Thread Number: 21015
I Must Be Dreaming....
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Post# 235227   6/4/2013 at 22:29 (3,950 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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Lately my Goodwill has not had any vacuums whatsoever. It has been really disappointing, until today....

 

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this Riccar sitting in the back for $18. I didn't even bother to turn it on. I took it right up to the register and checked out. This has probably been used about 5 times. The brushroll was perfect, with new brush strips, both filters were new, and the attachments were most likely never used. It also came with the really long extension hose. It was purchased in 2009 and serviced in 2010. I'm guessing it hasn't been used since the last time it was serviced. 

 

I'm still in shock that I actually found it!


Post# 235230 , Reply# 1   6/4/2013 at 22:40 (3,950 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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Another lucky find there Chase. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy

Post# 235233 , Reply# 2   6/4/2013 at 23:01 (3,950 days old) by GeorgeCT (Fairfield, Connecticut)        

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What's up with these great Riccar finds lately?

Awesome!


Post# 235266 , Reply# 3   6/5/2013 at 09:54 (3,949 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        
Beautiful!

dysonman1's profile picture
That's the current model. Be sure to use the cloth HEPA bags in it and not the blue paper ones. Congratulations on your new $699 vacuum cleaner for $18. What a steal!

Post# 235302 , Reply# 4   6/5/2013 at 12:31 (3,949 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
I must say,

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
very nice entranceway.

Post# 235319 , Reply# 5   6/5/2013 at 13:10 (3,949 days old) by beko1987 (Stokenchurch, United Kingdom)        

That carpet looks great to vacuum! Nice cleaner too, we never have anything as interesting over here anymore!

Post# 235350 , Reply# 6   6/5/2013 at 16:08 (3,949 days old) by compamac ()        
I have.....

A Riccar 2200 commercial cleaner. Works really good. I got mine at a vac shop for like $70.00 I know that is expensive considering it is an older Riccar. Instead of Riccar bags I use Panasonic type U, or U-3 bags. They are cheaper and slightly bigger! Hope that helps with the bags but Im not entirely sure that they are the same with this newer model.


Post# 235363 , Reply# 7   6/5/2013 at 18:09 (3,949 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

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The Riccar 2200 is still made today as the Carpet Pro.

Post# 235370 , Reply# 8   6/5/2013 at 18:46 (3,949 days old) by compamac ()        
Thank you Mr.Gasko

I did not know of this machine still being made! Thank you for informing me on that!

Post# 235379 , Reply# 9   6/5/2013 at 21:43 (3,949 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

Chase, you do have good luck, don't you!  I too wondered what was up with all the Tacony finds lately... I found that Simplicity a few weeks ago and now everybody is finding Riccars...  I know you will love it... my Simplicity is a powerful, hungry beast!  I tried to suck up a whole paper towel in my new Miele S7 because I wanted to see how it would perform compared to the Simplicity... it clogged immediately and it took me the better part of an hour to get it out... the Simplicity simply inhales them with no problem whatsoever!  

 

Yours does look brand new, and that is just a steal!  My Simplicity was 20 bucks, and was all scratched and missing one attachment and cord hook, but Tom, working for the company as he does, was really helpful with getting the right stuff for it at a great price.

 

Can you take a picture of the handle/switch... I'm curious about what it looks like compared to my Simplicity.  Does yours have the spring loaded front wheels for automatic height adjust?


Post# 235462 , Reply# 10   6/6/2013 at 15:50 (3,948 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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Bobby, I'll post a picture of the handle when I get home tonight. I'm not sure about the spring-loaded wheels but I'll check up on that. It's funny that I found this because I was just telling another collector how I wanted to find a nice Simplicity 7 Series. I'll gladly take this instead!

 

I may or may not have found a red Riccar Radiance for $26 today... ;) I'll try to post some pictures in a while.


Post# 235473 , Reply# 11   6/6/2013 at 16:30 (3,948 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        
Red Radiance

dysonman1's profile picture
Costs $1290 at retail. For $26, it's a STEAL.

Post# 235474 , Reply# 12   6/6/2013 at 16:31 (3,948 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        
Handle Comparisons

dysonman1's profile picture
Looped handle on Simplicity 7850 - Straight Handle (with rubber grip) on Riccar 8955.

Post# 235475 , Reply# 13   6/6/2013 at 16:32 (3,948 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        
Spring Loaded Wheels

dysonman1's profile picture
The spring loaded wheels are only on the 7850 - note that the outbound wheels are on the nozzle frame. The Riccar uses wheels mounted onto the main body, so the nozzle floats on the rug.

Post# 235476 , Reply# 14   6/6/2013 at 16:34 (3,948 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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Tom, I was able to build one good one from various parts! I need to order a new handle because there is a small crack in the current one, making it pretty loose. I also need the HEPA filter and cover, as well as the attachments. Is there any chance I could order those from you?


Post# 235487 , Reply# 15   6/6/2013 at 18:11 (3,948 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

Chase, a Radiance for 26 dollars...  can you bottle your luck up and mail it out to the rest of us LOL

 

Tom, thanks for the pictures and info about the two machines.  What is that bagless thing in the background between the Riccar and Simplicity?  Do they both have the same exact dual fan motor?  

