I Hate to Say Goodbye to an Old Friend

blueyedgirl5946

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Twenty five years ago this past Jan. 17th, I bought my Electrolux vacuum. Last week when I turned it on it was making a different kind of noise. I turned it off and waited awhile. When I turned it on again, same thing. We took it in last Wed. to the Electrolux store. The tech took it apart and told me the brushes and bearings are just about gone in the motor. He did some kind of adjustment, which he says will stop the odd noise and make it last a bit longer, maybe six months.

He told me start looking for what I wanted to replace it with. He tried to sell me last years model of a vacuum that was in the show room and wanted $800. I told him no. I don't have any carpet, only wood floors and vinyl with some area carpets. I am hoping that mine will last some more, but I am looking. I would like to find a refurbished Electrolux, but am open to suggestions for anything that works good on bare floors.
 

natalie_ca

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OMG! It's so easy to change the bearings in a vacuum motor!  I used to sell Filter Queen vacuums a few decades ago and they guy I was dating at the time taught me how to refurbish the motor.  I'm sure you can find a YouTube video on how to change bearings in a motor.

All bearings are are small stainless steel balls and you add some grease to them.  Vacuum repair shops make it sound so complicated, when it's not.

You can probably fix your vacuum for less than $40, plus the cost of the brush.

Or you can try looking for just a simple electric broom if you aren't using your vacuum for furniture.
 
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blueyedgirl5946

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OMG! It's so easy to change the bearings in a vacuum motor!  I used to sell Filter Queen vacuums a few decades ago and they guy I was dating at the time taught me how to refurbish the motor.  I'm sure you can find a YouTube video on how to change bearings in a motor.


All bearings are are small stainless steel balls and you add some grease to them.  Vacuum repair shops make it sound so complicated, when it's not.


You can probably fix your vacuum for less than $40, plus the cost of the brush.


Or you can try looking for just a simple electric broom if you aren't using your vacuum for furniture.
natalie_ca natalie_ca Thank you for your post. After I read what you said here, I decided to call around somewhere else. I called a vacuum cleaner repair in a neighboring town. They are not an Electrolux dealership, but their ad said they fix all makes of vacuums. I told them what I had done thus far. The man I talked to is the person who does their repairs and he said he can get brushes and bearings that will fix my vacuum. Maybe the Electrolux dealership will only use standard Electrolux parts and can't get them. But in a 25 year old machine, I don't really care what they use as long as it fixes the motor. Honestly now, I am really wondering about what they told me about not being able to get parts for a machine that is as popular brand as Electrolux
 

Winchester

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Good luck getting your vacuum repaired. My mom had an old Electrolux that lasted for decades as did my sister. They are good machines.
 

denice

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@Natalie_ca Thank you for your post. After I read what you said here, I decided to call around somewhere else. I called a vacuum cleaner repair in a neighboring town. They are not an Electrolux dealership, but their ad said they fix all makes of vacuums. I told them what I had done thus far. The man I talked to is the person who does their repairs and he said he can get brushes and bearings that will fix my vacuum. Maybe the Electrolux dealership will only use standard Electrolux parts and can't get them. But in a 25 year old machine, I don't really care what they use as long as it fixes the motor. Honestly now, I am really wondering about what they told me about not being able to get parts for a machine that is as popular brand as Electrolux
They are banking on you buying a new Electrolux.  Many years ago I repaired small motors when I was in the military.  I am not a fix it type and I was able to do it, it really is no big deal.
 
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blueyedgirl5946

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They are banking on you buying a new Electrolux.  Many years ago I repaired small motors when I was in the military.  I am not a fix it type and I was able to do it, it really is no big deal.
denice denice No, I don't think so. They were hoping for that to begin with. But I told them very plainly that was not an option. I even told them I was not paying $800 for last year's model of something new.
I will either get this one fixed or find me a refurbished one is my plan. I think they are probably going to call me with an offer on a refurbished one. Now, I am not sure how much I want to do business with them.
Although I do realize maybe they were talking of genuine Electrolux parts.
 
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blueyedgirl5946

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I called a repair in a neighboring town and told them what I was told about Electrolux couldn't get parts to fix it. This man was the repairman that I talked to and he said that he can get brushes and bearings for my vacuum. I didn't ask him if they would be genuine Electrolux parts, but in a 25 year old vacuum, who cares. I did use the machine yesterday and vacuumed my the bedrooms, bathrooms, hallway and living room. It worked fine, no noise. So for now, I am okay. But I do intend to take my vacuum to the man in the next town when I go that way.
 
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