Sebo X4 Not Working

[sebo_fan]

Same with the Bissell upright...

 

[hi-loswitch98]

What do you mean?

 

[sebo_fan]

In the Bissell upright, the cleaning solution AND the clean water go into a flexible bag that is within a hard plastic collection tank. The dirty water collects around that bag.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Oh that setup, that's what put me off the AromaPro in the first place, except quite a lot of dirty water being extracted went in to the clean water tank, not good.

 

[sebo_fan]

Maybe in yours but I can assure you that has never happened in my model and I haven't seen it happen in other models. I simply wouldn't use it if that occurred and it is clear to see from the acrylic top when you can see directly into the clean water tank - that it is literally clean water.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

It happened in mine, sadly but I have moved on with the classic Vax now. Prefer cylinder carpet cleaners but sold the 6131, realised how much I missed it & got another one, albeit an older version.

 

[sebo_fan]

Sadly I've moved on too - I was originally going to get the Numatic George before I bought my Charles many years ago and even if the Numatic George is so much better built than Vax can dream of, I realised that my carpets really needed constant brush roll agitation as opposed to suction only tools. At that point I went from the Vax to a U.S Dirt Devil "Floorkeeper," based model in the UK under the Vax Rapide "Total Floors" V-029 model. Quite good for hard floors but ever so useless for carpet despite the brush roll. Still, it was a compact enough model and I quite liked the Dirt Devil design, able to suck up dry dirt "bagless" style with a round ring HEPA filter and able to change over to brush roll agitation with a snap on/off replacement cover for hard floors that stored at the side.

Vax of course no longer make or sell it, though I think it was one of the first models from Dirt Devil in the U.S

 

[hi-loswitch98]

I do remember seeing that on one of the shopping channels, but to be honest we only have carpet in a few of the upstairs rooms, the rest is wood with large rugs, all are short to medium pile. I do find the carpet washes well with a Vax if you use an upright to vacuum before & after washing. Works a treat.

 

[sebo_fan]

Ah - no wonder you have the Vax canister. I doubt I would be able to do portable rugs with ANY carpet washer - I guess that's about the only time that I would consider a canister tub washer again - if I had hard floors and plenty of rugs about. Have you ever tried a Numatic George?

 

[hi-loswitch98]

No - mum was going to buy one but then I said that if she was going to use it for vacuuming most of the time, why not just have a Henry & I'll use the Vax for carpet washing. I know George comes with a hard floor nozzle but I picked up a Vax Automop which is great for the wood, tiles etc. but our rugs are actually quite big but they only work properly with a tub washer. That's why I sold the Bissell as I would have to Mop floors which is one thing I hate as I feel they aren't clean after.

 

[sebo_fan]

Oh god, I had the original Automop head - very heavy and despite the swivel not that effective when it was supposed to dry floors. Much prefer steaming hard floors if I'm honest, though the Vax S2S I bought early last year is anything but easy to use. Much prefer my old cheap Hometek light n easy.

I've noted that there are a lot of brands who are now offering cheap steam cleaner uprights that either break early or leave the floor far too wet. The Vax S2S is such a machine. Its very well designed in so far as being able to be used with either a detergent added to its tank or with water combined, but I usually just spray a little 151 Elbow Grease on the floor and get the Hometek working around that. Whereas it would take me roughly half an hour to an hour of setting up the Vax to mop the floor and then spend ages getting it dry with the squeegee, the Hometek is far faster.

It is also faster than the Vax S2S - doesn't leave floors too wet and puts down dry steam as opposed to wet. Sometimes the surprise of going with a cheaper brand pays off.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

ASDA sell an 'Abode' model for £22.

 

[sebo_fan]

I would actually be inclined to go for Hometek again - simply because I have all the original and secondary purchased Velcro rectangular Microfibre heads that, I suppose could be fitted to other brands, provided they offer a similar floor head but you would have to ensure that the Velcro pads actually stick onto whatever any other brand are offering. I must admit, I've always appreciated Hometek though as they are cheap to buy, easy to maintain, easy and quick to use, and though not the best made, are a heck of a lot lighter than the mass brand offerings.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

I do remember the Home Tek being on the shopping channels when I was younger.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

The Sebo Bags / Filters / Tools have arrived & when I go home in a few hours I will test them to see how well it works & I'll let you know after.

 

[sebo_fan]

Wow that was quick delivery - mind you whenever I've bought from Miele or SEBO, the delivery is pretty quick. Amazon UK are pretty quick too. EBAY UK is another matter...

Let us know how you get on! And dont forget the orange slider at the bottom release pedal - it gives you the option to have the handle unlocked all the way, or a stepped position if you want to get over the cord or any thresholds.

There are only a few downsides to the SEBO X series in general and I do wish SEBO would update it. In time perhaps!

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Right I've just took it around the study & it's even better now! I changed the filters & bags with Qualtex ones off Amazon, wanted to get them delivered quickly. Bags fit quite easily, can do it with one hand. Connected the machine back together, put the tools on & tested it by using the computer height adjustment. Slightly temperamental as it can't make up its mind wether to raise or lower the brushroll. Worked great on the tiles & rugs/mats, which were both thick & thin pile. Love the long cord, but the hose is not great as it comes out at the top of the machine & makes it topple over. Good thing they use good plastic! Worked on my rice test OK.

So a good machine all in all, just a few niggles that they could improve.

 

[sebo_fan]

The top hose works better if you keep one hand on the model and one hand on the hoister wand - as indicated in the manual. It really makes no difference as a lot of brands suggest that - I also find it easier at times just to use the hose without the hoister added - but if you get the extension hose, that adds a lot more to the standard 3 metre hose - and with it added by threading it into the hoister wand tube, it makes a superb reach and clean device that is also lightweight and so easy to use.

