Thread Number: 34688  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
1970 Hoover Junior Dirtsearcher 1354A - Restoration
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Post# 374673   6/29/2017 at 18:15 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Hello all, Alex here again, not posted here in a while, however I have a new vacuum to show you.

Earlier this week I got a Hoover Dirtsearcher off ebay, cost £35 deliveried, which wasn't a bad price, considering it is in very good condition.

Here are some before restoration photos.


Post# 374674 , Reply# 1   6/29/2017 at 18:15 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374675 , Reply# 2   6/29/2017 at 18:16 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Dirty!

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Post# 374676 , Reply# 3   6/29/2017 at 18:17 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374677 , Reply# 4   6/29/2017 at 18:18 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374678 , Reply# 5   6/29/2017 at 18:18 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374680 , Reply# 6   6/29/2017 at 18:19 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374681 , Reply# 7   6/29/2017 at 18:20 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Not too dirty under the cover...Seen worse!

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Post# 374682 , Reply# 8   6/29/2017 at 18:21 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Full motor service.

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Post# 374683 , Reply# 9   6/29/2017 at 18:24 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Motor all cleaned and back together but...

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Had to replace the front bearing with a new one...It was a bit worn.

Post# 374684 , Reply# 10   6/29/2017 at 18:26 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Sanded down the brushroll, ready for a respray...

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I like to get my hands dirty! 😉

Post# 374685 , Reply# 11   6/29/2017 at 18:27 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Much better!

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Post# 374686 , Reply# 12   6/29/2017 at 18:32 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
All parts washed...

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The bumper as well as the rubberised lower and upper cord support are missing off this photo, they were drying on another towel! Lol.

Post# 374687 , Reply# 13   6/29/2017 at 18:33 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Bag washed and drying.

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Post# 374688 , Reply# 14   6/29/2017 at 18:35 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Time to put everything back together! Lovely and clean now!

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Post# 374689 , Reply# 15   6/29/2017 at 18:37 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Finally...

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After a few days work, here is the end result, I am really pleased with it. Successful restoration! 😀


Post# 374690 , Reply# 16   6/29/2017 at 18:38 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374691 , Reply# 17   6/29/2017 at 18:45 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
360° swivelling upper cord hook...

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It was a deluxe feature on the Dirtsearcher...It was a fixed metal hook, on the standard Junior. The rotating cord hook on the Dirtsearcher was more convenient, all be it, not as sturdy, since it was plastic and not metal...Miraculously, mine isn't cracked or broken!

Needless to say, the lower cord hook, both on the Dirtsearcher and standard Junior is a fixed metal hook.


Post# 374692 , Reply# 18   6/29/2017 at 18:46 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374693 , Reply# 19   6/29/2017 at 18:46 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374694 , Reply# 20   6/29/2017 at 18:50 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Of course, the stamped metal Hoover medallion!

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Post# 374695 , Reply# 21   6/29/2017 at 18:51 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
The four position "Height Right Control"

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Post# 374696 , Reply# 22   6/29/2017 at 18:54 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
That is how the headlight connects if you were wondering...

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Also, a view of the fan chamber and reverse side of the front cover plate...This plate was removed for the installation of a new belt or for attaching the cleaning tools.

Post# 374698 , Reply# 23   6/29/2017 at 18:58 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Rating sticker...

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As you can see, the Junior Dirtsearcher was rather enegry efficient at only 275w!

It can also be dated from this rating label, this Junior was manufactured in July 1970!


Post# 374699 , Reply# 24   6/29/2017 at 18:59 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
The rear of the machine...

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Post# 374700 , Reply# 25   6/29/2017 at 18:59 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374701 , Reply# 26   6/29/2017 at 19:00 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374702 , Reply# 27   6/29/2017 at 19:01 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Post# 374703 , Reply# 28   6/29/2017 at 19:10 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Genuine Hoover bag! Of course!

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The outer, vinyl bag unzips and can be released from the top bag support, to give you full access, in order to replace the inner, disposable paper bag.


Post# 374704 , Reply# 29   6/29/2017 at 19:15 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
It Beats...As It Sweeps...As It Cleans

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"Years of experience prove, the more carpets you have, the more you need Hoover!"


Post# 374705 , Reply# 30   6/29/2017 at 19:16 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Cleaning tools...

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Post# 374706 , Reply# 31   6/29/2017 at 19:19 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
I couldn't leave you, without showing the money shot!

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"When it goes searching for dirt, it finds it!"


Post# 374707 , Reply# 32   6/29/2017 at 19:21 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Thanks for scrolling!

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Hope you enjoyed reading this thread and I hope you are all doing well.

Enjoy.

Alex.


Post# 374708 , Reply# 33   6/29/2017 at 19:23 (2,464 days old) by vacuumlover (UK)        

Nice find. You did a good job 👍

Post# 374709 , Reply# 34   6/29/2017 at 19:29 (2,464 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Thanks Emma.


Post# 374890 , Reply# 35   7/4/2017 at 16:22 (2,459 days old) by chueewowee (Middlesex)        
front bearing

Lovely job - and well tackled.

