Tristar CXL questions

[vacfan83]

I recently bought a Tristar CXL for $25 off of FB Marketplace and it was in better condition than I thought when I saw it in person. Unfortunately, it was missing the original crevice and upholstery tools. It needed some cleaning as well as deodorizing to get rid of a musty smell from its exhaust. This is a vac that I have wanted ever since I used one at a friend’s house when I was a teenager. For the Tristar experts on here I have a couple of questions:

1) Is the power nozzle supposed to swivel easily where it connects to the wand? Mine spins around very easily especially if I lift it off the carpet.
2) I cannot seem to find a replacement cord online that runs from the power nozzle to where it connects to the hose grip. Is this part no longer available? The cord on mine has a break in it near where it exits the power nozzle.
3) I plan to use this as my main vacuum but I find it cumbersome to use on stairs. Did Tristar ever make an equivalent to the Electrolux Sidekick?

The motors on the power nozzle and main unit seem to be in really good condition. I am amazed at how smooth they sound in comparison to my Electrolux Diamond Jubilee. In my opinion, I think the Tristar is higher quality vacuum than the Electrolux.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

1 yes the neck on the power head makes the wand swivel.
2 look on ebay for the replacement cord might find one there .il keep an eye out for ya
3 no never made a side kick like electrolux but it will fit with a pig tail and stub tube thats how i use mine contact me any time i have 2 compact and 2 tristar .

 

[vacfan83]

Thanks!

I really appreciate you answering my questions. I will take a look at eBay for the replacement power nozzle cord. This is probably a dumb question, but what is the difference between Compact and Tristar?

 

[kirbylux77]

Rick, congrats on your TriStar CXL find! You definitely got a deal there. Here in Ontario, Canada, most sellers when you see them on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace are asking at least $100 - and usually much more than that!

As for your questions - 1. Yes, the wand does swivel from side to side in the powerhead neck. See how it has the slot on both sides? That's so it can swivel both ways. 2. The original white powerhead cord may be hard to find on Ebay. You're probably only going to find a used one. You would actually be better off contacting a TriStar distributor in your area and have them sell you one, or contact TriStar Canada, as Danemodsandy, a former poster, has suggested in the past. They are very friendly people and have no problem selling to Americans. You should also know that, besides color, there is nothing special or proprietary about that powerhead cord - if you're willing to live with black, any generic powerhead cord your local vac shop has will work just fine. 3. The Wessel Werk HEB160 mini powerhead will work with your TriStar, but you will need the small stub tube to adapt it to work with the TriStar hose handle.

Due to the age of your vacuum, being from the mid 90's, I would suggest you immediately take the vacuum apart and inspect the motor's carbon brushes. Chances are highly likely that's the original motor in there it was sold with, and by this time the carbon brushes should be worn down to next to nothing. If you change them NOW, you can prevent damage to the motor's armature by preventing the brass body of the carbon brush holder from scraping against the armature. Buy yourself a armature seating stone, new carbon brushes, install them, and using a drill and socket, seat the carbon brushes and clean up the armature on your motor. Of course, do this with the power on the vacuum off. You will thank me later when this extends the life of your motor and you don't have to spend money on a costly motor replacement in 2 to 3 years.

As for what's the difference between Compact and TriStar? Basically the name and powerhead. Prior to TriStar, Interstate Engineering had used a rebadged Eureka Roto Matic powerhead with a air bleeder valve put on it, the stub tube to make it work with the Compact wand, and it's own label for Compact. Otherwise, they're identical. Also, with the 2nd TriStar model, the CXL, they did make a change to the blower port and made it a plastic blower basket held in place with a gasket and 2 screws. Prior to this, the Compact and first 2 Speed TriStar CXL had the blower port molded into the metal body, and there was a plastic ring and gasket held in place by 2 screws to put the exhaust cap on.

As for your assertion that TriStar is better quality than Aerus Electrolux? I will respectfully disagree with you and say that Aerus Electrolux is better quality than TriStar. First of all, if you didn't know, it was Aerus Electrolux that invented the canister vacuum in the first place! If they hadn't come out with the first model in 1924, there would be no other canister vacuum brands to follow now would there? Also, unlike TriStar, Aerus Electrolux made ALL of the vacuum themselves - both the motors, the cordreel, hose - and believe it or not, even the bag! Yes, Aerus Electrolux was one of the few manufacturers that actually believed in making their own vacuum bags, and to the point they made using the bags as part of the warranty for the vacuum, and they stressed the importance of using ONLY genuine Aerus Electrolux bags due to their superior quality. Now, contrast that with your TriStar, which has pretty much EVERYTHING on it outsourced - even the bag - and their powerhead a clone of another manufacturer's design - would you STILL say the TriStar is better quality? Nope, I think not.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

i have used both electrolux and tristar i will say my compact c9 feels more powerfull than my lux zb89 or gardian maybe oits the vac america great bag i nher but shes a power house but both machime are good.

 

[vacfan83]

KirbyLux77 thank you for answering my questions.

I always appreciate a different perspective then my own so I find it interesting that you view Electrolux as a higher quality machine based on it manufacturing its own parts. I have never thought of quality in that way. Up until a few years ago, I owned a Electrolux model L and its quality was on par with the Tristar in my opinion. The Model L was older but it had wonderful sounding motor versus the louder less smooth sound of my Diamond Jubilee. I will say that the Electrolux is more convenient to use given that it has self-sealing bags, quick connect wands, and the very handy Sidekick.

 

[lesinutah]

Ummm

I'd go with tristar having better parts.
I'm not saying luxs are bad. The tristars are like a workhorse. They last forever.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

i have 2 compact one tristar cxl and few lux the electrolux i had all needed repair not my compact there work horse abuse em work em no issue then again there more commercial grade

 

[panasonicvac]

I have one myself

Not my personal favorite but it is a really nice machine. I also own a Electrolux canister as well. Between the two, each does have it's pros and cons. But if I had to choose between the two, I'd favor the Tristar over the Lux. I like how much more compact it is, I appreciate the simplicity, has more filtration layers, I can easily retrieve something out of the bag if I sucked up something I shouldn't, it can use different types of hoses and powerheads, it can use an even stronger motor, and it feels more solid. So I actually agree with you of the Tristar being better quality than the Electrolux. Yes Electrolux had been around longer but when you have other manufactures that studies their competitors and designs something even better, maybe not everything better but that's where I think the real quality comes in at as I've studied engineering before through college.