Dating a Decade

I happened to find another one of these. The first one came from an estate sale and has the metal bottom plate. My recent find has the plastic bottom plate. Somewhere during production I assume Hoover switched to the plastic bottom plate.

I do like these Decade cleaners. I�m thinking Hoover used less metal in the later agitators because the agitators seem to get knocked out of balance quite easily causing them to vibrate. I greased both bearings and noticed a slight wobble in the center of the agitator while the motor was running with the bottom plate off. This is probably where the vibration is coming from. I could use a CWP brush roll, which does work well but seems to eat through belts fast. At least in my experience. I�ve been ordering 044783AG belts from eBay. The belts seem to be going up in price like everything else. The AG belts are the only belts I�ve found that last awhile. Even new old stock GENUINE HOOVER belts snap after a couple of seconds. Hopefully, the AG belts will still be in production for a while.

The main reason I like this Decade is the 6 amp motor. The tool suction is quite good when compared to the lower amp convertibles. My sister lives not too far from me and has two dogs. I go over to her house at least twice a week to clean for her. I place the converter, hose, wand, crevice tool and multi-purpose brush in a small plastic grocery bag and hang the bag on the cord hook. This works out well. It�s better than having to drag two separate vacuums in and out of her house, or any other house that I�m cleaning.

Before I started using the Decade I was using a Eureka 2072, which did work well on carpet, not so much with the tools. The Eureka did have a new fan and I replaced the gasket on the converter but still the suction was quite minimal on the hose. Also, I noticed Eurekas in general tend to kick small pieces of debris around (such as small bits of gravel) before picking it up. After using the Eureka with the hose for a while vacuuming the dog crates, hamster food and scattered pellet cat litter, some of the debris never made it into the bag but rather made a mess on the floor when I took off the converter.

Also, debris tend to get stuck between the belt guide and the bottom metal plate causing the belt to burn or snap. I never had that problem with the Hoover. The Eureka has a 3.5 amp motor compared to the Decade with the six amp motor. Higher Amp Eurekas do better on the tool suction. I did have a nice Burgundy Eureka Precision that had good suction on the hose from what I remember. I would probably still have it now if another collector didn�t throw an absolute fit when he saw it a number of years ago. So I gave it to him so he would be quiet. He�s gone now and another collector has it to use for parts or something, which is fine. I didn�t expect to get anything out of the situation anyway. Considering the circumstances.

I also prefer the solid slate green color scheme of this Decade. The lime green version is okay. I'm not fond of the bag on that one. I understand the slate green version was made for JcPenney. The cord also seems to be a bit shorter on the slate green version.


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Post# 216331 1/27/2013 at 20:04 (4,100 days old) by kenmorekid ()
Checkrate/Likes Can you help me with a date on this Hoover Decade 80 2 speed with power surge model u4407 6amp serial# 00021583

Post# 216332 , Reply# 1 1/27/2013 at 20:14 (4,100 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)
Checkrate/Likes I have that model also!

Post# 216338 , Reply# 2 1/27/2013 at 21:12 (4,100 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)
Checkrate/Likes sorry to say I do not remember the age decoding, but I think mine was 82?

Post# 216356 , Reply# 3 1/27/2013 at 22:21 (4,100 days old) by raycarter (Taylor, Michigan)
Checkrate/Likes Your Decade 80 was made sometime between 1985 and 1987. The model U4407 was a JCPenney exclusive model, sold alongside a Concept One and a Concept Two which were also finished in the same color scheme (shades of Slate Green.)

Post# 216396 , Reply# 4 1/28/2013 at 06:51 (4,100 days old) by swiveltop (Galveston, TX)
Checkrate/Likes Love the color, Thats the first one I've seen like that,very nice,it even matches the room.

Post# 216399 , Reply# 5 1/28/2013 at 07:19 (4,100 days old) by kirbykid63 (Wilmington Delaware)
Checkrate/Likes *I like it.* That's the machine I am searching for I am sure one will pop up soon.It looks well cared for. Richard

Post# 216470 , Reply# 6 1/28/2013 at 15:54 (4,099 days old) by kenmorekid ()
Checkrate/Likes I love green, and pink haha! I got it at an auction for $1.00. Still never cleaned it up yet. Thanks for the info! I'd rather have the concept though, I only like bottom fill convertibles.

Post# 216493 , Reply# 7 1/28/2013 at 17:08 (4,099 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)
Checkrate/Likes Mine came from a friend, still looks new, but I think the Concept will outclean it personally.Plus mine pulls itself! A major plus with a bad back.

Post# 216550 , Reply# 8 1/28/2013 at 23:23 (4,099 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)
Checkrate/Likes Is this color refered to Slate green then?

