Vintage Electrolux Repair Help in MA

[kennyv]

Hi Everyone,

New to Vacuumland and honestly new to vintage vacuum repair. My Wife is a die-hard vintage Electrolux user having owned a residential cleaning business before we met, she feels nothing quite lives up to the old Electrolux.

We currently have 3 Electrolux vacuums: A Model G, an Ambassador III and a Marquise. Of the 3, only the Ambassador III is currently working.

The Model G runs but makes a terrible grinding noise when on. She has attempted to get this repaired locally but was told it was most likely the rotor and that part couldn't be found. I'd like to try to fix this one myself, but I'm really having trouble finding the best place to get the right parts.

The Marquise just died yesterday. No longer turns on.

I was hoping to get some information on if anyone knows of a reputable repair shop in the MA area, preferably Metrowest Boston that could repair these for me, or if there is somewhere that I could go to troubleshoot, find parts and attempt to complete the repairs myself. I'd love to get all 3 back up and running.

Thanks for any help you all can provide.

 

[caligula]

Hi Kennyv:

Welcome to Vacuumland.

Electrolux seems to be the hot topic right now, I'm sure there will be several members willing and able to answer your questions.

Alex Taber.

(Caligula is the cat in my avatar.)

 

[human]

First of all, your wife has great taste in vacuums. Second, respect to both of you for wanting to repair and save these machines instead of trash and replace them. I don't know anything about repair shops in your area but there are a lot of very knowledgeable people on this site who can help you with your mission. The nice part is those older machines are actually designed for repairability, unlike today's plastic junk that's designed for disposability and there are no circuit boards (aka self-destruct devices) to contend with.

The fact that the Marquise died suddenly makes me think a bad switch may be the culprit. That's easily confirmed with an ohmmeter but also open it up and see if there are any signs of burnt wires or anything like that. The grinding noise in the Model G sounds like it could be motor bearings but I don't know for sure.

Good luck with them, though.

 

[kennyv]

Thanks to you both. Happy to be here. I'm hoping the information gained here will lead me to be able to diagnose and repair these machines, and any others she finds at the thrift store or yard sale in the future, myself. Human, thanks for giving me somewhere to start.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

Model G needs bearing and armature fix ,
Marquise could of over heath and turn off try it again .
Id repalce the motor in the model g

 

[real1shep]

Kenny......

it could be a number of things on the G....Bad armature, or brush holders, bearings and/or fan stage bent etc. It would probably be obvious to you if you took things apart and posted pics......if you want to go that route.

The G however, would be my LAST choice in a commercial or heavy duty cleaning environment. While a spectacular, quiet vacuum the wheels are quite fragile/unobtainium and the stance in pretty narrow so it's easy to tip over. If you look at how they designed the 1205, the Super J, the Sliverado and the Diamond J et al, you can see the difference.

G's are better suited to smaller spaces where you have lots of time to pull them around carefully/slower and can use their original PN's.

I have a ton of G's, but rarely use them anymore. We'd know more if we could see & hear a vid of the G running.

Kevin

 

[quebecois]

The cord could be broken inside your Marquise, close to the end, in the reel.

 

[real1shep]

That's true......

Any Electrolux with a cord reel, you can have electrical failure there.

And while I think Electrolux cord reel assemblies are easy to repair, many people find them very frustrating, even dangerous.

Kevin

 

[kennyv]

Thank You for your responses.

Kevin: I would love to post a video of the noise it's making, but I'm unsure how to do so on this thread. Although my Wife used to operate a residential cleaning business, she no longer does and all of these are dragged slowly around our 1 floor ranch home. I love the look of the G, but in all of your more educated opinions, do I have a better performing vacuum in the bunch. I'd love to fix all of them, but I would like to start with the one that will help my Wife get the house clean the best

Quebecois: I'll give the cord a look on the Marquise.

 

[quebecois]

kennyv:

You will have to separate the machine in two halves (top and bottom) to access the cord reel, it could be performed with the machine upside down, bag door opened, then you slip both bumper slides through the front. You'll probably need a mallet and a big flat screwdriver to gently hammer the bumpers off.

Make sure to pull the cord one feet out first to give you some play while handling both halves of the machine.

Then the reel itself could be split in two halves. You may like to pull the whole cord out before you split the reel, or after, it doesn't really matter. The cord is usually broken at the very end, close to the electrical connections, and sometimes it is not that obvious at first sight.

 

[real1shep]

The Marquise is actually the old Super J design and so for robustness, it trumps the G design. Suction will be similar, but a properly working Marquise should have a little more suction than the G.....not much though.

I always go through the cord winders when I start on one of these machines. Then I test and work on the motor. Check the tubing involved in the bag indicator...usually stiff and or leaking with age.

Generally a good idea to 'spa' one of these and in doing so, you'll probably find things needed to repair/replace.

I'm not clear if you want to go all the way through this, or just get it working again?

