Why would you buy?

[brandon_w_t]

Opps

Sorry I thought you ment the hose. What do you mean by pores? its a paper sack so it does not really clog...

Anyways... tristar does have a cyclonic type system. They never actually clog on the inside because all the dirt collects on the back wall and the air is always free to move.

My old dyson had a clog in the hoses several times. And all my other bagless cyclonics clog after it gets about 1/4- 1/2 full.

 

[xraytech]

Actually everything clogs in time, including the pores in the TYristar and the filter cone in a FQ. The Tristar and filterqueen just manage maximum suction longer than other models because of their cyclonic action.

 

[danemodsandy]

Brandon:

Again, I've never seen a really complete TriStar on eBay. By that, I mean one that has everything a TriStar came with new, with all the parts being original, factory TriStar tools and attachments. I see a lot of TriStars offered with new tools, meaning that a set of new plastic universal tools is included. But finding one with all the factory TriStar tools it came with when new, and an instruction manual? Hasn't happened on any eBay auction I've ever looked at. Not once.

A late TriStar (CXL, DXL, or EX-20) should come with:

CANISTER: Cloth bag, paper bag, motor filter, and afterfilter (either the standard afterfilter or the high-filtration Filter-Fresh filter). A cord-winding clip should be present on the bag door, and a plastic cord retainer should be present down where the pigtail of the hose plugs into the canister. The TriStar emblem on the left side of the canister should be present and unbroken; since it mounts through holes in the canister body, a missing emblem causes air leaks that decrease suction. Many eBay sellers try to hide this defect by photographing the canister only from the right side.

HOSE: A genuine TriStar hose has a pigtail on the canister end, and a grip on the other end; the grip end should have a socket for the PN cord. Early versions have reinforcement cuffs at each end; later ones don't, but both are genuine. Aftermarket hoses have a pigtail on both ends.

POWER NOZZLE: Many of these look complete, but are not. The TriStar PN is supposed to have nylon spacers and felt dust washers on the brushroll shafts, as well as a foam dust seal on the motor. Often, someone replacing a belt or cleaning the brushroll bearings neglects to replace all these parts correctly, leading to rattles, poor cleaning and grooming, and increased motor wear. The foam dust seal on the sole plate also needs to be in good shape. There should be two wands with unbroken plastic cord channels.

TOOLS: There should be a dusting brush, a crevice tool, and an upholstery/drapery tool, all in clear/glitter plastic. The upholstery/drapery tool should have a little snap-out grille in beige or clear plastic. There should be a beige plastic tool caddy that snaps onto the PN wands; it holds the dusting brush, drapery/upholstery tool, and crevice tool. There should be an aluminium floor tool saying "Cyclonic" on it. There should be either a clear/glitter "rug shoe" that snaps onto the floor tool to convert it to a rug tool, or an aluminium rug tool saying "Cyclonic."

In addition, there should be an instruction manual.

Brandon, if you ever find an eBay auction for a TriStar that includes all this, I'd love to be alerted, because it will be a first for me.

 

[brandon_w_t]

oh I see

Ok. But manual- do you really need one for a tristar? They are so easy to use any idiot could!

 

[danemodsandy]

Brandon:

No, you don't really need a manual, as you correctly point out. But having one is one of the things that makes the difference between an average, used machine and one that is collectors' quality. It's kind of like show cars - there's a big difference between a nice old car and one that wins prizes.

 

[tolivac]

The "Cyclonic" action in the TriStar cleaners is due to "wingtip" vortexes like on an airplane wing-the Orig design TriStars were built by an aircraft manufacturer-they built airplanes during and before WW2.The hose intake is the same pitch as an airplane wing.This gives you the powerful vortex in the TriStar bag.Also a collector should look out for TriStar sales demo kits-I have one-there is a transpare nt plastic top with a hose attachment-so you can show the customer how the unit works after picking up 10 pounds of sand and putting a test filter on top of the sand-and the machine still picking up.Another cause of weak suction-and airflow from TriStar machines is loose screws holding the canister body halves together.After many years of use-these can get loose-only takes a moment to tighten them-turn the machine over-and the screwholes are evident.

 

[beerad]

Brandon

I am curious to know exactly what models of Miele did you try??I have owned a Miele Solaris for the past 4 years, and it is the most pwerful, quiet, durable vacuum I have used.

 

[myvacsrock]

I second that...

I have owned a Miele for quite sometime now, and correct me if i am wrong, but i personally think it is the best canister around.

The SEB-236 power nozzle is incredible
The hose is long without tripping over it, and it will never crush, nor tangle.
It is probably one of the quietest things on the market, even on the highest speed setting.
It is fairly light in weight too. in my honest opinion, very durable as well.
Overall, i think it is a pretty kick @$$ vacuum.

If it was worth it, my $0.2 was given...

~Kyle

 

[brandon_w_t]

I know now

I was watching a terrible demo of the ?s5? I think it was. I watched youtube videos and now I really like them... (and want one!)

The guy that did the demo didn't know what he was doing and had something way wrong on the vacuum.

 

[aeoliandave]

Yer a good feller, Brandon. Speaks highly and to your credit that you read and fully comprehended the posts, dug into doing your own research, evaluated the findings and will give Miele another chance and a fresh look-over.

At this point you can probably do your own Miele Demo.

Perhaps you will kindly re-visit that vendor and gently correct the manager/salesman alone behind closed doors away from customers.

Dave

 

[brandon_w_t]

I used one!!

