My Vita-vac, purchased in June 1993, stopped running today. It is not the electrical plug; there are no stripped wires. I read the post about the carbon brushes. What else could be the problem...push-button switch? Is this model similar to another familiar brand's model? Thanks for any help. I want to try and salvage this good cleaner.
HI,
Wow, almost twenty years! How wonderful.
Your Vita-Vac was originally the AirWay Sanitizor. AirWay, as a brand, first produced upright then all-metal canister vacuum cleaners whose models were made -- and loved -- since way back in the1920s "til around 2008. Per an article by Tom Gasko, an AirWay afficiando, the company went under due prices in aluminum and steel. (It appears that vacuums made to last twenty years or more don't fit into today's business plans well.)
If you're interested in history, Tom's article is here: http://www.vdta.com/Magazines/DEC09/fc-GaskoDec09.html
As for the business at hand; not having seen the machine, not knowing you or what kind of duty the cleaner served day to day in your household, it is hard to say what the problem is after almost twenty years of use. Were I you, I would take the machine into a reputable local vac repair shop and have them check the machine out, tell you what the issue is and supply an estimate. You'd only be obligated to pay them the cost of "diagnosis" if you don't choose to use their services. They should be able to do that while you wait.
My only caveat here has to do with reliability and the knowledge of the shop. There have been design variances but, in respect to form, these machines have been on Earth longer than the parents of many new shop owners and some might not "get it". You want to be sure you feel a modicum of confidence in the ability of the people who'll be handling the machine.
Not knowing either if you're mechanically inclined or not, I am nonetheless posting a URL for a parts supply establishment that still lists motors and carbon brushes for AirWay in its catalog. They'd probably be worth a call once the root of the problem's established. http://www.hescoinc.com/vacuum_cleaner_parts/airway.html
My disclaimer is as always, whether or not I may have bought product from them, I have no affiliation with this company or knowledge of its rates.
Hope that helps AND Happy Hew Year . . .
Venson
This message was modified Dec 30, 2011 by Venson