I need to replace - or lubricate my front bearing too, and replace the fan blades which are a bit tattered. The Motor is out, but before I use any force, I would like to check , how is the fan and belt pulley removed from the armature prior to removing the bearing (or, how are they attached)?
Thanks.
John


Post# 374898 , Reply# 36   7/4/2017 at 18:19 (2,459 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
John...

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If you disassemble the motor completely and take the armature out, along with the front bearing, fan and pully, you can hold the armature in one hand and the fan in the other and if you hold the armature tight and then twist the fan one way or the other, it will loosen and the pully will unscrew...You can then pull the fan off the shaft and remove the spacers, then, gradually tap off the front bearing from its shaft (being careful not to bend the cooling fan) and that's it. 😊

Alex.


Post# 374899 , Reply# 37   7/4/2017 at 18:19 (2,459 days old) by chueewowee (Middlesex)        
Answer

OK, I discovered the trick:the pulley is on a reverses thread - rotate clockwise to undo the pulley, then fan and bearing slide off the armature.

Post# 374903 , Reply# 38   7/4/2017 at 21:31 (2,459 days old) by electricbroom (Sunshine State USA)        

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Alex,

Another great find and restoration by you, love the white and blue color, always liked that combination. Wish we had those in the states.


Post# 374912 , Reply# 39   7/5/2017 at 05:19 (2,459 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Electricbroom...

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Thanks so much.

I love restoring them to looking as near to new as possible.

I love the white and blue colour scheme too, wish i had the matching Senior.


Post# 374927 , Reply# 40   7/5/2017 at 16:40 (2,458 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR)        

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Wow, Alex. It turned out beautifully. You did a great job.

A question: how did you restore the vacuum's bumper (furniture guard)?


Post# 374932 , Reply# 41   7/5/2017 at 18:21 (2,458 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Portable...

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Thanks so much, I am really pleased with the results, can be quite tedious.

A trick to restoring the bumper is to get a couple of dishwasher tablets in a small bucket of water, perhaps the amount an average kitchen or bathroom sink holds, the less diluted the better.

Soak the ruber parts in that solution and after soaking for around an hour, the grime just wipes off! Very little effort required, when it is dry, just polish with some pledge.

Alex.


Post# 374980 , Reply# 42   7/7/2017 at 10:04 (2,457 days old) by vacerator (Macomb Michigan)        
Yes, all the above,

and hope all is well in Manc's Alex.
Dirty can be a bit of fun at times. o!o (Otter guy)
Like Lisa Stansfield sings, people hold on, got to be strong.

Ever watched the 100 foot journey? Excellent film.


Post# 374985 , Reply# 43   7/7/2017 at 10:50 (2,456 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
EXCELLENT job there.
A "Dirtsearcher" is on my "Must have list".
Some day........................
John


Post# 374992 , Reply# 44   7/7/2017 at 17:54 (2,456 days old) by luxlife (Under a Pecan Tree)        

What is the small blue plastic piece beneath the ratings sticker?

Post# 375022 , Reply# 45   7/8/2017 at 14:36 (2,455 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)        
"blue plastic piece ?"

That would be the electric connection to headlight(not used in US).

Post# 375083 , Reply# 46   7/9/2017 at 20:21 (2,454 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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vacerator - Dirty is lots of fun! 😝 Yeh all good thanks, what about you?

Jon - Thank you so much. 😊😊


Post# 375119 , Reply# 47   7/10/2017 at 13:23 (2,453 days old) by vacerator (Macomb Michigan)        
Great here too Alex! Thanks!

Been buisy with summer gardening and such. Our second grand child was born the end of March, so we see them a lot too. My step daughters babies of course.
I always liked kids, but obviously, my persuasion is for the more masculine gender
strictly.

I live about 45 minutes +- from Dearborn, Michigan. We have not had problems as you have there, at least not yet. The first immigrants from the middle east were mainly Catholics from Lebanon, and a few from Yemen going back over 60 years.
The people I have met are very polite, and we have in our city, a large Chaldean community, so we have a melting pot of people who had to flee from Iraq. Some have been here 30 years or more already.
I pray for the future of humanity each day. Suppose I had been born there?


Post# 380416 , Reply# 48   10/29/2017 at 17:18 (2,342 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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 my persuasion is for the more masculine gender
strictly.

 

Ahh, well, you will be all over me then! ;) Lol.


Post# 380427 , Reply# 49   10/29/2017 at 23:21 (2,342 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Hello my name is Gabriel and I'm from the big D of Texas and I also collect vacuums too, I've seen the junior dirtsearcher on the internet before and your junior dirtsearcher looks really beautiful just like the day it was made! I wish we had these particular models here in the US, if we did, it would've been called the lightweight dirtsearcher upright, but of course we did have the junior in the US but without the headlight and it was called the lightweight upright in green which I hope to find one day.

Post# 380434 , Reply# 50   10/30/2017 at 09:32 (2,342 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

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Alex, what was your method for painting the brushroll? I've got about half a dozen sanded down to do it, and the fee I've done come out looking pretty bad.

