Thread Number: 15770
Air Way 66
[Down to Last]

Vacuumland's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate vacuumland.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 167927   2/1/2012 at 08:14 (4,439 days old) by mieles7 (TX)        

mieles7's profile picture
Whenever I use my Air Way in the vertical position, black dust comes out. This dust left an unremovable black mark on the carpet. How can I fix this? Also, where would I be able to find a hose that would fit the vacuum?

Post# 167959 , Reply# 1   2/1/2012 at 13:09 (4,439 days old) by mieles7 (TX)        

mieles7's profile picture
Are these cleaners hard to get into? I think this vacuum may have been used to clean out a fireplace.

Post# 167960 , Reply# 2   2/1/2012 at 13:16 (4,439 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        

It's carbon dust. These were known to do that. Too bad, because the genuine 14 layer paper bag filtered quite well, but the carbon dust from the motor still "left its mark."

Post# 167961 , Reply# 3   2/1/2012 at 13:17 (4,439 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        

It's carbon dust. These were known to do that. Too bad, because the genuine 14 layer paper bag filtered quite well, but the carbon dust from the motor still "left its mark."

Post# 167962 , Reply# 4   2/1/2012 at 13:18 (4,439 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        

Pardon the double post!

Post# 167970 , Reply# 5   2/1/2012 at 15:05 (4,439 days old) by kenkart ()        
Around the motor!

Is a cloth bag looking thing that is supposed to filter out this dust, take off the bottom,"Remove the runners first" then clean or replace this bag and your problem is solved!

Post# 167986 , Reply# 6   2/1/2012 at 18:26 (4,439 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture

The Air-Way 66 construction and interior layout is essentially the same for the 77 and 88 series. This 77 cut-a-way may help you. I have highlighted the motor filter bag in yellow - Air-Way called it a sound suppressor. It is made from a fuzzy-back heavy cotton flannel material. If yours is missing it's easy enough to fabricate one from a new hand towel or flannel moleskin fabric from a ship. It is a circle about 16" around; a drawstring is hemmed inside the circumference to draw it tight around the top edge of the motor.

Note that unlike most 'fan-first' canister & cylinder vacuums, the Airway has the fan chamber on the bottom drawing air through the motor.

 

If you haven't taken apart the canister yet be aware that the acorn nuts on the bottom attach to four spacing extension struts which are then threaded to four long rods that clamp the upper and lower sections together; try not to remove the entire rod just to replace or renew the motor filter bag.

 

I expect you will find your filter bag very black and it may even have a hole in it allowing the carbon dust to escape prematurely.

Vacuum the dust off and then wash & dry it.

 

Dave


Post# 168038 , Reply# 7   2/2/2012 at 06:06 (4,438 days old) by williamr1248 (USA)        
Air-Way 66

Ian,

I can add a little to what has been said on this thread. If you can check the March 2004 issue of the VCCC Newsletter our past leader R. J Vanik did a whole article about just this subject.

What he used was a polishng bonnet for a disc type automotive polisher. They are a terry cloth fabric with elastic sewn around it's border. You can buy them in different sizes in the auto parts store. I replaced the sound suppessor on my 66 with one and it  has worked fine for years.

In the "old" days  ( 50's and 60's) our Air-Way man came around at least once every year to sell new bags,filters,check the hose suction and of course TRY and get you to buy a new machine. In those days it was recommended that they change the sound suppressor and check over the motor every 5 years.

Also back then the carpets and carpet pads were not so thick so it was not a big a problem. 

It is my understanding the "sound suppressor" was to catch the carbon dust as the Air-Way sani-bag filtered very well for it's day. 

I do remember my dad taking mom's 66 apart,washing the suppessor and reusing it again. That Air-Way is still running today.

 

    

 

 


Post# 168052 , Reply# 8   2/2/2012 at 09:21 (4,438 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)        
Black Spot = Sale

I have heard stories of Rexair salesmen watching for these black spots in a prospects house years ago.This was a time when AirWay was very popular with a revolving intake before the other vac had a 'swivel top'.They rarely gave trouble and many would not have routine service and cleaning as described above.The stay at home housewife would clean her smaller living room more often with the Airway in the same location as she moved the hose around the room.When the Rexair man knocked at the door the demo might start like this-SALESMAN"Good morning.You have a nice home.I see you use an AirWay."CUSTOMER"Why yes and I love it.But how did you know?"SALESMAN"I can see the terrible stain it makes on your pretty rug.Let me show you how to solve the problem".Then would follow a demo including shampooing with the glass sprayer after which the salesman would most likely have a signed contract and the beloved Airway would be a trade in.

Post# 168053 , Reply# 9   2/2/2012 at 10:18 (4,438 days old) by williamr1248 (USA)        
Air-Way 66

Jimmy,

That is such a TRUE story. Our's never showed any black marks until they got the new wall-to-wall carpeting in the 60's. It NEVER occured to my parents or her friends who owned Air-Ways to JUST TURN IT ON IT'S SIDE!!!!! Even the instruction book shows the Air-Way being used on it's side like an Electrolux! 

Tania was showing me how even the 55 Air-Way was perfectly balanced and designed to be used on its side too!

I never knew this until I joined the club and Tom Gasko showed me how it turn it on it's side and use it like a regular tank machine. The machine was sold to be set in the middle of the room and with the extra long hose, upward vertical design and the "S' wands with the rollers on the rug tool, it was easy to operate (even for a little kid like myself!)

 

Your story it JUST what happened to a friend of my grandparents when they bought a early "b" Rexair!

 



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

Woops, Time to Check the Bag!!!
Either you need to change your vacuum bag or you forgot to LOG-IN?

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy