lineup of Powermaxes Hoover had to offer—they all predate me, actually—but I can’t say I’ve seen one more BOL than this model. Most seem to have the deluxe hose and bag top. And a headlight! Even the bag pattern on this vac is the same as what came on the “economical” Hoover Sprint.

As I’m sure you saw in my OP, this one has the later style brush. I have a stockpile of steel Concept rollers, bristle strips, plus one Concept sole plate, and have been considering throwing a set in this unit. There are a few other options to consider, though. I have a lead on a genuine NOS “Elite style” Powermax roller, which would keep this vac original. However, I’m also tempted by the idea of swapping a DAM roller into this thing. A Powermax with beater bars. Can you imagine? That would be wild!

 

[oreck_xl]

It would, but I'm a purist. I like things to stay the way they were when they left the factory. I have plenty of Concepts with the steel agitator, the fact that these have the Elite style brushroll make them a true crossover into the Dimension uprights that would follow.