 

Chase, I wish you still did youtube, though I understand your reasons for stopping...  Congrats again on an awesome find!

 

 


Post# 235498 , Reply# 16   6/6/2013 at 20:34 (3,948 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

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Chase: you can call me and order parts directly from the factory. The Museum's phone number is 573-265-0680.

The bagless is a prototype of a model we've had redesigned and are currently testing - it has picked up a ton of very fine red sand buried deep in the Frieze carpeting of the 1970's room. We were testing the new height adjustment as well as the limits of the multi-cyclonic filtration system.


Post# 235504 , Reply# 17   6/6/2013 at 22:22 (3,948 days old) by cam2s (Nebraska)        
Very nice find

I've been working at a hotel for the summer and they use Riccar 8925 commercials. They look just like that one except they are burgundy. Of course, the vacuums there aren't in like new condition like yours, but they still are great machines.

Post# 235534 , Reply# 18   6/7/2013 at 12:05 (3,947 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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Here is just a phone picture of the Radiance. I really like it but I'm afraid to use it until I get the handle replaced. I don't think I've ever used such an aggressive vacuum!


Post# 235535 , Reply# 19   6/7/2013 at 12:08 (3,947 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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Here is where the handle is cracked


Post# 235576 , Reply# 20   6/7/2013 at 14:37 (3,947 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)        

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Chase, those finds define amazing. I've payed much more for Riccars in much worse shape. You live in one lucky aera! Which model do you prefer? I own a Brilliance and never found it to clean any better than a 8000s series or good direct air machine.

Post# 235578 , Reply# 21   6/7/2013 at 14:48 (3,947 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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Tom, the manufacturer's sticker is missing, is there any other way to get the serial number? 


Post# 235601 , Reply# 22   6/7/2013 at 20:28 (3,947 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

Wow, Chase, broken handle or not, that is the deal of the century!  Congrats!  It should be simple to get the handle fixed and even if it costs a few bucks, who cares!  I think I need to move to Indiana!  LOL

 

After playing with my Simplicity, I want a Radiance or Synergy, so I'll be interested in seeing your opinions...

 

 


Post# 235615 , Reply# 23   6/8/2013 at 00:01 (3,947 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        
Hidden Serial Number

dysonman1's profile picture
All very expensive vacuums (Kirby, Rainbow, etc.) all have hidden serial numbers. This is to prevent bojacking. Using a hair dryer, heat up the Thermal Reset instruction sticker next to the reset button. The hidden serial number is under there.

Post# 235641 , Reply# 24   6/8/2013 at 09:19 (3,946 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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Thank you! The serial number is 4B00 02111

Post# 235642 , Reply# 25   6/8/2013 at 09:25 (3,946 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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Nice!

Post# 235670 , Reply# 26   6/8/2013 at 11:23 (3,946 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

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4B means it was built in 2004, second quarter of the year.

Post# 235676 , Reply# 27   6/8/2013 at 11:56 (3,946 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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Would it still be under warranty or am I not that lucky? 


Post# 235738 , Reply# 28   6/8/2013 at 19:04 (3,946 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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That would be great! Should I call or email you?

Post# 235739 , Reply# 29   6/8/2013 at 19:24 (3,946 days old) by kenmore81 (Warwick, RI)        

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Very Awesome find. There was a Riccar at a thrift store near me for only $25 but it was a late 90's/2000 model. I woulda grabbed it but i was short on cash and it had no attachments duct tape on the handle and was packed with smelly pet hair.

Post# 235741 , Reply# 30   6/8/2013 at 20:26 (3,946 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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Chase, again your luck is holding! And happy for you too

Post# 372545 , Reply# 31   5/21/2017 at 21:16 (2,503 days old) by camelotshadow (Valley Village)        
Yeah...I have a 8955 Riccar!!!

I have one!!! Was thinking it was an 8950...It's had a special storage place in the bedroom. Took it out the other day for a drive...nice!!!!

Wow, I was happy when I found it in around 2013 & not sure where but either Good Will or Sal Army.
Its in VG cond. So it was current model in 2013? Mine is navy blue

Ser begins 9A so maybe 1st 2009? Guess they got rid of it after the 5 yr warranty.



I need cloth hepa bags?

Are Riccar hepa bags all cloth or are some paper.

I bought some gen simplicity & it says mirco liner catches up to .1 micron & thats' better than hepa...

Again I don't want to spend alot on bags but there is some dust inside the bag compartment.

Maybe should just save money on fixing the simplicity 7350,,,
I like the handle better as well as the wheels, switch & sole plate & color!
All around I think better made.






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Post# 372553 , Reply# 32   5/21/2017 at 22:35 (2,503 days old) by camelotshadow (Valley Village)        
Mini Spa & some polish

Revelation...its not dark blue its BLACK. All this time I thought it was blue...
I'm never really one to look anything over lightly so don't know how I missed it but its sat unused in the dark corner of the bedroom for years. Have to change that.

