Vacuum cleaner = flame thrower?

[e9999]

well, my 20 year old (not bad) vacuum cleaner is misbehaving.

Of course, the wants a new one but I'm curious about the thing.

it started to make an unbearable noise as if the motor was going 3x the normal speed. Really odd cuz I can't imagine that that would be possible with poles, AC synchro and what not.

It also just plain didn't start at all recently. So I took it apart and got it to work again by laying of hands on it and muttering. Be that as it may I see a great deal of sparking in the motor housing. Big bright sparks continuously. I would say something of the order of the flame coming out of a butane lighter. In a couple of spots. So I'm thinking brushes. Can't get in there very easily, it's all sealed up.

What does it mean when the thing shoots off like a flame thrower? Brushes all worn or something else? Can these things be typically replaced? Dangerous and ready for a meltdown?

 

[tag3]

Let Steve take a look at it.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Id just get the wife a new one, but DONT make it a Christmas present! MIke

 

[tag3]

I gave my wife one years ago. Still works. I got it in the divorce.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Sounds about right. MIke

 

[e9999]

yea yea, the will pick a new one, but I still want to figure out what's going on here...

and eh, nothing wrong with useful gifts . A great one was a waffle waker I gave her. I now have great waffles every so often... yum!
Strangely, she has drawn the line at a crockpot... wymin....

 

[Michael Hanson]

You romantic devil you! MIke

 

[tag3]

I got the thing that sucked the best in that one.

 

[Koffer]

I'd be more inclined to vacuum if there was an element of danger with shooting sparks and chance of fire.
As for useful gifts , I went all out and picked up a $3 waffle maker from Whitetrashmart for the little lady and got mom a crockpot too















I think i worse part of whats wrote above is its 100% true

 

[D'Animal]

I got my wife a toaster oven one year and a side by side fridgerator the following year. I paid the Vet bill for her holiday present one year and this year I think I bought her a horse. Wife is into functional things. LOL


Getting back to your vacuum, How far have you taken it apart? Where are the sparks coming from?

Sparks were coming out of ours but it was a piece of wire that was wrapped around one of the brushes.



Have you taken the carburetor apart yet? (lol)

 

[fj40charles]

I got my wife a toaster oven one year and a side by side fridgerator the following year. I paid the Vet bill for her holiday present one year and this year I think I bought her a horse. Wife is into functional things. LOL



Have you taken the carburetor apart yet? (lol)

I guess you get to stay around as long as you're still functional?

 

[Koffer]

Have you taken the carburetor apart yet? (lol)

nope, for $11 for just a gasket kit and $40 for a new complete carburetor from B&S I just ordered a new one (with the money I saved from buying the $4 wafflemaker )
should be in tomorrow

 

[e9999]

snip

Getting back to your vacuum, How far have you taken it apart? Where are the sparks coming from?

Sparks were coming out of ours but it was a piece of wire that was wrapped around one of the brushes.



Have you taken the carburetor apart yet? (lol)

I went down to just the electric motor and attached fan in a plastic housing. I can see the sparks through vents in one end of the housing. They appear to be inside the motor, I suspect between rotor and stator. I think I'd have to pry the fan off the motor shaft before I can get any further, if that. Not even sure I could still get brushes for the motor if that is what is causing it, plus the racket is unbearable and my better half jumped on the opportunity to order a new one already so there is not a lot of point to trying to fix it. (Strangely, my wife does not seem to think it's cool to vacuum with earmuffs on. Odd... ) Anyway, I may just pry it open to learn something new.

The carb on that one seems good still. I always run it dry before storing it...

 

[-Spike-]

Do it proper, suck up some gas and add a spark...

 

[splitshot]

Do it proper, suck up some gas and add a spark...

So true...
Shop vac makes a great jet engine cleaning the top of a fuel tank while r&ring a fuel pump.

 

[e9999]

mmm....
so you are saying that if I ever leave an open bottle of acetylene in my truck like that other guy I should use my vacuum to suck it out...? the sparks are built in already... might be visually interesting




so, what about them brushes...?

 

[D'Animal]

Go and look at your drill, cordless or corded, does not matter. Are you getting the same sparks as you drill as you vacuum cleaner motor or few sparks?

 

[Frankencruiser]

It's the brushes.
Just buy a dyson. They work so much better.

 

[rusty_tlc]

It is entirely likely that the brushes are non-servicable. Google the makes and model number of the vacuum, there are a ton of on-line replacement parts companies. If you cant find a Part number for the brushes there will be a part number for the motor assembly. I'll bet a doughnut it's cheaper to replace the vacuum than the motor.

 

[tag3]

My 12 year old shop vac switch went out. Called shop vac, no switch available, "you know that vac is 12 years old, right". Um yea if the switch worked it still would also. Found a different switch and gonna "custom" mount it.