Thread Number: 33043  /  Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
Hoover Dialamatic issue
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Post# 361065   10/17/2016 at 16:30 (2,719 days old) by Steve (Makawao)        

I have an old Dialamatic in excellent condition but little used.
Just fired it up and the brush roll cleans nicely but it appears
the power drive is not activating. Years back replaced the handle.
Never made any strange sounds and is super clean.

Any suggestions on how to trouble shoot it? Thanks just joined.


Post# 361076 , Reply# 1   10/17/2016 at 19:41 (2,719 days old) by TheSpiritOf76 ()        
yes I do have a suggestion.....

Try replacing the Power Drive belt. Hoovers of this type that are self propelled have two belts, one that runs the power drive unit, and one that runs the brush roll. BOTH need to be replaced every two or three months. Just remove your bottom plate, and you will see the two belts I am speaking of.


Post# 361084 , Reply# 2   10/18/2016 at 03:22 (2,718 days old) by Steve (Makawao)        

Amazing that I have had this for over 25 years and never had the Drive Belt fail,
as I did not even know there were 2 belts. Will turn it over and have a look tomorrow... thanks


Post# 361103 , Reply# 3   10/18/2016 at 14:15 (2,718 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
I recommend you change the agitator Healy 2 to 4 times a year and the self propel belt yearly. I've been doing it that was and have yet to have a problem!
Andy


Post# 361111 , Reply# 4   10/18/2016 at 19:40 (2,718 days old) by TheSpiritOf76 ()        
No Andy....

Any GOOD vacuum cleaner shop will tell you 2 to 2 months!


Post# 361114 , Reply# 5   10/18/2016 at 20:35 (2,718 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
Good Lord I work at a GOOD one! The owner opened the place 30 years ago. His brother opened one 40 years ago. Their dad was in the business before them. Flat stretch belts last longer than round ones in my experience.
My daily driver (before I started collecting a year or so ago) used a flat brushroll belt and a flat drive belt. I changed the brushroll belt 3 times a year and the self propel belt yearly. Never had a problem to this day and it's a fantastic vacuum!!
Andy


Post# 361127 , Reply# 6   10/18/2016 at 23:36 (2,718 days old) by TheSpiritOf76 ()        
Just beacuse a vaccum cleaner has been in business....

For 100 years does not mean they know whay they are doing. You for that matter of fact have questionable practiceed your self. So I woulnt be so fast to give in stone advice.

Post# 361134 , Reply# 7   10/19/2016 at 01:34 (2,717 days old) by Steve (Makawao)        
belts work no transmission activation with handle

Belts were intact and spin properly when powered up. Now I remember having seen that both are powered by the motors drive shaft.

My handle seems to be working properly and moves the forward reverse arm on the motor but alas no transmission engagement. Does anyone know how I should proceed?
I have mechanical skills being a older Mercedes guy, but no idea about this transmission. Thanks!


Post# 361137 , Reply# 8   10/19/2016 at 04:32 (2,717 days old) by TheSpiritOf76 ()        
Just beacuse the belts.....

Look like they are good, doesn't mean anything. change them.


Post# 361145 , Reply# 9   10/19/2016 at 08:45 (2,717 days old) by 3rdGenVacGuy (Columbus, Ohio )        
Dial a Matic powerdrive

The handle should slide back and forth and move the P.D. actuator bar. The bar must freely move to the left and right in order to engage the clutches in the self propell unit. There is a piece on the rear motor cover that the bar rest inside. If the bar rubs inside of this it will not have its full arc of motion. Sometimes you can pull the bar out of this piece and put a screwdriver under the actuator arm and put either more or less bend in the actuator so that it does not rub. The actuator bar goes through a yoke on the self propell unit. In rare cases, I have seen deep grooves worn in the yoke.

Post# 361146 , Reply# 10   10/19/2016 at 08:57 (2,717 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)        

kirbyvertibles's profile picture

also take the back panel off the back of the handle top and see is the actuator wire is broken there. The wire should have a small post nub on it that sits in a hole that gets back and forth.


Post# 361154 , Reply# 11   10/19/2016 at 11:26 (2,717 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
I've never had any issues with Dia lA Matics

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
I also don't use them on a regular basis.
But, I must say how impressed I am with all of this help FLOWING 'out there' for all of us to see and use. It's amazing to see people suggesting all of these 'cures'. KUDOS to all of you.
John


Post# 361182 , Reply# 12   10/20/2016 at 00:38 (2,716 days old) by Steve (Makawao)        

Just checked 'er again. pulled the handle apart, no mechanical issue there.
I put the machine on its side and activated the handle watching the bent arm that goes around the outside of motor, and it appears to be working fine. Then moved the arm at the motor back and forth and that made no difference. Both belts as mentioned are spinning when motor is on. Since last time I used it was several months ago and it worked fine as it always had.

I have no idea what one posted meant by Agitator Healy? The drive belt is the shorter of the two, I have an extra so will put it on but if both belts are spinning don't see how it could possible be the belt. Will change it out tomorrow and eat crow if that's the issue.

