Paging Dr Lux Filter Queen on the operating table

[danemodsandy]

As Much As I Love Other Machines...

...I have to say that that Filter Queen is sensationally attractive. It has that "retro-'50s" look that I enjoy, yet it's a machine that's technically up-to-date, as evidenced by the hose and power nozzle.

It appears well worth working on and saving. The TriStar I'm currently putting back in prime shape (and it was pretty darn nice when I got it!), was kind of the same story. If the wrong person (read: average user) had gotten hold of it, it would have gotten banged around for a few more years, then trashed. It's a great thing when collectors take machines like this under their wing and put them back into the condition they should be in.

It will take you a little while, and you'll spend some money on it, but you'll have something really terrific when you're done. I've put together most of what was missing from my TriStar already- I have only a few minor bits and pieces to come, which are on their way from TriStar Canada. It is such a pleasure when a missing piece arrives, and suddenly the vac will do something it wouldn't do before, eh?

Keep at it, and please keep sharing your progress with us!

 

[volvoguy87]

Fan balancing.

I don't understand the physics of balancing small high-speed fans, but I do know a bit about larger ones. I restore antique fans and blade balancing is critical. If the blades are out of balance, the fan will vibrate severely, causing damage to the bearings. Due to the physics, the vibration changes with speed, so a fan may vibrate more violent at a lower speed than at a high one.

Blade balance works in part by having equal drag on all the blades. For all blades to have equal drag, they must be identical in size, shape, angle, etc. You may want to replace the fan because, although you did the best you could in repairing it, it may still be off balance.

Try pricing a new fan, and good luck with this awesome vac,
Dave

 

[lux1521]

If my knowledge of physics holds up, the mass of the off balance part has a lot to do with it. The greater the added mass, the more off balance. In terms of the small fans I don't think it would be too much of a problem.

I think I might do some more research on this later, perhaps just for the fun of it. I'm going into an engineering major in September so a bit of research in this area won't hurt.

 

[camelotshadow]

Interesting

I thought the same with the cannister as one wheel was lower.

TRUE
dirt build up doesn't help either
Thing is the way it was it would hit
& some blades were contored & bent down
Such massive devistation I have never seen
can't even imagine

The piece wedged in the blade & housing turns out to be a broken part of the neck housing cover

Thing with this PN is structurally its not good
the neck balancing arch on one side is broke as well as both attaching acrew holes

Frankly a motor those parts cost is not worth it
I'll look around for a power nozzle.

I might go in there again & try to fine tune it
but don't know if the neck will hold up to another operation
LOL

I was insterested in MEchanical engineering
but tough intensive major
have a few physics courses under my belt too
So I have some understanding of it.

I think lux is right abouta small 3" fan & anyway if it stresses the motor
then heck let it as then we'll deal with replacing it then or not that is if I haven't found a suitable sturdy replacement
The motor is shot
inside on the bottom were supposed to be some plastic pieces
only one is left but I might want to play with it just for practice & to see if I can tweak it

I think the way I have set up the blades there will be less drag but then also less air movement force
Was worried about that
but as I said I could do no more harm to that motor the way it was so I just dived in sink or swim & it works

The wider the blade
the more critical it is for balance

Thanks Guys

Good thing is the filter queen had a nice long 15 minute run with no wierd sound from the motor
Guess its happy...
LOL

 

[camelotshadow]

balancing

Anyone has a pic of the alignment of blades of a good fan?
I had nothing to work from on this one
had to reconstruct it from intuition...
Think I angled them less than they should be
OOH well
its works

LOL

 

[volvoguy87]

Blade balancing.

You're right about larger blades being more dependent on good balancing. I have about a 1925 GE fan. It is the big one with a 16" diameter blade-set. Right now it is in many pieces undergoing a very slow restoration but it was in running condition (barely) when I got it. The fan weighs about 30 pounds and the original steel blades probably weigh about 5 pounds (the original blades are severely damaged so I am installing brass blades in good, and shiny, condition). When I ran the fan, it was so off balance that the whole fan actually jumped around on the table. Depending on speed, it could launch itself up in the air a little bit and then THUD back down on the table in time with the vibration.

I have restored a few fans and when properly balanced they are a dream. They move a ton of air very quietly. I ran my 1947 GE Vortalex 12" for days and days without a rest and it never slowed or stopped. It's still a great runner. All I have done to it has been to refurbish the lubrication system and periodically change the oil.

What happened to industrial design?
Dave

 

[danemodsandy]

Your Power Nozzle:

Can I offer an opinion here?

