Thread Number: 28954
/ Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
New Addition--Electrolux Super J |
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Post# 323788   5/1/2015 at 16:17 (3,276 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Well, I've gone and done it again. My Electrolux 1205 now has a companion in the form of an Electrolux model 1401 "Super J". Couldn't have the Kirbys ganging up on that lone 'Lux, right? It's got a few scratches and a small dent on one side of the tank, but it runs great. I've already posted in another thread about a problem it has with the lockout switch that is supposed to shut the machine down if the bag is full or the bag door is open. I've got it functioning okay for now and I have a new lockout switch on order to permanently fix the problem. I will install that when it arrives in a few days.
The machine did not have any accessories with it, but as if on cue, I spotted a complete PN5, wand and hose assembly on eBay that was flying below the radar and I was able to snag it for about the average cost of a good, used hose by itself. I really didn't need another hose, but I was glad to find it, along with the other two pieces, for a good price. The Power Nozzle has a few battle scars but is otherwise in good working order with a solid brush roll. Yeah, it's not a "correct" pairing; the PN5 is a almost a decade newer than the Super J. While I would have loved to have found one of those shiny metal PN2's to pair up with it, what I've got works just fine for my needs. I'll post pix once I've got everything cleaned up a bit. I think I am having a small issue with the wand in that seller took it apart for shipping and it's not going back together the way I'm expecting it to. When I slide the metal tube into the plastic sheath with the spring clip pointing upward to align with the release button, It will push in about three inches and click into place, but the button is immobilized and I cannot push the shaft any further into the sheath. I am assuming this white wand assembly is meant to telescope like the teal one for my 1205, but maybe it's not. Is there a trick I'm missing here or do the two halves just click together at full length? |
Post# 323803 , Reply# 1   5/1/2015 at 20:12 (3,276 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 323814 , Reply# 2   5/1/2015 at 21:03 (3,276 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 323896 , Reply# 5   5/2/2015 at 13:40 (3,275 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Here are some pix of my new Super J and the PN5 I got to go with it. As you can see, they both have a few battle scars (you can see the little dent in the canister, just behind the bag door in the first one), but they work well together. The gold color scheme is a little garish but it's growing on me. It's a true artifact of its era.
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Post# 323960 , Reply# 7   5/3/2015 at 08:45 (3,274 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 323987 , Reply# 8   5/3/2015 at 12:48 (3,274 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 323989 , Reply# 9   5/3/2015 at 13:24 (3,274 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 324067 , Reply# 10   5/4/2015 at 13:48 (3,273 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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The new lockout switch came in the mail today and I just got finished installing it. The machine now works good as new. Now that it's out of the machine and I can look at it closely, the old switch is downright scary looking. It appears that the black wire (blue on the new switch), which is permanently attached to the switch, had broken off and was soldered back together in the past--yikes! I'm glad that switch is now in the trash.
I just love it when I can look at the guts of a machine that I've never opened up before, immediately spot the problem, and know exactly how to fix it. It doesn't always happen like that, but it's fun when it does. |
Post# 324082 , Reply# 11   5/4/2015 at 16:02 (3,273 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 324085 , Reply# 12   5/4/2015 at 16:40 (3,273 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)   |   | |
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Silverado & Diamond Jubilee nozzles always matched.(One of very few PN-5 problems was rear axle coming loose causing the wheels to no longer adjust.Fixed with an improved axle cover strip.) |
Post# 324090 , Reply# 13   5/4/2015 at 17:24 (3,273 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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The rear wheels seem to be securely attached to my PN5 but there isn't any sort of adjustment control. The axel is spring loaded and will retract about 3/4 of an inch if I push straight down on the handle, but as soon as I release pressure, it goes back to its normal position.
