Picked up a Fantom Thunder!

[williamnilliam]

Hello everyone, I've browsed this site for years but never had anything to post until now. Over the weekend just by chance browsing FB marketplace I found someone selling a Fantom Thunder about an hour away from me for $40! Been looking for one off and on for years and this was such a deal I couldn't pass it up. It's a 1997 model thats in pretty good condition and works very well! Lady I bought it from actually bought it new and knew what she had so I'm surprised I got it for so cheap. The only issue is it's missing the brush and floor nozzle, but the previous owner said she might still have them just buried in a box somewhere and if she finds them she can mail them to me! Overall I'm very excited to have this! I grew up when these were new, my uncle had one that I liked to use all the time and I would see them in stores pretty often.

Now, to find a Lightning. Much easier said than done it seems.

 

[leoman04]

Awesome

 

[maytag142c]

Hello William!

I have a Lightning that I would be willing to part with since I don't collect anymore, I am not sure if it has all of the attachments but it might as I haven't really used it much since getting it. the Pn, wand and Hose are all good and it will also come with an extra Dust bin which is new old stock if you'd like it.
please feel free to email me directly [email protected] if you're interested. just a heads up though, I wont be able to ship it out until after the new year as I am currently in New Jersey recovering from a major Surgery.

hope all is well
Cassie

 

[williamnilliam]

Just sent you an email, Cassie

 

[ct77]

Although it's not my thing - lol WAY too modern - I can definitely sympathize with how awesome it is when you finally find something you've been looking for, at a great price. Congratulations!

 

[huskyvacs]

Congrats on the find! Just be careful with them, as the motors are prone to being killed by the dirt and grit in the carpet.

 

[williamnilliam]

I don't plan on using this more than occasionally, more than anything I just wanted to have it for nostalgia of being a kid growing up in the late 90s obsessed with anything mechanical or electronic including vacuums. And also for it being a piece of history with Fantom being the first bagless vacuums in the U.S.

I've been reading about the issue of motor failure from dust due to lack of a good pre-filter, has anyone come up with any decent remedies to that?

 

[maytag142c]

So the thunders were not as bad as the fury's or the lightnings. I feel that the thunders had a better seal than the fury and not much sand got through. It was more fine stuff. I have rebuilt and refurbed many of these cleaners and have brought a few back from a non running state including the rare commercial Vectron which was a thunder before the thunder was a thing. A lot will say that the thunder was the better cleaner fantom offered due to airflow and durability but I still think the Cyclone XT takes the win on cleaning ability because of the weight in the head. Either way, you have a good cleaner. I will get you those pics of the lightning as soon as I get home and I will also see what I can come up with as far as what you are looking for tools wise.


Cassie