Thread Number: 19166
Hoover Windtunnel 2/Z700
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Post# 211595   12/29/2012 at 09:28 (4,129 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        

thehooverman's profile picture
I'm Looking For Any Info/Pics Of The 2

Post# 211601 , Reply# 1   12/29/2012 at 10:05 (4,129 days old) by director12 ()        

I remember the W2 and Z700 from when I was 9 years old. The self-cleaning filter sounded like a nice innovation, but nowadays, it is a flawed design.

Post# 211606 , Reply# 2   12/29/2012 at 10:23 (4,128 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        

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I have the bagged W2

Post# 211620 , Reply# 3   12/29/2012 at 12:50 (4,128 days old) by szymonrules (Philadelphia, PA )        
Oh what I...

szymonrules's profile picture
wouldn't do for a Windtunnel II.

Post# 211622 , Reply# 4   12/29/2012 at 12:57 (4,128 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)        
Z700

bagintheback's profile picture
I remember seeing both the Z700 and Z400 sold at Sears right before TTI bought Hoover. The bagless design is a bit dated for 2012, but back then it looked very high-end.

Post# 211623 , Reply# 5   12/29/2012 at 13:00 (4,128 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)        
Z400

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"The World's First Sport Utility Vacuum"

Post# 211624 , Reply# 6   12/29/2012 at 13:01 (4,128 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)        
Z400

bagintheback's profile picture
"Patent Pending"

Post# 211625 , Reply# 7   12/29/2012 at 13:07 (4,128 days old) by sleepdoc (St. Louis, MO)        
Hoover Z

sleepdoc's profile picture
Did anyone actually like the Hoover Z beyond its being unusual? I thought they were too bulky and heavy and seemed poorly built - way too much play in the moving parts. I never had one at home or used one in a home, so I can't say if it cleaned well or not.

Post# 211632 , Reply# 8   12/29/2012 at 13:20 (4,128 days old) by guardsman69 ()        

hoover z was a joint project of maytag and tacony during a time when maytag was dismantling north canton ohios main campus...true hoover enthusiasts know this was NEVER a true hoover product....just a poor idea of desparate maytag execs to compete with dysons onslaught of the american vacuum market.....john longs to show everyone his z at his minimeets.....i myself send my hoover customers z vacs straight to the dumpster and send them home with the hoover platinum bagless or our new max cyclonic pet UH70605....AN AWESOME VAC.....and a big seller in this showroom......

Post# 211633 , Reply# 9   12/29/2012 at 13:27 (4,128 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

The self-cleaning filter design is such a flawed concept both theoretically and in practice that it's difficult to imagine how it made it to the production stage.

If the dirt and dust particles that got sucked into the filter in the first place do fall off in Hoover's advertisement scenario, gravity ain't gonna let them settle to the bottom the second time around.

I've worked on just enough of both Z-400/700 and the Windtunnel 2 to know that gravity doesn't take over against suction on these. The filters get packed and they are very difficult to service. Parts are expensive. Some plastic in the W2 is brittle.

The bagged W2 is a much better choice than the bagless. If you don't need the extra filtration of a genuine Hoover W2 polyfiber bag, you can buy the Envirocare generic paper bags that give fairly good filtration and they are much less expensive. Filtrete makes a polyfiber W2 bag that costs less than Hoover.


Post# 211646 , Reply# 10   12/29/2012 at 16:22 (4,128 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
Z400

Here are some pics of my Z400. Here it is in the "canister" position.


Post# 211647 , Reply# 11   12/29/2012 at 16:23 (4,128 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
Z400

Here it is in the "upright" position.

Post# 211648 , Reply# 12   12/29/2012 at 16:25 (4,128 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
Z400

Here is the attachment/cord compartment.

Post# 211649 , Reply# 13   12/29/2012 at 16:29 (4,128 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
Z400

Here is the dirt cup/filter contraption.

