The end?

[oldskoolguy]

Well, after cleaning my wonderful Hoover Custom Convertible model u4395 (the whole thing looks virtually brand new after cleaning!), I started putting it back together, and tested the motor. Motor ran fine except.... the fan rubbed up against the bottom of the motor. At first, I thought it was the adhesive I used to seal the crack in the base (Flex Shot). But after rubbing some of it off, I noticed that wasn’t it, and determined that the fan was practically wedged against the bottom. Took it apart, and got the fan off, but could not figure out what was happening. Put it back on, and I still noticed the wedging. I noticed the armature also spinning off center (but that may have just been me or normal), but did not notice anything bent. Upon putting the motor back in, somehow the clip or terminal or socket (whatever you want to call it) to one of the brushes broke in 2 (1 part attched to the wire, the other in against the carbon brush). Now I question: is this worth fixing? Or is this trusty old Hoover done? I imagine just a new fan will fix the fan rubbing up against the bottom of the motor, but if it’s something more serious, that’s another story.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Of course, "I" would

do anything I could to save it.

 

[oldskoolguy]

Gottahaveahoove,
You remind me so much of myself! I too would do anything I could to save it, but I’m on the fence on repairing it (I’d take a stab at it, but if it turns out that a new fan doesn’t work, I would be afraid to cause damage to the motor). A fan is one thing, but a broken connector is another. Sure, I can just run to the hardware store, Home Depot, or wherever and buy a cheap connector, but getting the old one off and fitting the new one on is another story. I’m not sure if I can just simply remove the old one with pliers or if I have to cut the wire. If I have to cut the wire where it meets the connector, I worry that it might not reach. Thankfully, the other connector (for the other carbon brush) is still intact as are the connectors to the speed switch. But, I, like you, would do ANYTHING to save this wonderful cleaner, especially considering the sentimental value to me due to it being part of my childhood.

 

[kirbyklekter]

I'm just wondering have you tried

pulling up and down on the fan to see if there is a lot of "play" with the motor shaft? Even with the fan off you could check the pulley for excessive play. I wonder if it might be a bearing or bushing going bad. Were there any washers or spacers that go on the motor shaft before the fan that may be missing or worn thin? Bill

 

[bnsd60m9200]

did you put the fan washers back in the right order?

it sounds like you may have not put the washers back in where theyre supposed to be or cross threaded the fan pulley. theyre should be two metal washers or one fat plastic washer between the bottom bearing race and the inside of the fan. replacing the fan will not fix that. the washers need to be located otherwise any fan will bind the the base of the machine.

also there is a skinny brass 0 ring (the bearing race) that pops in the bottom of the bearing so the commutator shaft gets direct contact with the lower roller bearing. if this popped out and you removed it and didnt put it back, it will also cause binding as it creates a 1/16th of an inch gap between the fan and fan case WITH the washers installed. check for those first. if everything i mentioned is installed, then we have something else to discuss.

 

[oldskoolguy]

Everything was on correctly. I’m thinking this is just a case of a busted fan with a crack that has caused it to become stuck. I’ve not seen any bearings, so I doubt I pulled I pulled one out, I was able to pop off the pulley, black spacer between the pulley and fan, fan, and a cylindrical spacer. Then on the top I got a small washer and the top armature cooling fan out. That’s it, really. I’ve never had this problem until I noticed the fan had some damage to it that looked minor. I’ve never even taken the fan out until now. A few months ago, I took out the brush and belt so I could use tools (a personal preference to do so), and this issue never came up. I’d test it again, but like I said, I’ve got a connector that broke, so I won’tbe able to turn it on. I’d mess with it and see if I can get it to touch the piece that’s touching the brush, but i’d rather not risk electricution over testing an old vacuum.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

running those machines on high speed without the brushroll is probably what did the problem. those machines will get damaged if you continue to do that, those motors will burn up without the load of the belt and brushroll to slow them down. its quite possible that operation caused the damage you speak of.

 

[madman]

Eh, I dunno about that. The fan should create enough resistance to regulate the motor from overspeed.

Anyhow, do these motors have thrust washers?

Repairing the brush connector wire would be a trivial thing, not worth scrapping the machine over.

Apparently you're local to me, I wouldn't mind having a look at it.

 

[midcenturyfan]

I would save the Hoover, even if it won't run. It will still look just as nice, and it is not necessary to use every machine in a collection.

Robin.

 

[oldskoolguy]

An update

So I dropped off the old Hoover convertible at my local vacuum store, which I’m told by another member of the forums is a very honest guy. Given that I have done business with him before (he sold me my Royal). I am hoping that this will turn our well. If not, then I will keep it and maybe one day I’ll fix it up, Or I will take you up on your offer MadMan (great to know there’s always someone nearby that can fix what others might not be able to). If I do wind up fixing it, then I will make a thread on the forum to show everyone how things are coming (will hardly need cleaning if at all since I did so before the clip/terminal broke).

 

[oldskoolguy]

Well.... unfortunately it seems as though the one thing standing in the way of any repair is a terminal. It broke in two. That is what I was told.

 

[scudo]

Any chance of a picture of the terminal as it may give others some idea how to repair it.

 

[oldskoolguy]

I don’t exaclt have a picture, but I did take a screenshot of a video I made. It’s not the best quality, but at least it’s something. I can draw a picture to make it more accurate thought.

 

[madman]

I have no idea what I'm looking for.

 

[oldskoolguy]

MadMan,

I can gladly help you out here to find what you’re trying to look for on the machine, or via email. I sadly don’t have better photos, so my apologies. I’m getting the machine picked up from a fan change soon, so I’ll get you some better photos of the broken clip.

 

[scudo]

Same as Madman I am not sure what I should be looking at, does the diagram help identify the issue? Assuming it is a similar model.

 

[oldskoolguy]

Scudo,
Yes it does. I believe the motor is slightly different, though, I don’t believe I have part number 10 on the diagram, unless I do and it’s part of something else (iirc, a lot of these parts diagrams on websites appear to be reused from older models, heck, I’ve seen, again iirc, a convertible diagram for a guardsman). You most likely have identified the terminal. Now for the issue: obviously it broke, happened when I took the motor out. Now it is 2 pieces, one part still on the wire, the other is in the slot where it connects with the brush. I’ve not tried to remove it because I’d rather not cause more damage than what is already there. I’d like to say that it’s a male terminal, but it could be female judging by how it looks to connect to the wire on the diagram. Then again, I don’t know much about wire terminals.

 

[scudo]

Oldskoolguy, Do try and get some decent images of the part and what goes where if you can, including the 2 broken parts.
It will be interesting to see if it is repairable.

 

[oldskoolguy]

I don’t mean to bump an old thread, but...

Unfortunately things didn’t work out, after waiting 2 months starting in December) with no word from the vacuum store I took it to for repair, I discovered last month that the vacuum was thrown out at the end of February. The guy repairing it said he would look for a new fan, but sounds like he never did or didn’t check everywhere for the part (I told him not to worry about the terminal). Unfortunately, no one ever told me ahead of time that it was going to be thrown away. A big bummer, but I am hopeful that someday I will find the same machine (even if the serial number is different).