Similarities and Differences between Sanitaire Models SC886 and SC679

[eurekasanitaire]

What is the difference between a Metal Sanitaire and a Plastic Sanitaire? In other words, differences between a Sanitaire SC886 and a Sanitaire SC679? I know the SC679 is a maid saver, but in terms of performance and stuff, what is the difference? Similarities?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Besides being the no-frills member in the commercial-duty Sanitaire family since the mid 1980s, the SC679 "Maid Saver" featured a 4 amp motor and single-bristle "Disturbulator" beater-bar brush roll.

The SC886 was essentially the SC684 with a polished chrome hood and "Quick Kleen" fan chamber, with the same Vibra-Groomer II brush roll, but had a more powerful 6.5 amp motor (as opposed to 5.5 amps for the SC684). The SC888 was better still with the presence of the aluminum Vibra-Groomer I brush roll and, until 2010, a headlight.

~Ben

 

[eurekasanitaire]

What about the current SC679s? Do those still have a 4 amp motor? Or do all current Sanitaires have 7 amp motors?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

eurekasanitaire

Current official specs list the SC679J as having a 5 amp motor:
http://www.sanitairevac.com/Cleaning-Products/Upright/SC679J/

SC886E:
http://www.sanitairevac.com/Cleaning-Products/Upright/SC886E/

Comparison between SC679J and SC886E:
http://www.sanitairevac.com/Compare/?products=SC679J,SC886E

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

eurekasanitaire

The SC886E has a two-year warranty for parts and labor; the SC679J, just one. Let me know what you think of the comparison I just keyed in.

~Ben

 

[eurekasanitaire]

Nice! So the SC679 is not as heavy duty as the SC886. Also, what about the motors? I've noticed a difference in sound between post 2010 Sanitaires and pre 2010 Sanitaires. Like the pre 2010 Sanitaires motors sound more traditional and the post 2010 motors sound like hair dryers. What is the difference?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

I wish I could explain more about the post-2010 motor designs. I hope somebody here more knowledgeable about this could explain this to you.

~Ben

 

[scooby214]

Blender Motor Vs. Pancake Motor

I believe the sc679 has the same 5 amp blender motor as my Eureka 1934b. I know it is not as strong as the 7 amp pancake motor in my s675, but in some ways I actually prefer the lower powered motor. My belts last longer with the blender motor. It's a little less noisy. I still get plenty of airflow with the blender motor. It's fun to watch bits of paper being pulled into either vacuum from the sides as I vacuum classrooms. They are both quite effective at vacuuming carpet.

I venture to guess that the pancake motor is more durable than the blender motor, at least in the bearings. If they made a 5 amp pancake motor, I'd love to try one out.

 

[eurekasanitaire]

So the post 2010 Sanitaires all have blender motors? I noticed too that the current heavy duty SC886s and SC888s could possibly have blender motors. I guess Sanitaire does not make pancake style motors anymore.

 

[3rdgenvacguy]

The 679 has a shorter cord, 5 amp motor, wooden brushroll, It has the thin furniture guard, the rear wheels are not mounted outboard like on the 886. The old motors had two field bolts coming up from the bottom, with nuts on the top motor housing holding it all together. The old machine had a lower bearing mounted in a flange that was held in by 3 rivets. The new machine has pressed on bearings on both ends of the armature. The two halves of the motor are held in by 4 screws going from top to bottom, with nuts on the bottom that are usually coated with some kind of epoxy. You have to scrape the epoxy off of the nuts to get them apart. Sometimes the bearing is even held into the housing with some kind of loctite. The old motors were easier to service. Its almost as if Sanitaire just wants you to replace motors when they have a problem instead of service them. I would consider both to be a pancake style motor.

 

[eurekasanitaire]

I'm just really curious as to why the sound on the new 2015 Sanitaires is very high pitched. It also seems like the post 2010 motors were made to be replaced when they broke. So all in all, the SC886 wins and beats the SC679. I would say the SC886 and SC899 are probably the best in the market. The SC888 used to be cool until 2010, because now those don't come with a headlight anymore. I also am not much of a fan of having to always replace the bags.

 

[scooby214]

The sc886 has the 7 amp pancake motor. The newer pancake motors are a bit different than the earlier pancake motors and they do sounds different. I believe the 5 amp motor in the sc679 is a blender motor.

One motor I'd really like to try is the 2 speed stepdown motor in the sc889. My local shop doesn't keep that model in stock, so I can't try it out without having him order one for me.

 

[eurekasanitaire]

You can probably find an SC889 cheap online if you really look. So that is cool how the SC679 has the blender motor!

 

[kirby519]

@scooby214

If you are going thru a lot of belts. Check the belt pulley. I had that trouble with some of mine. Believe it or not a new pulley on the motor will fix that. If it is rounded out where the belt loops over it. The pulley is worn out. Compare it to a new one and you will see the groove for the belt is more V shaped when New. $5.00 to $7.00 pulley will make it work like new.

 

[scooby214]

Belt Life and Pulley Wear

Kirby519, thanks for the tip about belt life being shortened by a worn pulley. I bought the s675 new in January, and noticed the belt issue from the beginning. The pulley doesn't show any wear at this point. I will keep an eye on the pulley for wear. Careful height adjustment seems to mitigate the issue for me. I mainly notice it when there is a transition from one carpet surface to another one that has newer, less worn pile. There are quite a few places like this in the areas I vacuum at school. It's not a big problem, but the less powerful 1934 doesn't show the problem. On the s675, the motor is so powerful that the motor isn't slowed when the brush roll is slowed by the transition to newer carpet. On the 1934, the power of the blender motor seems to be just about right, allowing me to get longer belt life.

I wish the s675 came with the 8 position height selector instead of the 6 position knob. If there was a smaller difference between position 1 and 2, I wouldn't have this issue at all. I attempted to order an 8 position knob last spring, but they were on backorder at the time. I haven't tried again recently.

I should say that the powerful s675 does an outstanding job on my home carpet.