Post# 216584 , Reply# 12 1/29/2013 at 06:53 (4,099 days old) by squarehandle ()
Checkrate/Likes *Nice find!* I'm as green with envy as your Beautiful Decade, This one is definitely on my wish list!

Post# 216593 , Reply# 13 1/29/2013 at 08:58 (4,099 days old) by kenmorekid ()
Checkrate/Likes *Taking offers* As I said I will part with it for the right trade. A convertible 728 would be fantastic it's mt dream vac, the first one I ever remember using. A dial a magic would be swell too and I kind of want a fantom too. Mikeus@me.com s my email.

Post# 216667 , Reply# 14 1/29/2013 at 17:47 (4,098 days old) by kenmorekid ()
Checkrate/Likes *Auto correct* Dial a matic haha stupid auto correct

Post# 449092 , Reply# 16 1/6/2022 at 02:21 (835 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)
Checkrate/Likes *Decade, decades later...* I bought my grey Decade new in 1985 from Best Merchandise Catalogue's showroom. Wasn't a collector then and didn't know there were different trim levels of this model. I was so happy with what I got for 65.00 I brought it up to work to show the girls in the office. They were so impressed that two of them went down to the store on their lunch break and bought one for their own. I guess this model was BOL as their were no attachments, just the cleaner. Grey in color with the 1 1/2 speed 6-6.5amp motor. I was told to use the burst of speed sparingly as it was a little rough on the motor. I know someone who taped the switch in to the higher speed permanently and of course his Decade died decades ago, mine still runs almost as good as it did 37 years ago, so there's that. Money well spent! "Would recommend to a friend"

Post# 216563 , Reply# 9 1/29/2013 at 00:38 (4,099 days old) by stricklybojack (Southern California)
Checkrate/Likes *My green Concept I* Man, this one was a job to clean up...

Post# 216564 , Reply# 10 1/29/2013 at 00:40 (4,099 days old) by stricklybojack (Southern California)
Checkrate/Likes *The serial number info* I have no idea when this was made...

Post# 216565 , Reply# 11 1/29/2013 at 00:54 (4,099 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)
Checkrate/Likes I really should take pics of my decade 80 and concept 1 I guess

Post# 449085 , Reply# 15 1/5/2022 at 11:03 (835 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa)
Checkrate/Likes 1 I happened to find another one of these. The first one came from an estate sale and has the metal bottom plate. My recent find has the plastic bottom plate. Somewhere during production I assume Hoover switched to the plastic bottom plate. I do like these Decade cleaners. I�m thinking Hoover used less metal in the later agitators because the agitators seem to get knocked out of balance quite easily causing them to vibrate. I greased both bearings and noticed a slight wobble in the center of the agitator while the motor was running with the bottom plate off. This is probably where the vibration is coming from. I could use a CWP brush roll, which does work well but seems to eat through belts fast. At least in my experience. I�ve been ordering 044783AG belts from eBay. The belts seem to be going up in price like everything else. The AG belts are the only belts I�ve found that last awhile. Even new old stock GENUINE HOOVER belts snap after a couple of seconds. Hopefully, the AG belts will still be in production for a while. The main reason I like this Decade is the 6 amp motor. The tool suction is quite good when compared to the lower amp convertibles. My sister lives not too far from me and has two dogs. I go over to her house at least twice a week to clean for her. I place the converter, hose, wand, crevice tool and multi-purpose brush in a small plastic grocery bag and hang the bag on the cord hook. This works out well. It�s better than having to drag two separate vacuums in and out of her house, or any other house that I�m cleaning. Before I started using the Decade I was using a Eureka 2072, which did work well on carpet, not so much with the tools. The Eureka did have a new fan and I replaced the gasket on the converter but still the suction was quite minimal on the hose. Also, I noticed Eurekas in general tend to kick small pieces of debris around (such as small bits of gravel) before picking it up. After using the Eureka with the hose for a while vacuuming the dog crates, hamster food and scattered pellet cat litter, some of the debris never made it into the bag but rather made a mess on the floor when I took off the converter. Also, debris tend to get stuck between the belt guide and the bottom metal plate causing the belt to burn or snap. I never had that problem with the Hoover. The Eureka has a 3.5 amp motor compared to the Decade with the six amp motor. Higher Amp Eurekas do better on the tool suction. I did have a nice Burgundy Eureka Precision that had good suction on the hose from what I remember. I would probably still have it now if another collector didn�t throw an absolute fit when he saw it a number of years ago. So I gave it to him so he would be quiet. He�s gone now and another collector has it to use for parts or something, which is fine. I didn�t expect to get anything out of the situation anyway. Considering the circumstances. I also prefer the solid slate green color scheme of this Decade. The lime green version is okay. I'm not fond of the bag on that one. I understand the slate green version was made for JcPenney. The cord also seems to be a bit shorter on the slate green version.