I never realised how good the actual handle onto the that main extension tube is until I started to clean with it.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

I do that now.

 

[sebo_fan]

What improvements would you like to see?

 

[hi-loswitch98]

1)The hose to be long so you don't have to add an extension hose just to do stairs.

2)There to be more than 1 extension tube, the one on the machine is not able to reach up into ceiling corners.

3)For the hose not to pop out of the extension tube when you are trying to use it.

4) The Computer Controlled Height Adjustment to make it's choice & to stay with it, not suddenly decide to raise the brush up on a low pile carpet.

5)The Computer Height Adjustment to automatically sense wooden flooring & turn the brushroll off, same when you stand it upright.

6) The smaller cleaning tools to be a 35mm fitting so you don't have to purchase genuine ones which cost a fair bit.

These are just minor niggles, would be nice to see them done to the vacuum but it's OK as it is, just how they haven't thought about above floor cleaning as much.

 

[sebo_fan]

The X series was designed as a semi-commercial domestic model and at that time on the market SEBO wanted to keep things simple and didn't have a brush roll on/off function. They've since updated their 370 commercial upright to have a brush roll on/off function, so I guess its only a matter of time before that may happen on the X series.

As for the other things;

2) An extension straight tube is available, but its a cost optional part and fixes onto the bottom of the hoister wand or can be used with the hose alone. Again SEBO wanted to keep it simple and so only added a single extension wand to the design with the hoister handle added. If you want to clean ceilings, you can if you add the long crevice tool to the end of the hoister wand - but I know what you mean.

3) The hose shouldn't pop out of the extension hose - it may be an old hose or an old hoister wand as there is a press release button to unlock the hose from the hoister wand.

4) The sensor compensates for brush roll wear as well as sensing carpet nap, hence the reason for it go up and down all the time. It used to annoy the hell out of me but then its a really lightweight machine to push and pull after the heavy action of other brands like Hoover's TP2 and 3 uprights.

5) Again the age of the machine doesn't have a brush roll on/off, though like all SEBO uprights, the brush roll will stop if there's a jam and can be switched off (remove the clog) and switch back on again without any cool down time needed.

6) The 35MM tools fit ALL other SEBO ranges - and they can be cheap to source dependent on what you are willing to put up with; new or second hand - really depends on the time of sourcing and online auction sites.

The X4 also has optional tools other than the straight tube extension and the extension hose - they used to sell a kit that included that and the large dusting brush with a clamp. The larger dust brush is far better than the smaller one that JL usually sell alongside as the bristles don't get sucked in as much and do the job.

 

[sebo_fan]

The things Id like to see are:

1) Same hoister wand but with the lightweight telescopic height adjustable plastic & metal suction tube that the same K series has, that way the telescopic height bottom tube can be adjusted for extra height and reach.

2) Brush roll on/off function like the Felix.

3) A Variable suction slider like the Felix.

4) More spaces available for optional tools to store onto.

 

[sebo_fan]

Also, this is a fab video for the Windsor series in the U.S, though the music is a bit like porno music of the 1980s : )

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Thanks, Sebo_fan, are you sure your OK?

 

[sebo_fan]

What do you mean??

 

[hi-loswitch98]

You've gone a bit loose recently. For example, putting smiles on the end of comments. Unless you always used to do that. Plus what would you know porno music sounds like LOL . Just kidding.

 

[madaboutsebo]

Thanks sebo_fan for the insight into Sebo background of entering the UK domestic market and in store demonstrator. Starting to obtain more info on Sebo history thanks to your knowledge. I see what you mean about Currys beginning the last to stock Sebo like you say they don't stock the accessories like John Lewis.

Interesting to see yours and hi-loswitch98 views on what you like to improve on the X Series more or less what I would like to see too. I wish I had got an X Series over my Miele S7, I do like it but found myself using my Felix more than the S7!

 

[madaboutsebo]

Glad to hear your enjoying using your Sebo X4 hi-loswitch98 now you've fitted a new bag and filter!

 

[sebo_fan]

Thank you but Actually mad - you should check out the profile of another member on here who has plenty more SEBO uprights than I do and other info - ryry_87 - he has a few vintage SEBO commercial uprights. See http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?17090
You will also see a clear SEBO X4 - this is made in the U.S with the components shipped over Germany - SEBO won't do a European version as they feel the acrylic isn't well made and only use that model for promo purposes.

Generally, as a classic Hoover fan I was a bit dismayed when I began to research the SEBO company in the mid 1990s as there was very little info about the company until they started to put their websites online and Canada was one of the first countries outside Europe to feature a SEBO website compared to the U.S company site that took a few years to catch up. Certainly, the SEBO brand is known more worldwide with its commercial uprights than the domestic market, but the brand are steadily becoming more recognised, not just by collectors, reviewers and such like, but also by other sites online.

Generally the company appear conservative to me, but that's only because they are a small company compared to all the big brands. Thus, waiting for new models to appear is a bit like waiting for lost time. What appeals to me greatly about SEBO is the same with Dyson - both are clearly engineer and design based as opposed to just trying to make a fast buck. I also had a Miele S7 for a while, they're nicely designed but far too big and bulky and the Felix is a smaller and far more controllable. The only things they have in common are the variable suction control, brush roll on/off and the swivel action. SEBO would do well to offer the suction control and brush roll on/off on their next X series, if there is to be a new X series.

Hi-Lo - well sometimes I like putting smiles at the end of sentences - as for porno music - well as a music student in the 1990s I already HAD to play cheesy keyboard with a 4 piece band for adult nature videos - but the less said about that, the better!