woah sparks!

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vacuumfreeeke

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
1,997
Hey guys.... I finally got that Oreck back together that I was repairing and did a side by side comparison between the modern one (a 2005 model) and my vintage one (1984, I think, a 100C). The old one was easier to push by far even though it didn't have front wheels, they weren't made with front wheels back then.... the new one didn't either because one was missing so I removed the other one so it wouldn't be uneven or try to go in circles. They are both loud, and seem to have equal power. They both pushed larger debris out of the way instead of picking it up, and much like a Kirby, I had to tip them to one side and place the brushroll right over top of the larger dirt to get it into the machine. I like the foot switch on the old one better, but the two speed motor and hand grip is nice on the new one (though I usually don't like loop style handles). The quick release cord wrap is also nice on the new one, but the screw on the old one is just loose enough that I can use it as a "pretend" quick release cord wrap even though it wasn't meant to be like that. Anyway, as I was vacuuming with the old one, I noticed something that I never had before. Right where the black tube meets the metal handle, there was an electrical spark jumping back and forth the whole time it was running. I thought if my hand slipped off the grip and touched the metal by accident, I might get shocked. Anyone know what causes that or how to fix it? I know sparks are a good thing when you meet a man for the first time, but not so much with vacuum cleaners! Here's a picture of where the problem is.... you can only see it from a standing up position while running them machine.

6-6-2010-09-40-28--Vacuumfreeeke.jpg
 
Here's a side by side of the two cousins together. I appreciate any help you can offer regarding this sparking issue!

Oh yeah, one more thing. When I reassembled the modern one, I couldn't figure out the whole docking station thing, so I just left it off and attached the bag as if the machine never had a docking station. It hasn't blown off yet! What was funny about fixing it was that the things I thought would be hard were easy and the things I thought would be easy were hard. Wiring the motor was so simple despite the fact that I'd never done it before.... however, putting the and grip back together, trying to assemble the docking station, and to get the headlight lens to stay in place while putting the front part back on were all nightmares that took much longer than expected and frustrated me immensely.

6-6-2010-09-47-54--Vacuumfreeeke.jpg
 
I'm more than willing to bet that's static. 120v doesn't like to jump very far, and it would have no reason to jump between that plastic and the metal.

Beacuse the dirt travels through that tube, (depending on what you're picking up) static electricity can build up and jump like that.
 
Nice Video

Enjoyed watching the video. I think Orecks are great. When my grandfather passed in 2008 my step grandmother asked me if I wanted their Oreck and I said no. Wish I would have said yes!!!!!! Great Video
 

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