Speaking of TriStars... My Luck Has Stricken Again

[vacman117]

I found an ad on Craigslist for this TriStar Mg-2 with no location or price. I emailed them just to humor myself and the lady said she'd take $35 for it. She then said she lived only 15 minutes away from my house! I went and picked it up last night and I couldn't be happier.


 


It came with all of the standard attachments (dusting brush, upholstery tool, and crevice tool) as well as the adapter. It really just needed new filters and a really good cleaning. I threw the reusable cloth filter in the washing machine and it's as good as new. There's a little bit of peeling paint just above the bumper in a few places, but nothing too bad. 


 


I currently have a CXL and a DXL and I'm not sure which style I like better, compared to this. The Mg-2 is very lightweight compared to the DXL. It is also much quieter. I noticed that it maneuvers much easier, and isn't as loud when rolling across wood floors. I like how the cord stores under the machine, it gives it a much sleeker and futuristic look. I also like how the attachment caddy isn't able to constantly fall of the wand, which happens all the time when I'm using the DXL. I love the attachments, especially the horsehair dusting brush.


 


Now the bad... I kind of think that they ruined it by using the Lux power nozzle. It's a decent power nozzle and could be worse, but it also could be a lot better. And for that reason, I think that the DXL might clean the carpet a little better. The DXL definitely digs in a lot more. It's also kind of disappointing with the plastic wands. I like how convenient they are, but I'm also afraid of breaking them. 


 


All in all, this is definitely going to get used a lot in my house and I'm really happy that I got it. 

 

[vacuumfan96]

Nice find Chase!

That is a beautiful machine! You definatly struck allot of luck with that find! Congrats!

 

[suckolux]

Another lucky Chase find

 

[director12]

Congrats.

 

[blackheart]

dxl v MG2

Your DXL may clean better the MG2 uses the single stage VM3 motor which produces high suction but it's airflow is pretty lacking i know the baird meter would read at about 1.5 with the tool adaptor on it. While my CXL reads in at about 5 or 5.5 i can't recall right now.

The Lux nozzle though isn't too bad of a cleaner the additional weight really helps it become a pretty good nozzle.

If you'd like a little better cleaning performance i'd recommend putting in a dual stage motor i know Eric (floor-a-matic) upgraded his exl with the motor in the link. if you were to do this you'd need the exl motor gasket. I actually swapped out the VM3 for the EXL motor, which is a dual stage motor with a tapered front fan, and i believe is the same one used in the Lux 6500. With the EXL motor it pulls a little over 3x the airflow. This performance boost gave it an edge when i compared it with some other high end canisters it outcleaned my filterqueen, rainbow E2 black, and aerus guardian.

It was interesting that it outcleaned the aerus that drastically beacause in airflow there is only a difference of about 1 on the guage so it leads me to believe that the weighted nozzle is what makes the difference as they both have the same brushroll in them

http://www.blowermotorsplus.com/Ametek_115923_Blower_Vacuum_Motor_4M903_p/115923.htm

 

[thermokid]

Tristar MG2

I had two of them and I just gave one of them away.It also had paint chipping around the bumper area, leading me to believe it had been taken apart and had a new motor installed. It was a very noisy machine. Where as the Tristar MG2 that I had kept is a very quiet machine compared to the MG2 that I had given away. The one I kept is as quiet as my MG3 and my Tristar CS.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Wow, $35 is a steal for that! Congratulations! I've never really played with one of that style Tri Stars. I like everything about it except the plastic wands and the tools. I would be curious to try one in my home, but expect that the wands woudl be the dealbreaker. Enjoy!!

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Chase, wow that crazy unending luck! Seriously, we all need to rub your forehead and see if the luck will spread!

You know, as much as I've loved vacuums since I was a kid, I've never even touched a Tri-star! I think about getting one every now and then, but they seem cumbersome and I don't like the whole no cord rewinder thing... I agree that it's disappointing about the Electrolux power nozzle.... very whiny and no beater bars. The plastic wands on my Renny don't bother me much when using the power nozzle (I appreciate that they allow the power nozzle to swivel unlike the metal ones), but it is a bit bulky when using the bare floor tool.

Congrats on an awesome find at a great price.... I'm happy that you are so thrilled with it (still miss your youtube channel btw! I've been lazy and haven't made any videos in for mine in months!)... What amazing machine will you find next? If your luck keeps up like this, soon, people will be paying you to take machines off their hands! As an aside, do you still like your Radiances?

 

[floor-a-matic]

I often find lots of A101 TriStar (EXL, MG & CS) vacs on the curb in various conditions. Sometimes 100% complete; missing some tools or just the canister itself.