While I'm At It, Another Lux Question...

[danemodsandy]

Thanks for the responses to my question about Lux on/off switches.

While I have Luxes on what passes for my mind, I have another question, this time about my 1205's PN-2. It does a great job, but it's probably the noisiest power nozzle I've ever used. There's sort of a heavy rattling buzz. The unit is complete, correctly assembled, and has a new belt. The brush roll bearings appear to be the orignals (they're all-metal), but they turn freely and do not have a buildup of hair in them. They're also lubricated with silicone, which does not attract dirt like oil does.

Is this just the way PN-2's sound, or is there something I could do to quiet the unit? Considering how quiet the 1205 canister is, it seems a shame to have this buzzy sound when I use the power nozzle. The PN-5 for my Diamond Jubilee does not make this sound, but then it has replacement brush roll bearings. I would prefer to keep the original bearings for my PN-2 if they're not the culprit; I hated to have to change out the ones on the PN-5. Unfortunately, they were frozen when I got the unit.

Thanks for any ideas on what, if anything, is going on with my PN-2.

 

[kirby519omega]

Hmmm...I would disassemble it again, and maybe if you use it alot the sound might go away on its own.

 

[danemodsandy]

kirby519omega:

I've done that about three times, and used it for about a year, with no change. It works like gangbusters, don't get me wrong. It's just noisier than I think it should be.

 

[vacuumkid3]

My PN-1 is VERY noisy...much louder than I expected. I imagine it is just metal against metal. Also, the motor itself is noisy. I ran the motor without any belts or brush roll and it is still noisy. And if I am not mistaken, there would be some plastic parts inside (or at least on mine) that would rattle. Mine seems to do a great job, but you're right: Electrolux P/Ns are NOISY!

~~K~~

 

[danemodsandy]

Maybe It's Supposed to be Like That

But it does seem odd. The 1205 is sooooo quiet- like it's intended for maids to use around highly-strung, highly hung-over rich people without setting them off.

 

[crevicetool]

YOU...

ask way too many questions!

 

[crevicetool]

Ha Ha Ha

Give this a try, One or more of the holes on the motor housing are elongated so that the motor may be moved to tighten the belt. It might be flopping around too much. It is a cogged belt, so should be fairly tight, not so tight that it causes excessive wear on the belt. I can't remember, and I don't have one, Does the PN2 have a reset button? If so, here's how you can tell if the belt is tight enough. Hook up the power nozzle just as you would to use it, turn on the 1205, and the PN, then throw an old wash cloth or something else you know ain't going go up inside to wand to jam the brush roll. It should stop IMMEDIATLY and all you hear is the motor humming until the reset button goes. If you hear anything else, like a clacking noise or rattling then the belt is not tight enough...

 

[danemodsandy]

Now, Now, Crevicetool...

You know that there's no such thing as too much effort when you're trying to get your favourite machine right, LOL!

Seriously, thanks for the tip about the belt. I'll check it tomorrow.

 

[kirby519omega]

Well, my pn6a is noisy, but i dont know...

 

[swingette]

odd, seems like the Lux experts arent chiming in. i know little about Luxes, but something doesnt sound right. have you carefully examined the bearings in both the agitator AND motor for wear? if the bronze is even just slightly worn you will have noise. im not sure silicone will saturate the bronze properly, huh experts?

are the newer replacement bearings undesirable somehow? i know they are available... vibration noise is unacceptable IMO and will get worse if allowed to continue.

 

[danemodsandy]

Plastic!

"are the newer replacement bearings undesirable somehow?"

The ones I got for my PN-5 on my Diamond Jubilee are plastic, with only the bearing itself being metal. I didn't mind that on the DJ so much, since it's a later machine and our "workhorse" vac, but I'd like to keep the PN-2 as original as possible since it's more of a collector machine.

 

[charles~richard]

I haven't chimed in because I don't know the answer. I will say, all the PNs in the early series are significantly louder than the vacuum cleaner itself.

 

[danemodsandy]

Throwing In the Towel...

Well, after looking inside the PN and considering all the responses here, I think it's just meant to be this way.

First, the motor mount has no adjustment slots, and the belt is not loose.

Second, the sound occurs only on the "pull" stroke. It does not occur when you push the PN forward, only when you pull the PN towards you. That would seem to argue that the noise has something to do with the brushroll spinning in a forward direction while the unit is being pulled backwards. In other words, something you can't do very much about.

Third, Mr. Charles Richard Lester hath spake that the damned things are noisier than the canisters. Considering Charlie has been fooling around with Electroluxes longer than most of us have been collecting, I figure that's the final word if ever there was one.

 

[lux1521]

The early PNs were louder than their machines because the machine was so quiet. Later canisters had the loud motors that made the PN noise a bit harder to notice.

I have a mystery noise on my PN4 and I'm just gradualy replacing parts. I think you could do the same. The new bearings are not too expensive and I think the brush rolls are still available. From what I have seen the replacement bearings are original looking and have no plastic.

I'm just not a fan of giving up on these things. I would have said something earlier but no real bells went off in my head, and in no one elses apparently. I'm figuring my suggestion is as good as any at this point.

Oh, by the way, did you check the metal pieces at the ends of the brush roll (if the PN2 has them). They rattle sometimes.

 

[charles~richard]

I have spoken occasionally of my elderly "girl friend" Miss Golden Brooks, one of my mentors when I was a kid. She was the lady with more Electroluxes than a branch office! I remember her talking about her new G when she got it. She said "That POUNDER makes so much noise! I'm scared to death to use it!" She was talking about the power nozzle - she called it a "pounder" haha! I assured her it would not hurt her, that the noise just meant it was so powerful! That seemed to reassure her. Can you believe, until that smart-alecky kid came along, she was afraid to use the power nozzle on those acres and acres of inch-thick powder-blue plush carpeting!

 

[danemodsandy]

Pounder:

"She was talking about the power nozzle - she called it a "pounder" haha!"

Did she refer to a Sidekick as a quarter pounder?

Don't you roll your eyes at me like that! It's Friday, dammit- I deserve some slack. ;-)

 

[floor-a-matic]

Maybe the PN motor bearing(s) dried out? The Epic 6500SR's PN is quieter than the other Lux PNs I own; were there ANY differences between older PN motors vs. newer ones?

 

[kenkart]

PN2..

I always thought they were the quietest PN Lux ever made, at least my 50Th jubilee is.

 

[pr-21]

I would still put new brush roll bearings...

I recently got a Guardian Platinum and my power nozzle was louder than my other lux power nozzles. I had a spare set of brush roll bearings and that took care of the problem. Worth a try, they are not that expensive.....


PR-21