I went back to another store, and well... they had a new S5. I used it, and well... it was truly great!!! Love it. Just still to expensive and well... I dont have a job yet

 

[danemodsandy]

And Now, The TriStar Cons...

Just so no one thinks I'm Mr. Rah-Rah for TriStar, a rabid booster who refuses to see that there are any thorns on the rose, I wanted to list some things that I think are drawbacks to the Compact-based generation of machines. They are:

LACK OF SUCTION CONTROL: A vacuum's hose should have a suction control, for delicate things like lampshades. Especially when the hose in question carries a list price of $160.

LACK OF A CORDWINDER: This one is a bit tricky. A TriStar has a 30-foot cord, which has all kinds of advantages, but the tradeoff is that you can't have a reasonably-sized cordwinder with that much cord. Not even the new MG-series machines have a cordwinder, which is a bit surprising to sales prospects contemplating the purchase of a $2600 vacuum for the first time.

FLOOR AND RUG TOOL PROFILES: TriStar's cast-aluminium floor and rug tools are the highest-quality tools I know of, a real throwback to the good old days. I just wish they'd made them with a lower profile that could get under furniture more easily. Lux managed this with a flip-over tool.

ENOUGH WITH THE SALES/SERVICE TERRITORIES: In the U.S., a TriStar dealer isn't supposed to have anything to do with customers outside his territory, even for parts sales. That's a real problem in some cases, like mine. Our TriStar service centre here is run like Barney Fyfe owns it, hardly ever coming up with parts quickly. Other TriStar dealers in other states don't want to deal with me, probably feeling that my call is a trap set up by TriStar corporate. Fortunately, TriStar Canada is easy to deal with (I think all that sales territory crappola is illegal there - correct me if I'm wrong, petek or aeoliandave), and so I use them instead of Mayberry R.F.D.

But that's really the list; I'm really pretty happy. I've gotten used to the lack of a cordwinder, and if I have to move the occasional piece of low-to-the-floor furniture, it's good for my heart and my waistline. The little snap-out grille on the upholstery/drapery tool decreases the suction for vacuuming curtains, and I've learnt to hold the dusting brush slightly away from lampshades I prize. And TriStar Canada couldn't be a nicer bunch of people (Note to whoever once called Canadians "decaffeinated Americans" - you say that like it's a bad thing).

So, those are the cons as I see 'em.

 

[methodistbill]

Just bought a clunker!

Well, I just bought a Compact clunker off of Ebay for $30. I'm curious to see how it turns out. The listing said it doesn't come with bags, so I guess I'll need to buy the cloth bag and the paper filter bags too. Any suggestions on OEM or generic? Does it matter? Also, I heard that you can use a Eureka Vibra Groomer brush roll in the power nozzle. Anyone know about that. I won't be surprised if it needs a new brush roll and belt too. Thanks!

Bill

P. S. Thanks for the spirited debate on this thread!

 

[brandon_w_t]

VII

Yes you can. ttuee2006 did in his youtube vid on his Tristar CXL.

Only buy genuine tristar filter bags. Then off brand paper bags. I think tristar parts are much more quality than others.

 

[danemodsandy]

Bill:

I don't recommend the Vibra-Groomer brushroll in the TriStar PN; for one thing, it's not necessary, because the stock brushroll is very good. For another, it can cause rattling and noise that you shouldn't be getting with a TriStar. Also, you say you bought a Compact - if the machine says Compact instead of TriStar, you may have a PN made by Eureka, instead of the current generation of PN.

You should go to the TriStar Canada website (www.tristarvacuumscanada.com) and take a look at the parts list for the EX-20, which should be substantially identical to your machine, if it has the current generation's PN. If it is, I highly recommend that you compare the exploded parts view to what you have in your PN, so as to check for missing spacers, dust seals, etc. I can tell you that replacing anything missing makes a huge difference in the noise level and cleaning abilities of the PN.

If you have the Eureka generation PN, I'm sure someone here will be better-versed in it than I am, and can assist you.

 

[brandon_w_t]

What model is it?

Most/ all compacts dont use PNs so you better check that it has the plug near the hose port. My Grandfather has a Compact electra. The green one- with a CXL nozzle.

 

[danemodsandy]

Brandon:

Compacts had PNs in the '60s, but I believe they were an option and didn't sell well. Those old ones are very rare. In the '70s, Compact began offering them regularly; I understand that those are the Eureka-made ones. At some point (I'm still not sure when), the present design began to be offered. I'm not sure if it was ever used on machines branded Compact, or if it was part of the change-over to TriStar.

 

[methodistbill]

Eureka Made

It has the Eureka made PN. I think it is the model that was made from 1990 to 1992 (according the the Canadian website). I can't find a model listing on the US site. I think it was around 2000 that the company was taken over by the same corporation that owns Aerus. That's when the PN changed to the newer Electrolux style (me thinks).

Bill

 

[brandon_w_t]

CXL

This is a tristar vacuum. If its from 1990 at least. A very good vacuum. Nice find. I have been looking for one forever.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Fred Nelson? had a IEC built TriStar PN in sea green; very rare TriStar 2-1000 PN in that color

If anyone has a Compact Always Beauty Clean PN and/or Turbinette they don't need anymore, I would like to have the ABC and/or Turbinette

Was there a mini Turbinette (for vacing stairs & upholstery) available when the Compact C8 was the current model? NOT counting the TriStar Whirl Away that came with the DXL/EX-20