Problem With a Trewax Upright Vacuum Cleaner

[ebenezer]

Hey, you Einsteins. Around a year ago I came into possession of an Italian-built Trewax UPV550 upright vac which has performed valiantly until now. The suction is still there and the brush roller continues to do its thing - but whereas when I'm pushing the vac forwards there's no trouble, when I pull it backwards it sprays fluff and dust back out onto the carpet, leaving a trail of muck. The bag is only a quarter full, so I'm guessing we're looking at a blockage or air-filter issue, but when I obtained the Trewax vac there was no owner's manual with it and I don't have a clue what part of the machine I should be attempting to dismantle to sort the problem out.

There seems to be virtually no information anywhere on the Web to do with Trewax vacuums (only adverts for replacement bags and filters for them). Rather confusingly it says on the plate 'Trewax Manufacturing Ltd., Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Made in Italy.' As far as I know, this (ex-?)company has nothing to do with the Trewax company that manufactures floor polishes, which seems to be North American.

Can anyone suggest how I should go about trying to figure out what bits to dismantle in order to locate the blockage and/or filter?

Many thanks for your help and advice, hombres.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

the most likely place for a blockage is anywhere there is a bend in the mechanism to channel air. I'd start with the neck and intake just behind the brushroll as there is certainly a blockage there, otherwise you wouldn't be spewing dirt out immediately. Follow that blockage back to the stuck object. I'm fairly sure you'll find the source within a few centimeters.


 


BTW the dirt is just getting compacted in when you push forward and pulled back out on the return stroke.

 

[sebo_fan]

Hi Ebenezer - welcome to the forum. Good to see another UK member!

The model you have seems to be on sale in the UK under Vax Commercial vacuums as well. Hope this helps in some way.

You can find a pdf user instruction here: http://www.wbfloormachines.co.uk/documents/vax-vcu-upright-vacuum.pdf

Click the link if the above link doesn't work.

http://www.wbfloormachines.co.uk/documents/vax-vcu-upright-vacuum.pdf

 

[ebenezer]

Well, gawd bless you both.

I've just dismantled the lower section of the vac, clearing out as much crud as I could find, then followed the pipework upwards into the top section, where (as you promised me) I found a ball consisting of pieces of carpet underlay. Turns out those Trewax machines have a decidedly odd layout, at least to the layman. It now seems to be working fine again, though I'm still none the wiser as to where the filter's located.

So it's sold as a Vax as well? Holy cow. Ain't you guys knowledgeable? And ain't I the most ignorant man on Earth?

Problem solved. Until I need to fit a new filter, that is.....

Many thanks.

 

[sebo_fan]

Glad we could help.

Check the pdf link I sent you - the pdf copy shows two filters - one at the triangular front and the other underneath the dust bag.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

Ebenezer,


 


Welcome and we've all learned by doing and from the generous support of fellow members and, at least for me, several 'adventures' in doing it all wrong.  Thankfully, ignorance is an easily corrected affliction.

If someone on here doesn't know the answer or can't find it, I haven't seen it yet.


 


Tom

 

[sebo_fan]

Sorry Ebenezer - I thought you said you couldn't FIND the filters lol

It depends on the material though - if the front triangular filter is a black foam type, it can normally be washed and left to air dry before installing again.

If the HEPA filter needs to be replaced, then you could order it from Vax or wash it and allow it to dry for 24 hours. Check the user guide -- different to the last pdf I sent you which shows optional parts an spares etc

https://www.vax.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/user-guides/VCU-03.pdf



http://https//www.vax.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/user-guides/VCU-03.pdf

 

[blackheart]

Aka

i've also see that vacuum as the Emer Hercules