There are You Tube vids on taking a Marquise apart. As far as posting a vid here, I think you probably have to host it someplace like You Tube and then post the link here. In the past, I just posted pics here.

Kevin

 

[kennyv]

Thanks for all the information. I will start with the Marquise then, since I already dis-assembled the cord reel. I planned to "just get it working", but now I plan to use this a good learning experience for future repairs.

I'll check out youtube for the vids on dis-assembly and repair of the Marquise, and I'll try to get a video linked for the audio of the G.

I appreciate you laying out the steps to repair, although you make it sound like a few simple steps and to me, it sounds like I may end up with a lot of vacuum parts and no vacuum haha I'm here to give it a go though, so thanks again.

 

[human]

Time for some methodical testing...

Now that you've got the Marquise apart, it should be very easy to pin down the problem using a volt-ohm-milliammeter (aka VOM, aka multimeter, aka multitester) to test for continuity. Start with the cord reel. Touch one lead to a contact on the plug and one to each of the contacts on the cord reel. At least one contact (I think there's a total of three) should have continuity, then repeat with the other side of the plug. If both sides have continuity, the cord and reel should be fine and the problem is further upstream. The next step would be to do a similar continuity test on the switch. If one side does not have continuity, then you've isolated the problem.

Your choice at that point is either to repair the cord on the cord reel (be very careful of the spring as it can cut you) or to replace the cord winder assembly, which is much more expensive but considerably easier. If you're patient in searching eBay, you may be able to save a few bucks picking up a good second hand one. Others can correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I believe the cord winder is the same going back to the Super J, maybe even to the 1205.

Last spring, I picked up a Diplomat LX canister from beside a dumpster that had had the cord cut off and I lucked up on a cord winder for it on eBay for $17 including shipping. They're usually much more expensive. Installing the cord winder and reassembling the machine took about five minutes and now it works perfectly.

I just thought of something else. When you plug the machine and turn it on does the "check bag" light come on? That could indicate the bag eject switch has gone bad or one of the vacuum lines connecting to it has split or come disconnected. I had that problem a Super J and had to replace the bag eject switch, which had overheated and one of the contacts was melted. It required taking the bag door apart, which is pretty easy, just a couple of screws.

Don't worry; you've got this!

 

[real1shep]

First Electrolux cord winder I did was on a G. The design is very similar all they way through the metal body tanks with some small variations.

The classic mistake that most everyone makes when reassembling the cord winder is to not leave a few spring coil wraps on the reel when the cord is pulled all the way out. If you don't do that, it will classically jump off or break.

I thought about making a vid of restoring Electrolux cord winders yrs ago, but I never got around to it and then left this site.

Kevin

 

[real1shep]

He admits this one won't get the 'spa' treatment because it's too beat up. But this may help you get it apart at least.

Kevin

 

[jo]

Repairs

On the Marquise sounds like it’s the power switch or cord or cord reel.

In case you are not aware and would like genuine service and parts to fix these machines you can take them to your local Aerus dealer. Electrolux is now Aerus due to a name change in 2003. I have family in the northeast and northern Rhode Island and on the Maine NH border. Electrolux is still very popular there so an Aerus dealer is your best bet for genuine service.

You may be able to get a motor for the G on eBay. While it’s a beast because it’s so heavy, they were the top of the top of the line just before the 1205 came out that addressed the dated look and tipping over issue by rotating the bag compartment 90 degrees.

So,some mentioned the procedure to disassemble the Marquise by sliding off the bumpers, that procedure is for the ambassador plastic bodied machine...before you do this flip it upside down as everything is mounted to the top half of the machine.

If interested you can find your local Aerus dealer by going to aerusvacuums.com and hit the store locator icon at top right corner. You’ll also see that this is the original Electrolux vacuum, as if you look at the Aerus Lux Classic canister, it is nearly identical to your Ambassador, just the color has changed.

If you are interested in a new machine they’ll likely take quite a bit off by trading in one of your old machines that would be the most difficult to fix, they usually give you the most if it’s an Electrolux versus another brand and you get to keep any attachments usually, they just mostly want the canister with the serial number to record for the trade in.

Consider eBay and craigslist for more machines if you want, you may be able to get some good deals and put things together to make good hard workers.

Other vacuum stores will sell generic parts, to get new genuine parts you must go to an Aerus dealer. While it may cost a bit more, usually not much if you are doing it yourself, using the best parts will be good for durability especially since these machines are being used hard for a cleaning business...generic parts usually are not of good quality as the plastic is not as strong or they simply are not designed the same due to patent rights.

I love my Electrolux vacs so I understand your plight to keep them going and prefer to use only genuine parts for hassle free repairs and with your high use needs, would strongly recommend.

I don’t know if Aerus can put a motor in the G for you, it may just be too old as the last G was made in 1968, though they sold some reconditioned ones in the 70s and 80s. You may also consider just buying an L, AF, or another G main unit only to use with your G hose and parts. Usually can get that for around or under $100. But extra parts are always good too!

Hope I gave you some good options here.

