Shop Vac Grinding Noise.

No 3 in 1 Oil. That oil is SAE20 at most and some formulas are less than that, not for heavy duty applications like vacuum motors. Also 3-in-1 oil contains detergent and once the lubricating oil burns away the detergents are left behind to attract and hold dust and dirt. In a sewing machine this is likely not much of a problem, but in a vacuum cleaner it's a big deal.

Use a non-detergent SAE-30 electric motor oil when needed, and for situations where grease packing is required, Mobil Polyrex EM. Also leave the vacuum to sit for 3-4 hours after oiling to allow the oil to soak in and settle itself.

I got mine at Walmart: www.walmart.com/ip/Super-...

Non-detergent motor oil is typically recommended for lubricating electric motors that do not have sealed bearings and for lubricating bronze sleeve bearings. Non-detergent is usually specified in electric motor manuals - even for modern electric motors. This is why Royal and TTI use it because their vacuums are marketed mainly for industrial use and are used for hours upon hours a day, nearly non-stop. You need to use a slightly heavier oil so it doesn't burn up with friction.


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Post# 431491 9/8/2020 at 17:21 (1,315 days old) by RoyalFan103 (Washington)
Checkrate/Likes I still have my Shop Vac Hang Up that I bought in 2018. It still makes that grinding noise whenever I turn it on. What could be going on with it? It doesn't make that bearing noise anymore so I don't need to lube it.

Post# 431492 , Reply# 1 9/8/2020 at 17:29 (1,315 days old) by Thevacomaticiec (Bathurst New Brunswick Canada )
Checkrate/Likes nie fro mthe motor bearing almosta 100% tiem to repalce the bearing on her .

Post# 431510 , Reply# 2 9/8/2020 at 23:18 (1,315 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)
Checkrate/Likes *Umm* I had a Porter cable shop vac. I don't know how but a screw got jammed in the fan. Check and make sure no foreign objects aren't in there. Les

Post# 431512 , Reply# 3 9/8/2020 at 23:38 (1,315 days old) by broomvac (N/A)
Checkrate/Likes The Chewbacca noise upon startup/shutdown can be cured if you put some 3-in-1 Electric Motor Oil (blue label) in the upper sleeve bearing.

Post# 431515 , Reply# 4 9/9/2020 at 01:50 (1,315 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Well, don't make assumptions. Inspect the bearings first, inspect fan blades next. They may be dirty and off balance or possibly rubbing.

Post# 431517 , Reply# 5 9/9/2020 at 03:10 (1,315 days old) by RoyalFan103 (Washington)
Checkrate/Likes It stopped doing that Chewbacca noise after I lubed the top bushing shortly before I joined Vacuumland last year.

Post# 431558 , Reply# 6 9/9/2020 at 18:15 (1,314 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)
Checkrate/Likes 1 No 3 in 1 Oil. That oil is SAE20 at most and some formulas are less than that, not for heavy duty applications like vacuum motors. Also 3-in-1 oil contains detergent and once the lubricating oil burns away the detergents are left behind to attract and hold dust and dirt. In a sewing machine this is likely not much of a problem, but in a vacuum cleaner it's a big deal. Use a non-detergent SAE-30 electric motor oil when needed, and for situations where grease packing is required, Mobil Polyrex EM. Also leave the vacuum to sit for 3-4 hours after oiling to allow the oil to soak in and settle itself. I got mine at Walmart: www.walmart.com/ip/Super-... Non-detergent motor oil is typically recommended for lubricating electric motors that do not have sealed bearings and for lubricating bronze sleeve bearings. Non-detergent is usually specified in electric motor manuals - even for modern electric motors. This is why Royal and TTI use it because their vacuums are marketed mainly for industrial use and are used for hours upon hours a day, nearly non-stop. You need to use a slightly heavier oil so it doesn't burn up with friction.

Post# 431570 , Reply# 7 9/9/2020 at 23:41 (1,314 days old) by broomvac (N/A)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *@huskyvacs* 3-in-1 Electric Motor oil is non-detergent, and that�s specifically why I recommend it. See product FAQs. SAE 20 weight is not blanketly inferior to SAE 30. Higher speed applications usually want a lower weight as too high of a viscosity can lead to oil overheating. Vac motors qualify as high speed. CLICK HERE TO GO TO broomvac's LINK

Post# 431575 , Reply# 8 9/10/2020 at 01:28 (1,314 days old) by EurekaFanSquid (Sacramento, California)
Checkrate/Likes shopl vacd is vetgsry goojkljd i tr;yi;l;j it very godsjfl

Post# 431577 , Reply# 9 9/10/2020 at 05:12 (1,314 days old) by RoyalFan103 (Washington)
Checkrate/Likes I do have 3 in 1 Electric motor oil. I've used that on the sleeve bearing a year ago before I joined this site.