Going to wait to get hepa bags for it so I can take it for another spin.
Cleaned up the bag compartment & took off some scuffs & the yuck from the sole plate I thought was rust but it was some hard coating & came off with some effort.

Wow...looks much better but hard to see in pics as they are showing more scuffs
than I can see.





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Post# 372554 , Reply# 33   5/22/2017 at 00:58 (2,503 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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Riccar sells both cloth and paper bags. The differences between the two is that the cloth bags are more expensive, they filter better, it helps breath better on airflow, and they can hold more dirt than paper bags.

On your serial number, it was made in the forth quarter of 2009.

What I like about the Simplicity 7 Series better than the Riccar 8 Series is that it has a better height adjuster (It does a better job if you vacuum underneath the bed), the bottom plate is easier to remove without having to get a screwdriver, and in my experience the carry handle is much more comfortable. What I like about the Riccar better is that the bottom plate is sealed in better than the Simplicity. Other than that, I always prefer the wheels on the Riccar better than the Simplicity in my own experience. Otherwise they are both excellent machines and I can't decide which one I like better between the two.

With you saying that the Simplicity is better made, both Riccar and Simplicity are made by the same company, and built with the same materials in case you weren't aware of that.


Post# 372559 , Reply# 34   5/22/2017 at 03:11 (2,502 days old) by camelotshadow (Valley Village)        

I guess I should clarify as post was confusing. I like the features on the Riccar 8955 better than the Simpl 7350.

Simplicity handle cracked, plastic part that held a wheel screw broke, plate does not hold to bottom rear portion tight & has gaps, & the plastic that holds the rubber seal on the bag compartment fell off on one side (same riccar design).

To be fair both were inexpensive finds so not new & simplicity likely had a harder life & it is about 9 years older.

The Riccar 8955 wins with a solid handle, solid wheels in the frame, & a sole plate that screws tigher against the bottom as I don't mind grabbing a screwdriver to access the belt & those plastic tabs on the simpicity look like they could break too.

Serial # is 9A...2009 but isn;t A the 1st quarter?

Why.how so the regular Simplicity bags with microliner filter .1 micron?
I bought 12 bags as they were about $1 a bag. The Riccar hepa say they filter only .3 micron. It would appear Simplicity bags were better than Riccar Hepa.
I just read the RiccR REG Bags say .1 micron too so if I would have know that I wouldhave got the Riccar. Same co so quality should be same but I have the Reg Riccar for the 8000 8900 series in blue & I like them





Post# 372874 , Reply# 35   5/29/2017 at 16:14 (2,495 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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However with the straight solid handle on the Riccar, the foam or rubber grip would wear, tear, and fall off once a while. Also what I don't like about it is that the handle feels awkward on my palm, especially with the grip off. With the Simplicity looped handle, it feels really good on my palm. We always tell our customers to avoid carrying the vacuum on top of the handle every time we replace the looped handle grips on the Simplicity. In fact, since I'm planning on getting another Riccar 8955 but this time I'm buying one brand new, what I'm going to do is swap the entire handle out with a handle that has either the Simplicity looped handle grip or the straight plastic handle grip because again, I don't like the feel of the metal handle, It's a good quality handle but it's just not for me.

Also once every while I would see some wheel axles that would bend on the Carpet Pro and the Fuller Brush uprights which uses the same design as the Riccar but I've never seen anything that bent or broke on the Simplicity uprights that I've repaired before. Again the wheels actually do a better job vacuuming on the Simplicity and that's one of the main reasons why the shop that I worked for favored Simplicity over Riccar.

I've also never seen those plastic tabs that broke on the Simplicity bottom plates before, those plastic tabs are hold onto by screws.

Yes I meant to say first quarter of the year because that's what A means.

And again, both Riccar and Simplicity are made by the same company so both the paper bags and cloth bags are the same thing. And both paper and cloth bags do filter better than most bags on the market.


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Post# 372910 , Reply# 36   5/30/2017 at 11:47 (2,494 days old) by myles_v (Fredericksburg, VA)        

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Take a closer look at the bags. HEPA filters down to 0.3 microns at 99.97% efficiency. This means that 99.97% of particles larger than 0.3 microns are trapped by the filtration media. I'll guarantee you that the bags you have don't trap down to 0.1 microns at the same efficiency rating as HEPA.

It may filter down to 0.1 microns at 80% efficiency, meaning 80% of particles larger than 0.1 microns are trapped. But HEPA filters better than this.

Don't pay attention to things that tell you what micron level they filter down to without telling you what % it filters down to. You will not find a consumer vacuum (or probably any vacuum) that filters down to 0.1 or even 0.3 microns at full 100% efficiency. HEPA is the gold standard for home vacuums, ULPA is a level that's even better than HEPA, but you won't find a dustbag that filters down to that level. ULPA is still only 99.999% efficient.


Post# 372985 , Reply# 37   5/31/2017 at 12:56 (2,493 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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Exactly what myles said. Also since I should clarify from my previous post about the bags, I meant to say that the bags are made by the same company but both the paper and cloth bags don't filter .


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