Looking back at an earlier thread, my Super J does have its serial number sandwiched between a K and an S so it was likely part of the run that had bad armatures but I don't see a 5-year warranty sticker on it, unless it's on the motor itself. I haven't torn that far into it and don't intend to if I don't have to. After I put the lockout switch in, I was inspired to do a little more cleaning and polishing to the exterior. It looked so nice when I got through, I pulled my 1205 out of the closet and gave that dusty old warhorse a similar treatment. Now both are ready for their close-up. I don't think the metal top panel on the 1205 has shined that nicely in the 11 or 12 years that I've had it. |
Post# 324102 , Reply# 15   5/4/2015 at 21:23 (3,272 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Thanks for the clarification. It seems then that my PN5 is fully functioning as it should.
The motor on that Super J runs smooth and strong without any noises that would cause concern. At this point, I think it's pretty safe to assume that any motor failure I might experience would be a result of age and wear rather than defect. I don't know that it's an indication the motor was ever serviced, but there is a sticker inside the bag door from an Electrolux dealer in Moline, Illinois. It's faint but the name "David Sloan, Svs. Mgr." is rubber stamped on the sticker. If this machine originated in Illinois, it is indeed well traveled, considering It came to me in North Carolina by way of Bonita Springs, Florida.
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Post# 324105 , Reply# 16   5/4/2015 at 22:00 (3,272 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 324177 , Reply# 18   5/5/2015 at 16:17 (3,272 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 325143 , Reply# 22   5/19/2015 at 10:15 (3,258 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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My PN5 is grayish tan (kind of an oatmeal color) with a blackish brown base and a round, red reset button. It came with a matching plastic hose and the newer style two-piece wand.
In the few weeks I've had the thing, I've done a bit of a turnaround on the gold color. I've actually come to like it. Granted, it's an artifact of its era—the '70s were not known for subtlety—but that's part of its charm. Mechanically, it runs great and is a cleaning beast—not quite Kirby caliber, but pretty darned good. |
Post# 325331 , Reply# 24   5/20/2015 at 21:49 (3,256 days old) by ronni (USA)   |   | |
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I believe this is the donation label to which Rugsucker was referring: |
Post# 325419 , Reply# 25   5/21/2015 at 17:18 (3,256 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 330082 , Reply# 32   7/25/2015 at 09:31 (3,191 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)   |   | |
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This is a question for someone with knowledge like human, Rugsucker, and Suxolux. Anybody who can get me an answer is welcome to tell. My Silverado has a similar problem to this Super J. The bag door doesnt close all the way. When i push it all the way closed, the motor seems to gain RPM and when I let go it returns to its first position. Is that normal?
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Post# 330091 , Reply# 33   7/25/2015 at 12:30 (3,191 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 330094 , Reply# 34   7/25/2015 at 12:59 (3,191 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)   |   | |
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I was sweeping with it today. If i put the control on one, it opens (bag is about 2/3 or 3/4 full). I put it on two, and it opened. The switch to open the door was 'quivering' on 3 and I always run it on 4. Obvious loss of suction by this point but i only have a few bags left. I might run it on 3, but im not sure
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Post# 330097 , Reply# 35   7/25/2015 at 13:11 (3,191 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 330100 , Reply# 36   7/25/2015 at 13:20 (3,191 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)   |   | |
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Post# 330103 , Reply# 37   7/25/2015 at 15:03 (3,191 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Agreed. It sounds like a bag problem. Fortunately, 'C' bags are plentiful and cheap. The best bang for your buck will be to order them in bulk from eBay. I got 24 for $15.45 with free shipping earlier this year. The offer is still there (see link below). If you've got the cash, an even better deal is 100 for $39.99 shipped, to which you will see a link on this listing. These are good quality four-ply generic bags and I can attest to their excellent performance. And no, I am not a paid spokesperson.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO human's LINK on eBay |
Post# 330104 , Reply# 38   7/25/2015 at 15:10 (3,191 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)   |   | |
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I got 6 unused genuine electrolux bags plus one in the machine when Electrolux-Dude sent me my silverado. Plus I have 10 generics left. I tossed the generic I had in it (full) and put one of the genuine bags in it. So much suction with a new bag! I hope i get some time out of this bag, since i wont use the rest of the genuines, or the bags from the '60's i got with my Lx. im only going to use my generics since they are cheap.
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