The newest member of the family.

[petek]

You might want to get yourself a Magic Eraser at the grocery now if you don't already have some and see how magical they really are for getting rid of those stubborn scuff marks on the rubber and plastic. I love em.

 

[constellation86]

Manuals

I saved many of the pdf files of the Hoover owners manuals before the site changed and they were gone. I know I have a few convertible ones. If anyone needs one let me know and I can email it to you.
Nicholas

 

[electrogirl]

Hoover update

Well, so far all is well with the Hoover. I am so glad I posted that picture of the brush roll in the sink. I got to it just in time, thanks to all of you. I don't know what I was thinking! Well, it certainly is nice and clean now

I still have it disassembled, the bearings look good and still have grease on them (even after the bath). I am wondering..can I use white lithium grease? I happen to have a tube of that out in the garage.

I am working on cleaning the underside. I was busy the past couple days, so it is taken longer than usual. Overall the vac is in really good condition. The plastic hood only has a couple scratches on the highest point, and of course the normal scuffs and black stuff on the sides. The bristles on the brush roll look like new.

Next, I need to put the bag zipper back on the track on one side, it will be easiest if I remove the outer bag, but I am not sure how it comes off and goes back on again. I am afraid if I remove it, I won't be able to get it on again. I also don't want to rip it. Any advice from the experts would be greatly appreciated.

Pete,

What is a magic eraser? Is that the same thing as the gray artist erasers? I have a few of those somewhere in my office.

 

[myhooverco]

The bag comes away from the cleaner base by sliding the white tab on the bottom of the bag over. It is an "L" shaped white plastic piece between the handle bail. The bag will then pop off the cleaner. To remove the vinyl bag from the tube just remove the screw on the bottom back of the bag under the zipper and the tube will slide out along with the bag ring and rubber bellows. Best of luck on the zipper repair. Keep us posted!

--Tom

 

[electrogirl]

Tom,

Thanks for the advice, I did see the L lever and wondered what it did. The zipper was fine when I got the vac. On the way home from the thrift store I stopped at Target hoping to find bags for it, but I wasn't sure if it took C, so I unzipped it when I was in the parking lot to look at the bag, then I zipped it back down and noticed about an inch from the bottom, it was off the teeth. Now when I move it higher, it is off at that level. I hope it won't be difficult to get zipped up properly.

 

[electrogirl]

Tom,

Do I slide that L lever to my left? I am facing the back of the vacuum. It doesn't seem like it wants to move in either direction.

 

[eluxomarty]

Debbie

As you face the back of the cleaner slide the white lever to the left. It may take some muscle. The bag will pop right off. Some times i use a flat head screwdriver to slide ( push ) the lever over. Good Luck!

Marty

 

[electrogirl]

Marty,

Thank you! I followed your suggestion and took a flathead screwdriver to the base of the lever, and the bag is now off!

 

[buffalo-joe]

Be Careful.....

White Lithium grease does not mix well with standard grease. It can gum up everything. Its best to use axle grease or machine grease on these bearings. I use a medical syringe with the needle removed to inject the grease into the bearings. The grease I use is an agriculture grade grease for farm machinery. Its a good match on vacuums because both farm equipment and vacuums are in a dirty environment. 3 in 1 oil will get you by, but you'll have to oil quite frequently. Go to Tractor Supply and get a tube of grease for farm equipment and work that into the bearings. Now my secret for quiet Dial-A-Matics is out.......

Joe

 

[electrogirl]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the advice. I will stop at Tractor Supply this week and get the farm equipment grease you recommended. I do have 3 in 1 Oil here at the house, I also have surgical instrument oil from when my mother worked at a hospital.

I stopped at Wal-Mart to grab bags for the Hoover and I wandered over to the automotive section, they had grease in a can, but the ingredients said red lithium, I passed because I thought about your post, and I would rather get the farm equipment grease. Makes a lot of sense what you said about farm equipment and vacuums both operating in a dirty environment.

 

[myhooverco]

Electrogirl...

I am glad that you were able to remove the bag on your Convertible. These machines are very easy to work on and are very forgiving under severe use. I am sure that you will have it perfect before very long. It will surely be clean!

I agree with Joe on the grease. I too use a syringe to inject into the bearings. I just use plain old axle grease from Auto Zone. It is cheap and a container of it lasts forever. They do have a special grease gun for this procedure, but I have never had a chance to own one. And Joe is right about this little secret. He is the king of the Dial A Matic restoration. After Joe is done with a DAM, they are whisper quiet. I just used a DAM that Joe had restored about 6 years ago, and it is still smooth and silent after all of those years of sitting around. I think that Joe should hold a Dial A Matic clinic at the next convention in August!

Thanks for keeping us posted. It is so nice to see your enthusiasm for collecting vacuums. Do not be too down hearted on your lack of finds. There are plenty out there to be found yet. Keep up the good faith, have patience, and they will find their way to you! Before you know it, you will have hundreds of them.

--Tom