Post# 211650 , Reply# 14   12/29/2012 at 16:30 (4,128 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
Z400

Here are the digi touch controls.

Post# 211651 , Reply# 15   12/29/2012 at 16:35 (4,128 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
Z400

Here is the agitator cavity. (without the baseplate)

Post# 211653 , Reply# 16   12/29/2012 at 16:44 (4,128 days old) by dustin (Jackson, MI)        

dustin's profile picture
I have a Z 700, and it is very bulky and heavy in use. It has a very agressive brushroll, but rather poor suction. It is great on some carpets (deep, loosely woven), but performs rather poorly on dense carpet. I like it, but it is poorly designed.

Post# 211654 , Reply# 17   12/29/2012 at 16:48 (4,128 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
Z400

I think Hoover was trying too hard to be unique with this machine. Some of the features just don't work that well in reality. However, there are some things they did right with this machine. I'll make a list of some of the features that I like...

Is a dual motor system,
Has soft start with both the suction and brushroll motor,
Uses a serpentine belt,
Has a mostly centered suction duct,
Uses a diverter valve in the base, so the air either goes directly to the floor nozzle or the hose,
Has an adjustable handle,
Stores compactly,
Is very stable with the hose, even when it is fully stretched out, or you are using with the hose extension.

I think the real reason it's stable with the hose is because it attaches at the base of the machine, and not because you can fold it down. The weight of the vacuum also helps keep it planted.


Post# 211663 , Reply# 18   12/29/2012 at 18:57 (4,128 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        

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thanks all for the info including: Cam2s And Bagintheback I've got a w2 bagged and it is much better than The Bagless One

Post# 211671 , Reply# 19   12/29/2012 at 20:18 (4,128 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

I have the Z 700, and it really is a conversation piece... as far as actual use, the suction and airflow are abysmal, but the agitation is good. It is super heavy and bulky... not agile or nimble at all... the electric height adjust is cool as are the headlights in the front, but that's about it... I am glad to have it since I am a collector, but if I were just a regular person and that was my only vacuum, I think I'd sweep instead! The bagless self cleaning filter doesn't clean itself well at all which makes the poor suction even worse and to clean it properly, you have to remove 6 screws... I just mine once every few months just for fun... Cord managemenet sucks because you have to get it just right for the door to close and sometimes the machine refuses to come out of the crouched position... I don't ever put mine in the crouched position because there is no reaosn to and I'm scared that it will get stuck....

I've never used the 2 except one time I went to Sears to try out the floor model... I hear the bagged versions were better which is understandable...

Here's a picture I shared when I first got it...


Post# 211672 , Reply# 20   12/29/2012 at 20:22 (4,128 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        

thehooverman's profile picture
Hey Bobby The W2 Is Better
-Top Fill Bag
-DirtFinder
-Wand Is Handle
-Non D Grip
-Cord Rewind


Post# 211673 , Reply# 21   12/29/2012 at 20:23 (4,128 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        
@VacuumFreeke

thehooverman's profile picture
hey bob look at your cat's eyes

Post# 211674 , Reply# 22   12/29/2012 at 20:25 (4,128 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

Cam2s, I have the same brown shag rug you do, and the Hoover Z 700 is one of the few uprights I can use on it... Kirbys and Eureka F and G style uprights work well too, but not much else does... I usually use the Sentria when I want to give it a deep clean or a straight suction for surface cleaning.... Royals almost do OK, but not nearly as well as the Kirbys... Kenmore Direct Drive works OK... Eureka Smart Vac, Sebo/Windsors and other Hoovers (like Platinum Lightweight Bagged, Self Propelled Windtunnel, Dial-a-matic, or Concept) do not work well at all... What have you found to work on yours?

Post# 211675 , Reply# 23   12/29/2012 at 20:27 (4,128 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

Hooverman, I agree... I hate D/loop style handles, especially on uprights... I think they are too restrictive and don't really help...

