Thread Number: 16128
Suitable motor donors for Electrolux 500 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 171891   3/4/2012 at 18:23 (4,434 days old) by DeluxeWolf (Oxfordshire, UK)        

I'm looking to transplant a more powerful motor into an electrolux 500 series cleaner. I have heard the contour range motors are a drop-in replacement but I was wondering if any other later models have motors that would fit?

I'm also curious as to whether the later motors are as hard to service as the old 500 series ones.

Post# 171984 , Reply# 1   3/5/2012 at 03:47 (4,434 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

As far as I know, all uprights after the Contour and Airstream have different motors. But then the Contour was heading up for 1400 watts on some models, though motor failure was high.

The old 500 models are hard to service as they were not designed to be taken apart, but can be done if you know how. The newer plastic motors were impossible to service, but then you didn't need to service them as the fans had been designed in such a way that they didn't clog like the old motors.



Post# 172013 , Reply# 2   3/5/2012 at 13:27 (4,433 days old) by twocvbloke ()        

I don't get why Electrolux motors of that era were built to never be serviced, my Z1185e slimline needed new bearings, but as they had pressed the fan onto the armature, I couldn't get to the front bearing which was the worst sounding, which is one of the reasons I sold it on... :\

The Z500 motor was the same, pressed-on fan, bad bearings, but then it also had a bad commutator so was beyond redemption sadly, wouldn't have minded trying that one out cos I had always wanted to try an old Z500 series Electrolux upright, now I'm not that interested unfortunately... :(

Post# 172031 , Reply# 3   3/5/2012 at 16:10 (4,433 days old) by DeluxeWolf (Oxfordshire, UK)        

It's a shame the generic modern motors aren't suitable, as they are very common (every cheapo upright I have seen has the same one) I don't think the fans are very good on them though, and I bet they don't last long either.

I'm sure I have seen loads of contours at car boot sales in the past and not paid them any notice as they are 'new' machines to me, but I'll be keeping an eye out for them from now on.

Post# 172034 , Reply# 4   3/5/2012 at 16:20 (4,433 days old) by twocvbloke ()        

I've not seen that many contours myself lately, though I did see an Airstream last Thursday at a charity shop in Chester-le-street, £15, but I didn't fancy it after having owned a Contour2 that clogged up if it so much as picked up a hair, which is why I got rid of it back in 2005...

Post# 172038 , Reply# 5   3/5/2012 at 16:41 (4,433 days old) by DeluxeWolf (Oxfordshire, UK)        

How many names were the contour series sold under? I know there was contour, airstream, airclean ...

The contour2 motors are the same fitting, yes?

Post# 172048 , Reply# 6   3/5/2012 at 17:02 (4,433 days old) by twocvbloke ()        

Yeah, the Contour2 is the same as the Contour, except it had a loop-handle rather than a standard one, and apparently it had ESP features, but had no obvious way to activate the ESP like on other older ESP models which had a button to turn up the power... :\

Post# 172053 , Reply# 7   3/5/2012 at 17:13 (4,433 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

Yes same fitting. First range was Contour in grey 600w basic and green 800watt electronic. First electronic models were 'boost' models but this was quickly changed to electronic slider. Shortly after came the dark grey 1000watt airclean, and after that a bright red sub-basic model called Elite, which had a short rigid hose. Main issue with these cleaners was the two plastic strips which held the handle up. After a while, they wore out. Electrolux did restyle the handle lock on later models, but it still required the user to force the cleaning head down with their foot.

Then in 1994 Electrolux revamped the range. All cleaners had a foot pedal to operate the handle release. The basic models were called Contour and the TOL versions had looped handles and were called Contour2. They were also branded as "ESP" (extra suction power). The Airstream was replaced by the Airclean, and the Elite by the Twin Turbo. I can't tell you about specific models as between 1994 and 1998 there were just so many of them.

The reasons why the Electolux motors were not made to be serviced are several. It would have been cheaper and easier to build for one thing. Also, the quality of the motor was high, and parts like brushes and bearings were designed to last the life of the motor. Granted there have been many cases where the motor outlasted the bearings, but the cleaner would have been relatively old by that point. Also, from a sales point of view, motor failure was another way of making sure the cleaner didn't last too long.

Granted that Hoover motors nearly always had parts available as individual parts, but Hoover were one of the few to do this, and it didn't always mean it was more cost effective to repair either. If anything, I am amazed that Hoover of all manufacturers was the one who actually built motors in this way.


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