Oreck xl 21 help needed!

[evilvacuumman]

I just found a oreck xl21 on the side of the street. I picked it up. When I got home i turned it on and it works but it vibrates and is loud. I took it apart to check the fan but it has no chips or cracks in it. I ran the motor but itself and it runs fine. It has to be something with the fan but it doesn't look like anything is wrong with it. Also how do you get it out of the case? I can't seem to get it open. But for my look the fan is in good condition. Any ideas?

 

[hank]

Sounds like the brush roll... how’s it look?

 

[evilvacuumman]

The brush roll looks fine. I will put it back together tomorrow and run it with out the brush roll and see how it goes. I would have never thought about the brush roll

 

[vacuumdevil]

On the Oreck XL 21 and LW series vacuums the fan casing Sonic welded around the fan and must be changed as a whole assembly. I would always replace a brush roller and belt when you get a Oreck. If the paperwork is in the back pocket you're in luck time to take a trip to the Oreck store and get some free service.

 

[luxkid1980]

Yes, it may just be that the belt/brushroll needs replacing.

 

[evilvacuumman]

I ran it with out the brush roll and still virates and is loud. I sure it not the motor either. I guess it is something with the fan. Maybe it's unbalanced. I'm going to just ordered a new one for it.

 

[huskyvacs]

Did you check all the screw posts on the shell for the motor and the brushroll where it's all tightened down? This ABS plastic gets brittle and it tends to break often if the vacuum is banged around in transit or the previous owner did demolition derby with it against the furniture.

Also try checking if the belt is warped or deformed in any spots, it could be worn out and making a bump every time the worn part of the belt passes over the motor shaft.

I have a late 90's Oreck XL and someone decided it would make a good bagless vac. They ran it with no paper bag installed, and the outer bag is just loaded with what I like to call "retail lint", the unique gray kind of dirt and lint you seem to only find in retail stores. Wondering if it's the same Oreck my Salvation Army used to use.