Tristar Question

[vacuumfreak]

Hey all, I just acquired my aunts old Tristar DXL since she got the EXL or MG1... cant remember. Anyways, I was looking online and google-ing some stuff about it, and I got a little bit confused. Could someone tell me what the difference is between the CXL and DXL? My tristar looks like the so called CXL's that I saw on youtube, but it clearly says DXL on the model plate, and I would like to know the difference between the two because they look identical. Ive attached a picture of my DXL below.

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[kc_kirby]

Daniel, the CXL and DXL are very similar. I have heard that the paint is slightly different but they look very close to the same to me. The DXL introduced a geared belt on the power nozzle. I think that is about the only difference physically other than the supposed different paint. The early DXL power nozzles look exactly like the CXL power nozzles yet have the geared belt. The later DXL's had a different looking power nozzle. That's about as much as I know about the differences. Hope this helps.

Chad

 

[vacuumfreak]

Thanks Chad! This one has the geared belt on it, so I guess that would help separate it from the CXL. Did the suction relief selector slider (on the power nozzle) break off quite often on these power nozzles? Mine seems to have broke off from when my aunt had it.

Thanks!!
Daniel

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I believe you have the early version since you have the grey pn, the later one was all black and plastic. These were a bit problematic with the geared belt system but they perfected it with the EXL. If i'm not mistaken the DXL was the very last of the old Compact body style and was around 1998 ish. There is a TINY bit of difference in the paint (one has more black specks) but its VERY hard to tell a diference unless you have them side by side.

 

[kirbylux77]

Philip, just to correct you there, the very last TriStar with this body style was called the EX-20. And the reason they didn't have any more problems with the geared belt PN's wasn't because they perfected it....the EXL PN is a Electrolux PN-6 with slight changes made.

Rob

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Thats what I meant by no more problems, they changed it.
So EX-20? What the heck is that? Did we have one here

 

[kirbylux77]

Yup, that's right Philip....the EX-20 was the last official TriStar before Electrolux bought them. I think it ran from 1996 to 1998 if I remember correctly.

Rob

 

[eurekastar]

The geared PN has a circuit board inside that is indeed problematic and fairly expensive. I have one that went out. So rather than buy a new one, I simply bypassed it.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Rob I would love to see the ex 20 as I can't remember ever seeing one of those. What color was it?

 

[kirbylux77]

Philip, it was the exact same spackle paint finish as the CXL above. I honestly don't know why they even called it EX-20 instead of just leaving it DXL, but they did. When I ordered new replacement body panels for my Mom's TriStar CXL 50th Anniversary Edition, as it was under warranty still, they said that for ALL the old models they replace it with EX-20 body panels, that's what they keep on hand in case someone decides to invoke the 25 year body warranty. I would imagine the EX-20 would be harder to find than a CXL or DXL model.

Rob

 

[vacuumfreak]

The circuit board in this power nozzle has been removed as well. What was the point of it? This PN works great! Thanks for all the info guys!

Daniel

 

[eurekastar]

Circuit Board

Just like other power nozzles, it's designed to shut down the motor if a sock or something is sucked into the nozzle.  It makes complete sense, because if the motor continues running for too long the geared belt will be ruined.  But they seem to have a high failure rate, and they cost about $50 each.  I don't know why Tristar didn't just go with the type that has a reset button. 

 

[vacuumfreak]

Oh, Okay, thanks!

Daniel

 

[jodan3399]

Looks the same as my cxl on the right.

 

[tolivac]

The circuit board would not only protect the belt---but the powernozzle MOTOR,too.That would be the most expensive part-When the brush is jammed by a sock or such-the belt doesn't always slip on the motor shaft-it will lock up the motor,too-causing the motor to draw excessive current and of course burning it out if the board or breaker doesn't trip off the power.

 

[eurekastar]

@ Tolivac

Exactly!  Great point!  It doesn't seem like the belt can put the motor in that kind of bind, but I'll bet you're right.  I'd never really thought of that.  

 

[vacuumfreak]

@jordan3399

The only thing I notice between the two models (yours compared to mine) is that my Tristar logo is silver, and the one on your CXL seems to be gold.

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[jodan3399]

Yep, it's gold.

That was the only difference I noticed too.