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Thread Number: 15886
The big bad beast, aka Big bertha! |
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Post# 169327 2/12/2012 at 11:09 (4,447 days old) by kloveland  (Tulsa) |
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Here is a vacuum that we haven’t discussed in awhile: the original Electrolux Upright. In my personal opinion it’s a great vacuum. Although it’s heavy and is somewhat difficult to convert to above the floor cleaning, it does a fantastic job on carpets. I’ve been working mine, and replaced both geared belts and the clutch assembly, from a donor that I picked up at an estate sale. The belts can be adjusted just on like on the earlier PN 1.
I’ve noticed some differences between the two uprights. The earlier one has the automatic control and the later one does not. The automatic control simply means a big red light will come on when the bag is full, or there is a clog. The bag door does not pop open like the canisters. The later version also lacks the clean out port for clogs. Parts are probably impossible to find for these. It uses a brush roll almost identical to the PN 4, but it is a bit larger. Bags are also difficult, but I found some locally and on eBay for a reasonable price. Anyway just thought I would share. 
This post was last edited 02/12/2012 at 12:22 | ||
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Post# 169330 , Reply# 1 2/12/2012 at 12:20 (4,447 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa) |
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Motor cover removed
Very simple on the inside. I've heard Electrolux used the same motor they was used in the Super J. Not sure how the belt system works. When I first received it the guy was ready to throw it in the trash. Because it wouldn't run. When I took it home I noticed the brush roll was locked up. After I freed up the brush roll it ran perfectly.
It's a clean air design. A small tube carries the suction to the bottom of the bag housing. 
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| Post# 169418 , Reply# 2 2/13/2012 at 10:17 (4,446 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN) | ||
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Worlds most over engineered upright vacuum-- -as it was sometimes referred to at the local Bristol VA Elux factory.May have more to add when I have more time.(Be careful with spring between upper and lower body.There were special tools for this model.) | ||
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Post# 169426 , Reply# 3 2/13/2012 at 12:49 (4,446 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa) |
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Over engineered!!!
I definitely would agree you on the over engineering. It reminds me of the LX and its bag ejection system. Thanks for the warning on the spring. When I took the hood off, the lead from the light is connected directly to one of the carbon brushes on the motor, it snapped! However I was able to reconnect the wire. If anyone else decides to open one of these, please do so carefully!
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| Post# 169432 , Reply# 4 2/13/2012 at 14:48 (4,446 days old) by henry200 (Saint Paul MN) | ||
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Wow, what timing! I saw one of those at the thrift store this morning for $30. There were some extra bags for it too! Now I'm thinking about going back to get it. | ||
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Post# 169433 , Reply# 5 2/13/2012 at 15:18 (4,446 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa) |
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It's your luck day! Henry | ||
| Post# 169453 , Reply# 8 2/13/2012 at 18:46 (4,445 days old) by Electrolux-Dude (Canyon, TX) | ||
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I actually have about 3 of those vacs! My last one I aquired at the Salvation Army Thrift store, with the original attachments in the original box, and it had some aftermarket bags with it, It is the Grey Silverado color--I think I paid about $5.00 for it. | ||
| Post# 169473 , Reply# 10 2/14/2012 at 00:01 (4,445 days old) by BrianKirbyClass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
An Aunt of mine bought one of these in the early 80s, im sure it was the Silverado time period. I got to use it several times, and thought it was alot of heavy vacuum for such pityful suction,especially when you used the attachments. The suction was almost non existant with a half full bag.
I know she gave around 400 dollars for it brand new with hose and attachments from a Lux Salesman that stopped by. The suction was marginally OK at best when a new bag was installed, but would reduce drastically as the bag filled, and the bags were VERY big and deep, much longer and wider than the Discovery bags. I would imagine finding bags and or parts for these now would be nearly impossible. I was really disapointed at the poor suction of these vacs, even with a brand new bag it was really pityful. Like someone said, it does look like a very powerful vacuum cleaner, but looks are deceiving. (Never judge a book by its cover!) When you would first go to turn it on, youd think this big heavy vacuum would roar into action, HA,,in reality it was like turning on a little kids play blender,,push buttons and all. I remember trying to vacuum up some spilled flour or kitchen carpet with one of these one time and it couldnt even do that. Completly pityfully useless. Trying to put ON the attachments was a wrestling match,,and not convenient to use at all. Try vacuuming a long stair case with that!- was impossible. My Aunt said this vac got way to heavy for her to push,and she realized it wasnt that great of a vacuum, plus, the bags were hard to get even in the early 90s,(she lived in a very rural area) so she traded it for a G3 Kirby when they first came out. Has had the Kirby ever since! Not meaning to bash anything by saying this,,but after having to actually use one of these to clean a large home several times when id clean for my Aunt, i can safely say there are better and easier to use machines out there. They are kinda cool to look at,,good luck finding parts! | ||
| Post# 169475 , Reply# 11 2/14/2012 at 01:01 (4,445 days old) by briguy (Wichita, Kansas) | ||
Thanks for sharing "Big Bertha" with us!
I remember a friend of my grandmothers had one of these when I was very little. I have always been curious about this Lux. Especially like the dual spoke handle. Never have seen one in person since though. Glad to see the insides. I wondered how it was engineered. How does the hose attach? Is there a rear port it connects into? Someone mentioned that these ran up into the Diamond Jubilee era, didn't realize they were around that long.
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| Post# 169482 , Reply# 13 2/14/2012 at 06:23 (4,445 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada) | ||
Big Bertha seems to have a similar "air travelling path" to the European Electrolux 500 series I have learned about here at Vacuumland - though it sounds like the European version was a much better performer......
The air is brought in first through the brush cavity and into a small hose that sends the dirty air up across the gap into the bag container on the handle. The air then is drawn up a plastic channel in the bag container to enter the disposable bag from the top. The air then does a u-turn down the bag container where it is filtered through the bag. Then there must be another hose or channel at the bottom of the bag container - sending the filtered air back down to the main floor unit where the single motor is located. That's where the air is drawn into the suction motor and somehow exhausted from the lower half of the vac. Strangely enough, the European version sends the exhaust air back up to the handle in a third air channel! It would seems simpler to just exhaust the air out the top of the motor hood on the floor.... It's amazing to think that the simpler fan first Eureka uprights of the 1980's (The Eureka Ultra, for example) outperformed this over-engineered machine, and probably cost half the price! EP Brian | ||
| Post# 169490 , Reply# 14 2/14/2012 at 07:13 (4,445 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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| Post# 169492 , Reply# 15 2/14/2012 at 07:18 (4,445 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada) | ||
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| Post# 169501 , Reply# 17 2/14/2012 at 08:37 (4,445 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada) | ||
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Post# 169518 , Reply# 19 2/14/2012 at 12:46 (4,445 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa) |
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Brian is correct. None of the Electrolux uprights were ever really that powerful. When compared to a Kirby the Electrolux upright would probably fail. However, I strongly feel that the performance is sufficient enough for my needs.
The upright is just so industrial looking and I have the longer Electrolux CB hose to use with mine. The suction is pretty strong on the hose end and it uses fewer amps than the Electrolux canister and power nozzle combined. Personally, I feel it's not the worst vacuum ever made. Wish somebody had the manual for one of these. | ||
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Post# 169543 , Reply# 20 2/14/2012 at 16:30 (4,444 days old) by vinvac (Dubuque IA) |
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