Woven Hose Finally Restored

[wyaple]

Over the weekend, I was finally able to complete a project that was on my list for over a year.

I have the original woven hose for my 1980 Electrolux Olympia One and it was so leaky that I had stopped using the machine altogether several years ago. Even though I did find a newer replacement hose with an on/off switch that is better in every way (longer, more airflow, etc.), I always felt sad that the original was kaput.

So I ordered a 22 oz can of Plasti Dip clear rubber coating from eBay and took the plunge. The hose was so bare and dry that even after I poured 2/3 of the can down one end, it didn't flow through to the other side. And no, no clogs as I had made sure the inside was completely clear, dry and as clean as possible before starting the restoration process.

After much hose rolling (think play-dough snakes), swinging, and high speed twirling, I hung it up to let it dry and several hour later, a few ounces of dip finally oozed out. I let it dry overnight and checked for obstructions with a long metal pole.

Being the testing nutjob, I grabbed a Baird meter and suction guage.

New replacement hose: 93 CFM and 78" of lift
Plasti Dipped woven hose: 77 CFM and 80" of lift

You read that correctly, the old woven hose now has slightly better suction than the replacement hose I bought two years ago. As you can see from the pictures, the woven hose has a kink in it and probably has a generally smaller air passage than the newer one, hence the 16 CFM airflow loss. While I expected maybe a 5-7 CFM loss, the original is now completely useful whereas before, it would barely pick up lint.

Bill

 

[fantomfan57]

Awesome, Bill....

I too have at least 5 hoses I plan to repair...have been for months. Now I will have to get to it.

So prior to the coating, I guess you washed and dried the inside.

Looking forward to it.

Thanks for your post!

 

[electrolux137]

~
~


I thought the hose for the Olympia One was white with dark-brown tracing...

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Looks like a Super J hose
Andy

 

[wyaple]

Yes, I Washed And Dried The Hose

To aid in dry time, I even hooked it up to the blower for a few minutes. Also, I completely disassembled the nozzle and polished the brass AC conductors. Good luck on your 5 hoses! It's a somewhat messy process, but it does work.

Bill

 

[delaneymeegan]

?

Why?


 


As the owner of 12 Electrolux canisters, made from 1980 to 1994, I love them the most of my 60+ vacuums.  Unfortunately, the worst part of these canisters was the awful, stiff, fabric, leaking hoses.  


When I get an Electrolux, the hoses are replaced first thing.


 


Yes, they are "original equipment", but they aren't worth saving.  Fabric hoses, regardless of manufacturer, were never good.  The time for fabric hoses had long since past by 1980.  There was no excuse for Consolidated Foods, that owned Electrolux when the Olympia was made, to not use newer, flexible hoses.


 


But I applaud your initiative.  I hope it works for you.  


 


And, as others have noted, that does not look like an Olympia hose.  The first Electrolux I owned, back in 1991, was a complete Olympia.  Those hoses are beige with a brown accent string woven into them.  I've owned several others since, as well. 


 


And just FYI- if you are really committed to the fabric hoses, you can get something that's in better shape on Ebay, usually for a modest price of $20-$30.

 

[human]

I have three fabric hoses for my Electrolux canisters. One is a non-electrified teal hose that came with the most recent 1205 I acquired earlier this summer. It leaks like hell and would probably be a good one to practice on since I could care less whether it survives the sealing process or not. I also have an electrified teal hose for my other 1205 that has the rare early style pistol grip. Amazingly, it doesn't leak noticeably but the back end of the pistol grip, where it attaches to the hose has a number of longitudinal cracks so I've got it held together with zip ties. The one that could benefit the most from a good Plastidip treatment is a white one with teal tracers. The exterior looks much better than the one pictured above but it has noticeably less suction than any other electrified hose I've got. But actually doing it is another matter entirely. It's a very low priority since I've got four flexible vinyl hoses for my three canisters—three are genuine Electrolux and one is generic with an on/off switch. Whenever I fire up a Lux, it's got a vinyl hose on it.

 

[wyaple]

delaneymeegan

I completely agree with everything you said. I think woven hoses by 1980 were ridiculous and my tests probably prove just how bad the were even if they performing well. In practical usage, my $50 replacement hose is better in every way, except looks.

It wouldn't surprise me that it's not an Olympia hose as I remember the salesman claiming he didn't have any units to sell and they would have to be ordered...a waiting time of weeks and my mother couldn't wait to clean her brand new home for weeks. So my Dad wrote a check for what the salesman had on hand.

Anyway, I was successful enough in getting a very trashed hose restored to good working order for $15 of Plasti Dip and some time.

Bill

 

[fantomfan57]

Delanemeegan and Bill.........

you both have good points. I will restore one and see if the time and effort - success is worth restoration of replacement. Parts Luxes show up locally occasionally and I will seek those who have a flex hose.

Garry

 

[anthony]

i have just stripped this one

this is the outer woven part that i plan to slide onto a new hose and then refit the ends .The hose is from a lux 65 and was completely shot so rather than just chuck it i decided to try and save the outer woven bit

 

[anthony]

inside

this is what was left of the inner hose .The metal coil had almost disintegrated [it had got wet at some point]

 

[fantomfan57]

Interesting idea, Anthony.....

