Vintage Royal Vacuum project

[lesinutah]

Iirc

There is an opening to the top of the armature. You might have to use something long go through the back of the motor housing like a pencil. This is to stop the armature fan from spinning. The fan is reverse threaded. If the nut comes off and the fan is still threaded on don't strip it going the wrong way.

 

[mivintagevacs]

This one is standard thread due to the reverse rotation of the motor. The nut came off counterclockwise and was fairly easy to remove. I’ll take another look through the back of the housing and see if I can locate the opening. Thanks

 

[lesinutah]

The

Pic I highlighted perhaps where you do it. The nut on the top that looks like a grease port could be access.

 

[mivintagevacs]

I was able to remove the fan. I did not see an opening in the top of the armature but I was able to very carefully use a large flathead screwdriver to hold one of the grooves on the side. One of the holes on the back of the housing allowed just enough clearance to do this. Luckily the fan was not too tight or stuck, just a little stiff.

 

[mivintagevacs]

I opened up the motor today and found the date of this Royal. It is stamped 4-25.

 

[centralvacs1928]

Wow, that commutator has some serious hours on it!!

Better get out the mini lathe

 

[mivintagevacs]

One of the carbon brushes was really worn down to the spring. I think if I clean everything up and replace the worn brushes it might run. I’m going to finish disassembly and begin cleaning all of the parts, I’m really looking forward to seeing the aluminum parts polished up.

 

[lesinutah]

Where

Is the fan blades on top of the armature? Good job getting it out.

 

[mivintagevacs]

Thanks, I don’t think there are supposed to be fan blades on it. Here’s a screenshot from Sam’s video

 

[lesinutah]

Okay

It looks like hoover and eurekas armature. I just assumed it did because my kirby vacuettte electric is a 1930 motor in a 1923 machine and ithas fan blades.
Be careful with the commuter I've chipped one before but I wasn't being careful.

 

[royalsuper]

congratulations to you Ben, you managed to open it without breaking anything!
your vacuum cleaner is a ROYAL standard it was in 1925 that the company launched the new model K called SUPER ROYAL still in 1925
https://zupimages.net/viewer.php?id=23/08/9yh9.jpg
https://zupimages.net/viewer.php?id=23/08/a8o2.jpg
https://zupimages.net/viewer.php?id=23/08/fkpi.jpg
https://zupimages.net/viewer.php?id=23/08/qwth.jpg

 

[mivintagevacs]

Thanks Romain I’m very relieved! I was able to use a long screwdriver/punch through one of the holes in the back of the motor to gently tap the front plate out, as well as carefully prying through the front oil opening on top of the motor housing after first removing the oil fill tube. I was able to sneak a flathead between the opening in the housing and the oil fill and pry against the back of the plate. I was careful to work it from those two points gradually so that it came out straight and did not bind on the shaft. Also let some penetrating oil soak into the part gap ahead of time. I think my next steps will be finishing up disassembly, cleaning the electrical and getting the aluminum parts polished up. I’m thinking about hiring out the polishing work. Any suggestions? Thanks![this post was last edited: 2/23/2023-09:13]

 

[mivintagevacs]

Who on the forum has outsourced polishing work on an all metal upright like a Royal or Kirby? If so what should one expect to pay to shine up all of the pieces? Thanks

 

[royalsuper]

Ben asks a restorer of old cars or motorcycles or maybe a mechanic could help you !

 

[mivintagevacs]

I found this shop about 20 minutes from me that gets good reviews. I was just wondering what a reasonable ballpark figure would be to compare to the quote that I get from them.

http://www.mcnicholsanodizing.com/

 

[royalsuper]

try to send them pictures of your motor housing and normally they have to give you an estimate! this is how it happens in France! the most expensive in the renickeling of small parts

 

[mivintagevacs]

Here’s a photo of the motor windings before removal, they’re filthy but not bad for 98 years old!

 

[royalsuper]

indeed, the motor winding is in excellent condition! how are the two bearings?

 

[mivintagevacs]

The bearings felt really good, there was a bit of fore-aft play but almost no side to side play. I’m wondering if the rear bearing was replaced at some point because there is a groove in the back of the motor housing and it looks like it was cut into the original bearing for removal. The bearing in place does not have the groove carrying through. Unfortunately whoever did the repair got a little too excited with the grinder!

 

[mivintagevacs]

I noticed it looks like Sam only removed one of these during his restoration. It looks like one of mine is pushed in slightly more on one side than the other. There are two set screws that I removed that appear to retain them. The wiring is soldered to the inside of them so I’m thinking they are installed from the inside after the wiring is soldered onto them. I might try to remove them but not sure how easily they come out since Sam only removed one. I don’t want to risk damaging them or mushrooming them. Has anyone removed these?[this post was last edited: 2/25/2023-11:50]