Post# 211676 , Reply# 24   12/29/2012 at 20:27 (4,128 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        
@VacuumFreeke

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im TheHooverMan On YouTube

Post# 211679 , Reply# 25   12/29/2012 at 20:30 (4,128 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

Cool... I'll check out your vids... I'm Aleroluver :o)

Post# 211681 , Reply# 26   12/29/2012 at 20:36 (4,128 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        
@VacuumFreeke

thehooverman's profile picture
yes that W2 is better use should check into a used one they have a top fill bag and improves the things you hate about the WindTunnel

Post# 211682 , Reply# 27   12/29/2012 at 20:37 (4,128 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        
@VacuumFreeke

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look at your cats eyes 0o

Post# 211684 , Reply# 28   12/29/2012 at 20:40 (4,128 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        

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I can sing of your suck for ever...

Post# 211737 , Reply# 29   12/30/2012 at 02:07 (4,128 days old) by thermokid (Casper, Wyoming)        
I have both Hoover Z models

I bought the white one first because I thought it was very unusual looking. When I got it the divertor valve in the base to change from floor to tools was broke or stuck or something not letting the suction go to the hose. so I thought ok I can fix this so I called my faithful Hoover service center in Sacramento where I used to work and my friend there advised me tto throw the hunk of junk in the garbage since parts were no longer available for it. Well I thought I would keep it because it did look wierd. And it did suck through the base even though it didn't clean as good as my old trusty Convertibles . Then I found a new top of line Hoover Z in the box and I thought ok now I have both of them.Top of the line model has some neat features but it still is a hunk of junk. So I use it as a door stop to hold a door open... LOL Dan

Post# 211765 , Reply# 30   12/30/2012 at 08:54 (4,128 days old) by Durango159 (State College, PA)        
The Best Headlight of them all:

durango159's profile picture
This threads Best Headlight of them all" award goes to: The Cat!!! That's too funny!! Cute cat.

Did that Z700 come with a wooden CWP brush roll?


Post# 211807 , Reply# 31   12/30/2012 at 14:37 (4,127 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        

thehooverman's profile picture
yes i believe so. for some reason its made in U.S.A? The Vacuum Is

Post# 211864 , Reply# 32   12/30/2012 at 20:31 (4,127 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
@ Vacuumfreeeke

That brown rug is kinda of a pain to clean. Most machines usually tend to "eat" it or get to bogged down on the nap. My Oreck XL and Dirt Devil Deluxe work the best on as they can go over it without sucking it in. If I use my Kirby on it, I use it in the hand held mode and stand on one end while dragging the machine across it. This method is rather hard on my back but cleans the rug well. As far as power nozzle/canister machines go, I find that the Wessel Werk P/N from my Fairfax works the best. The Lindhaus PB 14E works well as long as it is on a canister that you can dial down the suction.

Post# 211867 , Reply# 33   12/30/2012 at 21:20 (4,127 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        
@VacuumFreeke

thehooverman's profile picture
look at your cats eyes

Post# 211901 , Reply# 34   12/31/2012 at 03:22 (4,127 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Remember trying a Hoover "Z" vacuum at Best Buy-was the white colored one-it was like pushing a clunky,unstable wheelbarrow full of bricks.The machine is HEAVY-makes any Kirby a lightweight.And didn't like its bagless design-think Hoover should have made a bagged version.And-the plastic parts made a "creaky" sound when moved or the machine pushed over the floor.

Post# 211994 , Reply# 35   12/31/2012 at 19:22 (4,126 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        

thehooverman's profile picture
Z400

Post# 211995 , Reply# 36   12/31/2012 at 19:22 (4,126 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )        

thehooverman's profile picture
Make it cyclonic?

Post# 325547 , Reply# 37   5/24/2015 at 13:29 (3,252 days old) by vacuumdude (Spokane WA)        
the cat is getting ready to fire its lazzers

Lol


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