...the look of original but the efficiency of the new liner. Hmmmm....

 

[paul]

I applaud your success in restoring your hose--even if it is an aftermarket one. Restoration is a worthwhile and often more economic endeavor than replacement. Besides that, I am proud to support a Minnesota company such as Plasti-Dip International. I used the pourable Rubber Dip (also manufactured by PDI) type to restore my woven hoses and was quite pleased with the results.

For future reference, here is a list of original colors of Electrolux Corporation (USA) cylinder cleaner hoses from 1952-1994 listed by model and years of production. Do keep in mind that some of the aftermarket ones are very similar, but it will provide a starting point if you're ever searching for an original.

LX, LXI, E*, E-A,T - 1952-57, dark gray w/blue chevron tracer pattern
*hammertone blue coupler

S - 1957-60, pale blue with white chevron tracers or line tracer pattern

F - 1957-60, fog white with 3 dark gray & 1 teal line tracer pattern

R - 1960-63, fog white with pairs of gray & teal tracers pattern

G (aqua) - 1960-66, turquoise with pairs of white & teal tracers pattern

L (ivory) - 1963-66, turquoise with pairs of white & teal tracers pattern

G, L (tan) - 1966-68, ivory with pairs of bronze tracers pattern

1205, L (teal) - 1968-74, teal with pairs of white tracers pattern

1205 (Jubilee), 1401/Super J, L (teal, metallic gold) - 1974-76, white with a trio pattern of teal/gold/teal tracers

1401/Super J, L (metallic gold) - 1976-79, harvest gold with a trio pattern of teal/white/teal tracers

1401, 1401-B, 1505/Olympia One, 1453 (brown) - 1979-82, ivory with brown chevron tracers pattern

1505/Silverado, 1453 (dark gray) - 1982-85, light gray with dark gray chevron tracers pattern

1521/Diamond Jubilee, 1453 (sand/jade); Hi-Tech 2100 (sand/jade), 1623/L-E (sand/jade) - 1984-87, white with jade chevron tracers pattern

1521/Marquise, 1453 (sand/taupe), Hi-Tech 2100 (sand/taupe), 1623/L-E (sand/taupe)-1987-88, white with taupe chevron tracers pattern

1521/Grand Marquise, Legacy, Ultralux, Ultralux LX, Ultralux Classic; 1623/Ambassador, Model 90, Ambassador II; 1676/Ambassador III; 1677/Diplomat; 2100/Diplomat LX, 1718/Epic 6000SR, 1762/Epic 6500SR - 1988-94, white with navy chevron tracers pattern

1623, 2100/Special Edition - 1987-92, white with wine chevron tracers pattern

1515, 1623, 2100/Regency Series 1500, 1000, 2000; - 1987-94, white with steel blue chevron tracers pattern

 

[rainbowd4]

Aftermarket...

That hose is indeed an aftermarket hose. They came in that exact color, back in the 80's-maybe early 90's, I can't remember. You'll notice the handle is also completely different from a genuine Electrolux handle. I know you said they bought the salesmans demo machine, but an Electrolux dealer would not have had this hose. Electrolux hoses for the Olympia were ALL beige, with brown tracers. This had to have been replaced at some point over the years. This hose would have been available through a vac shop, but not Electrolux.

 

[rugsucker]

Electrolux (?) hose

Hose in reply 4 seems to be from Lawrence in NC that was owned by Electrolux.As above this was for vac stores and not Elux branches but was of equal quality.

 

[floor-a-matic]

The original hose for my Golden Jubilee is crumbling from the inside, so I use a genuine Lux plastic vinyl hose

Wyaple, your old Electrolux hose reminds me of the Lawrence Industries hose my parents bought around mid/late 1980s (1986-87) for our 1205 (I still have the 1205 & original tools PN & wands but no longer have that hose or the original hose) The original hose (with metal curved wand) electrical connection (handle end) shorted out; & the Lawrence hose pistol grip handle broke; so I got two new genuine Electrolux plastic vinyl hoses (1 electrified for vacing carpet & the non-electric for vacing the car or garage)

 

[wyaple]

Yup, it's a Lawrence hose

But since it's the only hose I've known, I still love the idea that it's working again after being essentially kaput for almost 20 years. My Dad said my Mom kinked it either by falling over it or bending it in some strange manner back in the early 90's. When he went into a local Columbus, OH vac store to get a replacement, he was so shocked at the price, he said no and handed the whole kit-and-caboodle to me.

Bill

 

[fantomfan57]

Anthony, Leeds UK...

How did you separate the outer braiding from the inner liner?

Just curious.

Garry

 

[wyaple]

I didn't separate anything, just poured it in

A few decades ago, every time I used that hose, I would notice small black "bits" coming out. I later figured out that those bits were from inside the hose and of course corresponded to the decreasing airflow and lousy pickup. Finally, I realized that the suction unit was OK, I just needed a replacement hose. About 2 years ago, I ordered a new vinyl hose and was very happy with its performance but couldn't bear to throw out my original, very beat up hose so I first tried the $2 fix. Brown vinyl electrical tape (on the outside) brought back the airflow, but looked terrible obviously. Then, I read here about Plasti Dip, so I removed the electrical tape and poured in most of the can as described in my first post.

Bill