Post# 380443 , Reply# 51   10/30/2017 at 17:39 (2,341 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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I use black satin spray paint, the trick is to hold the can far enough away, otherwise it will clump and or looks pitted.

Just mask up the beater bars, the better your prep, the better your end result. 😃


Post# 381301 , Reply# 52   11/14/2017 at 07:30 (2,327 days old) by Columbus (South-Africa)        
Wow-

columbus's profile picture
Hey Alex-

Well what can I say, but you have done a remarkable task. Your other junior also appear near spotless and for the 6525C Senior Congratulations.

I have a Hoover 1346A Junior in that colour however struggle to find that exact slightly darker outer vinyl bag.

Regards
Adrian


Post# 381442 , Reply# 53   11/16/2017 at 15:26 (2,324 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)        
Great Job Alex

anthony's profile picture
your a man after my own heart as i am not happy with anything less than a nut and bolt strip and clean

Post# 381447 , Reply# 54   11/16/2017 at 17:40 (2,324 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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More like strip - strip, nut, clean and bolt! 😉😂😂


Post# 381449 , Reply# 55   11/16/2017 at 17:44 (2,324 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Columbus...Thanks very much! 😃😃 it is difficult finding an original bag on its own, it might just be a case of finding a donor machine.


Post# 381722 , Reply# 56   11/23/2017 at 18:26 (2,317 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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Hey Bud this looks amazing,As always you did a great job on the restoration
I too have a delux junior with the rotating cord clip.Mine however fetures a shake out bag, which means it was sold by a Hoover agent store here in SA, Fantastic machine.



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Post# 381723 , Reply# 57   11/23/2017 at 18:43 (2,317 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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Quick question: when using the Junior in tool mode, does the spinning brush roll touch the surface the vacuum is standing on? Or does Hoover supply a bottom plate to protect surfaces and fingers from damage? Curious to know how this mode works....

Post# 381726 , Reply# 58   11/24/2017 at 00:35 (2,317 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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The tool adapter fits over the spindle, the belt has to be removed first. So the brush cannot spin.

Post# 381727 , Reply# 59   11/24/2017 at 06:48 (2,317 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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I see...thank you Gareth!

Post# 381888 , Reply# 60   11/28/2017 at 10:01 (2,312 days old) by boxer_rules (Switzerland)        
Congratulations !!!

boxer_rules's profile picture
What a beauty! Congratulations, you're really a master of restoration. Thank you for posting all those great pictures, it's a pleasure watching them. The junior de luxe 1354A deartsearcher will always be my favorite upright Hoover. Best whishes from Switzerland :-)

Post# 382139 , Reply# 61   12/4/2017 at 12:51 (2,306 days old) by midcenturyfan (Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England)        

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Thank you for saving another beautiful classic Hoover.

Robin.


Post# 382788 , Reply# 62   12/17/2017 at 13:30 (2,293 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)        
the belt is not removed first

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it is automatically lifted off the motor post when the converter is fitted .

Post# 382885 , Reply# 63   12/19/2017 at 09:41 (2,291 days old) by jade_angel (Fort Collins, CO)        

Essentially a more convenient version of the tool hookup used on metal Royals, then?

Post# 382930 , Reply# 64   12/20/2017 at 00:14 (2,291 days old) by Stricklybojack (Southern California)        

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.
Great work, restoration posts are the best imo, thx.


Post# 382945 , Reply# 65   12/20/2017 at 14:55 (2,290 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
That "Dirtsearcher"

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
is "on my list".
Fab machine.


Post# 384193 , Reply# 66   1/13/2018 at 15:42 (2,266 days old) by lux14 (Leawood Kansas)        

Alex, You did a fantastic job on this restoration!!! Question, I think you painted the base? Did you just go to the harware store and find a close color via spray paint? Was the spray paint a certain type? You really did a great job! I have a hoover I need to paint the base on a dail amatic. Metal base. What was your technique? I see no runs! I also need to sand a few spots.

Can you also recomend a sanding process for a few small spots?

Again great job!!!!


Post# 384620 , Reply# 67   1/21/2018 at 19:05 (2,258 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Lux14

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The only think I painted was the Brushroll, which came up very well. 😁

The main machine is made of ABS plastic.

I used black Satin spray paint to spray the brushroll, when you spray paint anything makensure younare in a well ventilated area, preferably outside...Make sure the metal surface to be painted is sanded of any old paint and that is is clean and dust free, be sure to put down some protection for the floor or table and then spray, holding the can about 12 inches away, slow and evenly, usually two coats is enough.


Post# 384628 , Reply# 68   1/21/2018 at 23:27 (2,258 days old) by broomvac (N/A)        
Great resto.

broomvac's profile picture
I am very impressed. Your hard work paid off--the machine looks near-new.

Coincidentally, I too restored a Hoover brushroll just yesterday. Then, today I see this thread in which you did virtually the same thing!


CLICK HERE TO GO TO broomvac's LINK


Post# 384841 , Reply# 69   1/25/2018 at 20:05 (2,254 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Doesn’t she just?! Love it, think it looks lush now! 😍☺️

And good work from you too. 👍🏻



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