I think you'll be happier in the long run- and your Filter Queen will certainly be worth more- if you'll repair that PN with factory parts, whether new or used, instead of mating another PN to the machine. The styling of that machine and its PN is really unique, a very 1950s carryover.

I know it's a PITA and an expense to scrounge up the parts and do all that work, but it really does pay off. I've restored both a Lux Diamond Jubilee and a Lux Model L on that basis, and I'm far happier with them than I would be if they weren't correct and complete. I'm very close to having my new TriStar in the same condition.

What I aim for is to have my machines complete, with every part and accessory they had when they were new. I don't allow parts of the wrong colour, etc. I also hunt down an instruction manual for each. The only deviation from new I permit is to use factory replacement parts like Lux vinyl hoses to replace woven ones.

It's a great feeling to take a thrift-store machine (my Diamond Jubilee was $2.02 at Value Village) and turn it back into a primo example that looks like no one ever misused it.

 

[camelotshadow]

So you like those old fans
Had a old one myself
We had alot of old stuff around as my parents were antique fanatics

All metal limited non safe metal cage design
Heck so they need a lil oil sometimes
Who cares
everything worth having
is worth a lil care
I don't mind giving them a few drops of oil at all
they provide me with good service
& I reciprocate
thats conservation of momentum
LOL

Is the K88 a rare PN?
If I found the same model
too tell you the truth
not looking at it as a collector piece
I know original is always the way to go
& maybe just yet the Filter Queen bug has not bit deep enough

I'm not giving up on it yet
Still, it can get $ buying for parts
just have to wait & be patient

I can never rebuild the case though
as you see one screw hole is gone
that neck at best when I get another neck will be held by one screw.

Now I have the other screw hole taped as it has only half a head so its holding
But will need the main body for sure
bottom is good
top functional
Wheels a bit wierd
had to oil them
may be out of alignment bent or something

I will leave my options open
I went vac crazy this month

Got a Silverado, Kirby D50 & the Filter Queen
Last mo a
Rainbow & it came all cracked up
So its been a rough ride
LOL

My Olympia is on evac


I have too many vacs around here & its only a small apt
LOL



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160224704387&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=006

 

[arh1953]

I have about 950 square feet of living space, you have my sympathy. Good luck.

 

[camelotshadow]

I wish I had 950 sq feet...LOL

OOOOh Dr Lux, You mentioned Royal well Dirt Vac had the same motor as the PN..I have a Royal 084100 Dirt devil 12 amp power stick...wonder if it might be same motor?
guess not as its 12 amps & the PN think is 1.6

It works & but ita loud & scares my bird so I was going to pack its bags...

Anyway the FQ is still working
& it cleans pretty good.

Is the top of the brown pn also plastic?
It has a lower profile which is nice.

I noticed in Brads vid that when he turned on his 7oo with the hair dryer attach installed that the unit almost spun 15 degrees. Mine will spin a half inch or so as the hinges give.
wondering if its got all its power.

Have to get a pull type measuring device so I can better evaluate whos the best sucker here.



Hesco doesn't have the parts
think they are discontinued so its really get a parts pn or get a used. Still think the design could be better & it could work better but truthfully the belt is cracked & probably performance is down
Got to get a belt & some cones

 

[lux1521]

A 12 amp power stick is probably quite different, although they might have sourced the motor through a division of Ametek. The most powerful version of the PN motor I have seen is in my 3.5 amp Dirt Devil Broom Vac.

Belts and cones should be easy to find. PN parts might be quite hard and you might almost need to find a parts donor from someone who has a PN of that type with a different problem.

Spin during startup is based on many factors and can't be a good determination of a cleaners power. I think it has to do with torque, inertia, mass, and accelerations. Many variables which makes for a difficult comparison between units.

I have one of the brown PNs and the top is plastic. I think it is an ok design. I think it gets the job done and thats about it, but I have never really had a chance to use it for any real length of time.

 

[camelotshadow]

Plastic arrgh..I want metal

LOL

Thanks, guess I;ll lust not over the brown plastic.
Find a parts nozzle
whatever

I found the top neck but w shipping thats $10
& still the body of the PN has a broken screw opening so that only 1 side of the neck will be held down

Might just be better to find a good example rather than fixing this frankenstein.,

The royal transplant was just a thought
I was going to get rid of it
then I thought
it has a good motor & cord
parts?
But then again I am aching to clear up some floor space
so as to put my vacs to use!

LOL

My feeling is my cracked humpt rainbow has the most suction
so I need to find a good donor case for it...
Next project


Thanks
Have a good night

Ohhh, & I have to squeeze another Kirby D50 in here
LOL