dysondestijl
Well-known member
Thanks benny, I'll just keep it as a collection vac and not use it then!
Thrifting finds- lux 612
- Thread starter dysondestijl
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dysondestijl
Well-known member
Well I've just looked at it again and it didn't feel too stable and then this happened... One hell of a lean... FORWARDS!
beko1987
Well-known member
That's got the same stance as my lux 412! Looks like that's a `run it until you get bored then break it for spares machine! I haven't seen one for years though. Good find.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
The 610 and 612 did this leaning-forward thing, which is why the chassis used to split at the rear. The pathetic pieces of plastic which were there to keep the cleaner at 90 degrees were not up to the job and this is the result. Some of the 614, 615, and 616 had a redesigned sole plate with inward facing lugs on the furthest parts towards the back of the cleaner. This was enough to press against the main body and stop it leaning forwards.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
The Contour was a far more robust machine, despite all the comments about it being of poor build quality. The 600 series had nothing on the Contour. The Contour had its failings of course, namely the problems with the handle staying locked upright on models where there was no foot pedal. Also on all models the mains lead could easily be pulled out from where it entered the cleaner, and many times did I get a cleaner brought in where the lead had snapped and / or shorted out at this point.
The whole design of the cleaner was such that it was very hard to push it round, but that was a poor design, not a fault. When compared to a 600 series machine, a Contour will require very few parts to get it back on the road.
The whole design of the cleaner was such that it was very hard to push it round, but that was a poor design, not a fault. When compared to a 600 series machine, a Contour will require very few parts to get it back on the road.
Thank you Benny, that was what I thought.
I have to say it does not come as a surprise to me that the flex could be pulled out as compared to my other uprights it is very thin and doesn't feel very strong.
I also agree it can be hard to push around with the only alleviation being to set the height adjustment a bit too high, but as long as you've got some strength in your arm it can be used.
In terms of "ease to push around" it is on par with the Philips U700/U800 I'd say.
Overall I'd say the Contour is a fantastic every-day machine and I use mine as such since it is the most marred of my upright cleaners.
I have to say it does not come as a surprise to me that the flex could be pulled out as compared to my other uprights it is very thin and doesn't feel very strong.
I also agree it can be hard to push around with the only alleviation being to set the height adjustment a bit too high, but as long as you've got some strength in your arm it can be used.
In terms of "ease to push around" it is on par with the Philips U700/U800 I'd say.
Overall I'd say the Contour is a fantastic every-day machine and I use mine as such since it is the most marred of my upright cleaners.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
It is the unusual curve of the handle which makes it difficult to move. The user is putting pressure on it in all the wrong places.
It was not that the mains lead was thin which caused the issue, it was the fact that the lead left the cleaner without any form of cord protector, such as that used on the 600 series. The lead was easy to tread on when pushing the cleaner around, and all the pulling up of it when cleaning was more than the machine could bear. Early Hoover Turbopower2 and the Turbopower 1000's were just the same (the TP2 had the lead exit point moved to the top when the TP3 was introduced as the longer hose of the TP3 got in the way of the original exit point). Most of the Dyson DC01 models were just the same.
It was not that the mains lead was thin which caused the issue, it was the fact that the lead left the cleaner without any form of cord protector, such as that used on the 600 series. The lead was easy to tread on when pushing the cleaner around, and all the pulling up of it when cleaning was more than the machine could bear. Early Hoover Turbopower2 and the Turbopower 1000's were just the same (the TP2 had the lead exit point moved to the top when the TP3 was introduced as the longer hose of the TP3 got in the way of the original exit point). Most of the Dyson DC01 models were just the same.
Ah, I've just remembered, the one weakness my Contour (and all of them I imagine) has is that the cord hook falls out frequently due to one of the prongs having snapped off.
Why it is fitted in such a way I do not know, surely it must have been obvious to Electrolux what would happen over the years of having strain put on it with such a weak provision to hold it in place.
