Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I checked with Eureka, no longer available, checked with a few distributors, no generic bags available either. These fit the ancient 900 series models (rotomatic) Are there any substitutes a guy could use instead??

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

You, like me, remember these days well.  Generally, the woman of the house set aside one day a week for a specific household chore.  Like washing clothes, by hand, on Monday.  Baking bread/desserts on Tuesday.  Oven cleaning on Wednesday.  Housecleaning on Thursday.  Grocery shopping which included a visit to the butcher on Friday, and so on.  Vacuuming was not a daily task.  Emptying the bag after each use was not as uncommon as it may sound in today's terms. 

My grandmother, her soul rest in peace, had a straight suction Eureka upright from 1915 with all the attachments.  When she instructed the family members to vacuum, it always included a PS: Don't forget to empty the bag.  And she demonstrated the instructions you so eloquently cited/sited.  Tho, she was no higher than 5 foot, all obeyed.  I recently donated that vacuum away, still in original working condition with the same cloth bag [never washed even by hand].  I was forced several years back to replace the cord.  The inner wiring insulation dried out.

Carmine D.

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

Smart person.  Some vacuum repairers used a similar method to undue dust packs in the Convertible HOOVER-s.  A quick and dirty way to clear blockages in the bag tube which inevitably occurred due to gravity.  Remove the paper, turn the vacuum away, turn on and run a clothes hanger through the tube.  Then reinstall a new bag and carry on.  [Of course there was usually a dust pack in the motor housing but this needed disassembly to correct.]

Carmine D.

Hi Carmine,

Wow, that's a new one for me.  Did the owner only change the bag every leap year for the blockage to develop?

Best,

Venson

Very interesting.  First we had vacuums that could clog frequently but were always easy to clear blockages from thanks to the direct dirt path, now we have vacuums that (either with a system of cyclones or enhanced filtering material in the bags) clog less frequently but (thanks to complicated internal ducting, etc.) are virtually impossible to unclog in the event of one without major disassembly.  Seems we've taken a step backwards in some ways.

-MH

Motorhead wrote:

Hiya MH,

I've always maintained that design means everything.  Complex designs that hinder easy repair or replacement mean a trip back to the shop and trips back to the shop seem to be what the "service contract" was invented for.  Hate to be cynical but I don't think in future we'll see improvement. 

I recall Shetland Lewyt having put out a series of "modular" vacuums in the past.  It pitched claims of easy repair and maintenace because the cleaners were supposedly designed  to allow easy access to motor units, filters, etc., but the series didn't last long.  I don't whether that was because vacuums failed to live up to the claims or because there wasn't much consumer interest.

Some of Nilfisk's vacuums have similar qualities and parts are just a phone call away but they're pricey.  Sebo claims easy disassembly for maintenance in regard to its uprights.

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

Based on experience, some vacuum users change bags once in a blue moon. 

With the old fashioned HOOVER Convertible design, the dirt in the bottom fill bag would fall down into the bag tube/bellows after the vacuum was turned off and stored.  This was especially the case if boot leg paper bags were used.  Over time a huge dust pack [dirt clog] would build up in the bag tube/bellows [even motor housing] until the vacuum had no suction.  In fact, dirt would shoot out of the vacuum.  A condition called 'negative suction.'   The above technique, that your friend wisely used too for her cloth bag, was a quick and dirty fix until the vacuum could be disassembled and repaired correctly.

Oftentimes, the dust pack built up so much in the fan housing, that the motor would not run.  Just hum.  Then, the disassembly was a must to repair correctly.

HOOVER, after many years of the Convertible run, made a top fill paper [like the old fashioned F&G bags].  This was also available to retro fit on the bottom fill Convertibles.  This cured the problem for the most part.

Carmine D.

Michael,

No I haven't tried the bags from SVC yet.

Sorry for not responding sooner!

Vernon