Jon

 

[air-waycharlie]

Kenny, in case you are interested, there is an Aerus/Electrolux dealer in Richmond, VA, and the owner has been with Electrolux since 1976. His son specializes in repairs and restorations of older Electrolux products. You can google them by looking up Aerus/Electrolux Richmond, VA.

You will find information on their site about their history and also Ray Satterwhite's son Bryan who does the restorations. If you choose to contact them you would be responsible for shipping the machines to them.

This is just an option if you get stymied in trying to do self-repairs or finding parts. The Richmond store has a large supply of genuine Lux parts for older machines.

Those are three great vacuums and I wish you success in getting them up and running to their full ability.

 

[jo]

Model G

In thinking about this you may want to retire the model G, parts are beginning to become scarce for this model and it’s particularly heavy. If you have a decent electric hose for it, it can be used with the model L which is much lighter weight and many are available on eBay and they are work horses, some have the optional cordwinder which adds a bit of weight though. The L was marketed as “The worlds lightest weight heavy duty vacuum cleaner”. I think Aerus still sells all the parts for an L but the pigtail electric hose is getting harder to find as a genuine part but there are generic hoses available for it, though the rubber may not last nearly as long.

If you decide to retire the G altogether and get a different model and don’t need the hose from it,, depending on which hose you have, I may be interested in buying the hose. If interested in selling it please tap on my username and you’ll find my email and you can email me outside of this thread.

I have a Marquise as well. I got it with a dead motor and put the motor from a Renaissance that needed a costly hose into the Marquise.

I also have an Aerus Lux Legacy...this model is equivalent to the Marquise as it has the “automatic control feature” to pop the bag door open when suction gets reduced by the bag filling with dirt. The Aerus Lux Legacy has plastic electric wands though and a swivel elbow at the power nozzle end, so it may not be as durable for a cleaning business as the Lux Classic model and is still sold by Aerus..

The Lux platinum is the current top of the line and the motor unit base is made by Lux Of Switzerland and fitted with Much loved American made Aerus/Electrolux tools, but with the newer style plastic electric wands which may not hold up as well.

The Gold colored Super J, The Brown Olympia, and the Grey Silverado models have a reputation for being the Both the strongest and longest lasting of the models With all metal motors. Though I’d have to throw the model L in there too in my opinion. From 1985 beginning with the Diamond Jubilee model (two push button switch on off models like your Marquise) plastic was introduced into the motor construction and the motors started having issues which then had to be addressed. The Marquise was made in 1988 primarily. I have a Silverado model who’s motor just died after weekly household use for 36 years.

There is a gentleman on here who has offered to rebuild the motor for me for a reasonable price, he may be able to do the same for your model G motor which is also an all metal motor. Metal is best for motors, the metal carries away the heat and the air blowing through cools the heated metal from the motor friction. If you would like his username, I can get it to you and you could check with him if this is something he can do for your G.

As you know the hoses are not interchangeable between the three models you have, but if you decide to get a replacement main unit for the G on eBay or craigslist...the model R, Model AF with power nozzle outlet (some don’t have it) Another G of course, or a Model L are your options that your current hose if it’s electric with the little pigtail wire at the machine end will work with. Note that early versions of the AF (or Automatic F) may not have the power nozzle outlet...the way you can tell is it is located on the right side of the chrome trim nearest the top of the bag door, it usually has a little beige gray cover over it but if used heavily the cover may have worn off. Rebuilt G’s also have the power outlet There too. Model L was made in 4 colors in the following order..white, a light bronze tan color, medium teal blue, and finally metallic gold. White was frost in 1964 and the gold was for the 1978 and 79 models. I believe the teal blue had the longest run from 68 to 77.

It is also possible it may be the motor brushes on the G, they are easy to replace...in any event DO NOT RUN the motor on the G in its bad condition as you could do more harm if it’s just something simple like the motor brushes. I’ve been advised of the same on my Silverado. I have yet to open it up and check if the motor brushes are done but if they are, I can get new ones on eBay and hopefully have my Silverado back up and running.

Just some more information you may want for reference! Hope it all helps.

Jon

 

[jo]

More...

Air-way Charlie’s recommendation to contact Ray Satterwhite is a good one, though since he is not local to you may not be all that optimal, but you might wish to check out his website...rvavacuums.com. He basically is an Electrolux dealer and is now an Aerus dealer in the Richmond, Virginia area. His son does do restorations of older models which is shown on the website.

I feel like his son...I love my older models and have taken most completely apart and have had almost every model including and since the XXX at one time or another between myself, my parents, and my Brother and Sister who are all northeasterners, though I live in TX now but can’t wait to get back to New England! I’ve done numerous repairs on so many of the models and usually most repairs are pretty simple and there’s always a special way to take apart and put back together things like the cordwinder s, electric hose handles, bag compartments, etc. so we are here to help if you have issues. Nothing is designed to be broken or forced to take it apart usually, it’s just a matter of the correct order of disassembly or reassembly.

Jon