Possible filter retrofit?

[justjunque]

I'm just putting this out there, in case anyone has tried it, thought about it, etc.
I've seen some listings for a pre-motor filter for the Bissell PowerForce Helix. I guess there's a pleated paper filter, and a foam filter that fits around it. None of the listings I've seen give the dimensions of the foam filter. But, I'm wondering if there's any chance that it could work as a pre-motor filter for a Hoover Celebrity IV.
It would need to be slightly modified. But, if the circumference was right, it should be doable. Does anyone happen to have a Helix, so you could measure the filter?
It's not a great picture, because the motor housing is slightly wider at the base than at the top. But, it's probably a tick under five inches across the widest point.

 

[jade_angel]

Apparently it's also possible to MacGyver this with certain Shop-Vac filters.

And you should be able to use a Simplicity Brio HEPA bag in there too which should improve filtration and airflow retention a bit.

 

[justjunque]

Thanks!
I've heard that about the Shop-Vac filters, but it sounded like it took a little more "MacGyvering".
I was curious if the Helix filter might be a better fit, and one could just cut out a little notch for that one part of the motor housing.
This is the first I've heard of the Simplicity HEPA bag though. Thank you for that little piece of information! Do you know if it's a direct fit?

 

[justjunque]

Better than nothing?

I finally got around to trying one of the Bissell filters on my Celebrity IV.
it was a tight fit getting it on there, but that might be a good thing. You don't want it to keep falling off.
It's not a perfect fit, but that would probably be asking for way too much. It covers most of the slotted area. I'm guessing it's better than nothing.
Thoughts?

 

[thevacomaticiec]

good start for sure try make it cover the motor better than 0 yes.

 

[justjunque]

Eric, (or anyone else)

Do you know if that Simplicity HEPA bag is a direct fit, or would that also require "MacGyvering"?
I saw a package of three on Amazon, for $22. That seems a little spendy. I mean, I guess they'd last me a long time. It's a big bag, and the vacuum doesn't get used regularly. Still seems high. I got twenty HEPA bags for the Bissell for less than that!

 

[thevacomaticiec]

id  try  to  make  a good  seal on the  type  H  bags  since not much  is holding it to thye inlet  first   before retrofit   a hepa  bag    

 

[huskyvacs]

If you are trying to replicate that black coarse foam, just buy rolls of aquarium filter foam, cut, and then superglue the two ends together with a high temperature glue to fit. Make sure to match the right mesh, so you don't choke the motor off, or let too much debris through, they come in so many different coarseness types.


EZ Vacuum actually sold a aftermarket filter made for the Celebrity IV, but they stopped selling it. They do however give you a link to a shop vac wet filter that can be trimmed down to fit.

https://www.ezvacuum.com/hoover-celebrity-iii-iv-wrap-around-filter-38764006-2-pk.html

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, huskyvacs,
I'll probably go ahead and order that one too, just to compare. It does look like a slightly more open mesh, or whatever the correct term is. The one I'm currently using is also a pre-motor filter, just for a newer, bagless Bissell. So, I'm hoping it's not too restrictive.
If it was choking out the motor, would I notice a reduction in suction? I ran the vacuum yesterday, after installing this filter, and the suction seemed great. But, like I said, I don't know if it would affect that.

 

[captchar]

wouldn't a shop vac motor filter work better? since you could cut it to size since its usually pretty long

 

[justjunque]

Probably. I'm going to grab that recommended one from husky's link, and see how it goes.
I just tried this Bissell filter, because it looked like it wouldn't require as much customization.
Sadly, after so looking forward to it, I don't think I'll be using this vacuum much. I feel like it puts out a really fine dust or something. I can feel it in my sinuses, and it kind of triggered my allergies. I'm guessing it's because, like the Portable that I just got recently, the previous owner of this Celebrity had used it without a bag. Some fine dirt/dust probably got into the motor, and now it's getting blown out the exhaust; even though I did fabricate a new exhaust filter/muffler as well.

 

[huskyvacs]

Vacuums that exhaust air downward onto the floor or off to the sides usually leafblower dust off your furniture or the carpet, so be careful about that if you are allergic.

 

[durango159]

If you're having allergy issues due to stuff in the motor, then blow it out. Hoover actually made it very easy to get to the motor on this unit. You had to remove some bolts from under to the bag in-order to replace the muffler foam. The next step is removing a few screws that hold the white motor baffle on. Then you have the entire motor accessible to blow out.

What kind of foam did you use for the muffler? I bought green 3/4" thick foam from Joann Fabrics and cut a large donut of it fit the wheel base space.

For pre-motor filter, I have dual setup in place of my own configuration:

Filter one: HVAC vent register filter, cut to size and stapled to fit. Sounds cheezy but works very well. Vent register filters come in 4" x 12" sheets in a 10 pack for about $4 from your local hardware store.
That's the top layer.

Filter two: Under the the HVAC filter:
HEPA bag material cut to fit.

I've had this machine since around 2012 and it seen a lot of use both in commercial and residential settings. I used the machine for years without the HEPA filter bag and it did fine. I added the HEPA since most of my other vacs have HEPA bags. I have heard of some others converting Sebo, Kenmore Q, Hoover Y or some other HEPA version of the above to these machines. I will never do that simply because I find the Celebrity unit with that horseshoe bag design maintains airflow better than just about any vacuum cleaner I have ever used and I contribute it to the bag design. There is so much so much surface area for air to escape from. The intake area takes the main hit which on genuine bags, that area is sealed off with special paper on the outside. The sides of the bag don't get high pressure air burst since there is so much surface area and I don't want to inhibit that effect.[this post was last edited: 2/10/2024-18:43]

 

[justjunque]

Hi Rob,
Sorry. I forgot to respond to this!
What I used for the exhaust filter/muffler is a sheet of "Duck" brand air conditioner filter material.
It's a black spongy foam, 1/4 inch thick. Obviously, cut to the aforementioned donut shape.

 

[kloveland]

I used window a/c filter to make mine that is sold at Walmart for the filter and the muffler. I might try the shop vac filter later on. That sounds easier.

 

[paul]

This idea might also be effective on Eureka canisters and Roto-Matic Power Teams of that era. I recall someone mentioning using some type of stretch bonnet to mitigate the issue on them.

 

[durango159]

You might want to think about doubling up the layer of your 1/4" thick donut for the exhaust filter. The wheel base depth is closer to 5/8" deep from what I remember and a good muffler will fill the entire depth so that the foam rests up against the machine itselt once the wheel base is repositioned back onto the machine. It should then help with better sound absorption and also filtering all air leaving the machine which will help control the any blowing issue you have while it's on the floor. I honestly have never noticed either of my Celebrity canisters blowing dirt around the room.

I do have dust allergies and my Celebrity canisters have never bothered me. Oreck uprights however send me into spasms, believe it or not! I've tried about 20 different models of Oreck.