Why it is fitted in such a way I do not know, surely it must have been obvious to Electrolux what would happen over the years of having strain put on it with such a weak provision to hold it in place.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
It was the position of the lead, Jamie. After years of using flex sleeves on upright cleaners to enusure the lead point up (or in the case of the 500 series down) and that there was no sharp right-angle to the lead, suddenly Electrolux did away with it. As I said Hoover switched to a top-mounted exit point, the design changed forced by the need for the TP3 hose to pass the original flex point, but also was a much needed apdaption to the cleaner anyway. Panasonic always has the lead point upwards and never did they have such a problem.
The top flex hook was such that it could be fitted cheaply and easily. Although a good deal of them did break, most didn't. It was strong enough to last the lifetime of most cleaners, but also served as what I always call 'built in failure' to ensure that eventually people bought a new machine.
The top flex hook was such that it could be fitted cheaply and easily. Although a good deal of them did break, most didn't. It was strong enough to last the lifetime of most cleaners, but also served as what I always call 'built in failure' to ensure that eventually people bought a new machine.
Yes I could accept it being designed to be cheaply fitted but the Contour Varipower was not a budget machine. I believe it marketed at around £120, on par with the Hoover Turbopower 1000/2 Autosense which had a much better hook.
Now I'm thinking of the negatives of the Contour, I also must point out the carry handle feels very weak and bends a good deal when you lift the cleaner giving the impression it could snap at any minute.
As such I always lift the Contour (and all my uprights just to be on the safe side) with one hand on the carry handle and the other where the brush roll is to reduce the strain on former.
Now I'm thinking of the negatives of the Contour, I also must point out the carry handle feels very weak and bends a good deal when you lift the cleaner giving the impression it could snap at any minute.
As such I always lift the Contour (and all my uprights just to be on the safe side) with one hand on the carry handle and the other where the brush roll is to reduce the strain on former.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
No by cheaply I meant to reduce labour costs on the assembly line. Not cheap as in the cleaner was a cheap model.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Goodness no. It doesn't matter what one buys, how much one pays for it, or where the product lies within a range, as time has progressed all mass produced products have declined in build quality. A top-range product only has to be as good as the next best thing already on sale. In that respect, the Contour cleaner was of above average build quality when compared to all the competition.
If you take cleaners with on-board tools, the 'competition' at this time would have been the Philips U800, Hoover Turbopower & Turbomaster Total System, and Goblin Laser. The Contour was far superior to all of those in terms of build quality and suction power. The introduction of the Turbopower2 and 1000 was the first decent build in a long time. They Dyson DC01 had to be the worst of them all, and look at the price of that.
If you take cleaners with on-board tools, the 'competition' at this time would have been the Philips U800, Hoover Turbopower & Turbomaster Total System, and Goblin Laser. The Contour was far superior to all of those in terms of build quality and suction power. The introduction of the Turbopower2 and 1000 was the first decent build in a long time. They Dyson DC01 had to be the worst of them all, and look at the price of that.
hooversrus2012
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2012
- Messages
- 92
its not about cut backs j murrey its our people treat vacuum cleaners. in its lifetime i bet its be used n abused
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Yes and it is about cut backs. You only have to look at the same product through the years to see how things change. To speak of cord hooks, look at the cord hooks on the Junior and Senior. In the early 1970's they began using plastic. It was rare to see two complete hooks back in the day, never mind 40 years on.
The Hoover Turbopower2 was something of a huge departure for Hoover as the build quality excelled over any upright they had made for over 30 years.
The Hoover Turbopower2 was something of a huge departure for Hoover as the build quality excelled over any upright they had made for over 30 years.
You make a good point there Benny, I have only seen one Senior with two intact cord hooks in my life.
My Ranger has a damaged lower hook (though still useable) and it isn't very pleasant when you wind the cord up in a hurry and scrape your hand on a jagged piece of plastic.
My Ranger has a damaged lower hook (though still useable) and it isn't very pleasant when you wind the cord up in a hurry and scrape your hand on a jagged piece of plastic.
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