Will also investigate the actuator bar more closely. It seems to move easily in both directions.

Thanks to everyone for their ideas. Excepting the handle replacement its the second issue in 25 years. Will post a few pics soon. It looks quite nice as I did a decent job repainting it about a year ago...


Post# 361187 , Reply# 13   10/20/2016 at 06:47 (2,716 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
Those belts stretch. They might be spinning but not very fast. Once that agitator hits the floor it will slow down quickly!

Agitator Healy...that might have been me. Darn autocorrect!

Andy


Post# 361201 , Reply# 14   10/20/2016 at 08:49 (2,716 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)        

kirbyvertibles's profile picture
I would LOVE to see pics of it repainted!!!!!!

Post# 361242 , Reply# 15   10/20/2016 at 20:19 (2,716 days old) by Steve (Makawao)        
Dial-a-Matic Repaint

Replaced the belt driving the transmission and as suspected it made no difference. I have never replaced belts on vacuums until they break and have never noticed a difference in operation.

I took some photos of this machine after the repaint done because of yellowing of some of the beige plastic, after noticing these machines came in a similar blue two tone. Also a few pics of the actuator arm in different positions moving it manually from L to R, seems to move as its supposed to. No idea why the transmission is not activating. I can still use it to vacuum, by pushing though there is some expected resistance.


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Post# 361243 , Reply# 16   10/20/2016 at 20:23 (2,716 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
From what I remember when we saw self propelled vacuums in a daily basis the drive transmission wears out after many years. Ill dig out some pictures and see if I might have these parts
Andy


Post# 361255 , Reply# 17   10/21/2016 at 09:20 (2,715 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)        

kirbyvertibles's profile picture
Looks cool!

The only other thing I can think of, did you make sure the little button on the handle top that stops the transmission isn't pushed in?


Post# 361295 , Reply# 18   10/21/2016 at 16:02 (2,715 days old) by Steve (Makawao)        

Thanks guys, I also wondered about that button and checked it carefully. Seems ok.

Andy, please do check to see if you have something that may assist.
I hate to see well made things wind up in the garbage!


Post# 361300 , Reply# 19   10/21/2016 at 17:10 (2,715 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
Ill be glad to take a look in the parts inventory in the shop. Go ahead and send me an email and I'll see what I come up with
Andy
Vacuumlad1650@gmail.com


Post# 361316 , Reply# 20   10/22/2016 at 01:20 (2,714 days old) by Steve (Makawao)        

Today I flipped it over and propped it up so I could see the
drive lever more clearly. I took a screwdriver and pushed on
the bar that goes first to a wishbone shaped coupler and then
into the transmission while running the motor.

I was able to get the power wheels to engage in reverse but not
in forward by pushing the lever the goes directly into the trans. Tried both directions but
it will not go easily to the right even if I push it hard with screwdriver.
so I am thinking something is broken impeding it.

Studying how to take it apart. Looks like Hoover was crazy about small snap rings
for the front wheels / axle, and also to remove drive wheels. There are 4 or 5 phillips head
screws that if removed would probably allow me to separate either side of the trans box.
Unfortunately on each side there are a couple of screws that are about impossible to access.

Not sure how best to proceed at this point. Have you separated the drive box on yours?

Can't find any info the internet.

All the best,


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Post# 361320 , Reply# 21   10/22/2016 at 02:21 (2,714 days old) by ronni (USA)        

Welcome to Vacuumland, Steve.

Here is another site thread (conversation) that you may find helpful:
www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-...

Fyi ... I used the Vacuumland search engine and entered "dial a matic repair". There are other threads to check out, too; I just selected one.

I'm guessing that your 1978 Dial-A-Matic is the Model U6039 in sea blue and oyster white with the flourish on the front cover?

Best to you in your repair efforts.


Post# 361337 , Reply# 22   10/22/2016 at 09:14 (2,714 days old) by 3rdGenVacGuy (Columbus, Ohio )        
transmission

There are nylon gears in the transmission, however hardly ever fail. The shaft that runs through the unit where the pulley is has the same bearings used in each side as the agitator brush. If the black pulley spins fine with no play, they are probably O.K. There are two spools with clutch material on each side of the U shape yoke. The clutch material can wear down after many years of constant use. Your actuator bar does have some wear on it where it goes through that yoke, but does not look real bad. It could be a combination of items worn, Actuator bar, clutch disc, etc. The actuator bar must pivot in an arc inside of the rear motor cover. If it moves to the left and right and does not arc left and right inside the rear cover seems it will not have enough travel to engage the clutches. I've included photos of a worn actuator, and how it should travel left and right in the rear motor cover. When the handle is lowered to operating position and the buttom is depressed in the neutral position on the handle the actuator bar should be in the dead middle of the yoke. Another thing, the cable housing must be intact, not broken and secured at the bottom. This cable is behind the front blue cover. Most are held on by 8 screws inside the bag compartment. If the housing is broken or not secured properly, the handle motion is just flexing the cable housing and not pushing the cable through the housing.

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