Electrolux Guardian Overheating?

I just got a nice Electrolux Guardian off eBay and of course it was talked up as being perfectly working and not a problem with it other than the filter was broken off and duct-taped back on "but it still worked".

I took the duct tape off the top of the filter before using it, and just used it now to vacuum out the cupboard for about 10 mins. When I was done I felt and smelt heat visibly wafting out of the motor area and blower hole. The entire housing of the vacuum around the filter area was also hot to the touch. I said "that cant be good" and so I got my laser thermometer to do spot checks on it.

I was getting 92 F on the exterior of the vacuum, 93/94 F on the filter mesh, 113 F around the blower hole ring, and then I stuck the probe down the blower hole and was reading 142.9 F off the motor!

Is any of this at all normal or do these motors just run hot? This is my first "modern" Electrolux so I've only ever had experience with the 70's models. The filter is broken completely off which is why it was duct taped on. Are these individually replaceable filters or do you have to replace the entire thing? It looks like it has a charcoal filter in there with some kind of other mesh on the top.

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 7 View Full Size


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Post# 447957 11/18/2021 at 03:16 (889 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)
Checkrate/Likes I just got a nice Electrolux Guardian off eBay and of course it was talked up as being perfectly working and not a problem with it other than the filter was broken off and duct-taped back on "but it still worked". I took the duct tape off the top of the filter before using it, and just used it now to vacuum out the cupboard for about 10 mins. When I was done I felt and smelt heat visibly wafting out of the motor area and blower hole. The entire housing of the vacuum around the filter area was also hot to the touch. I said "that cant be good" and so I got my laser thermometer to do spot checks on it. I was getting 92 F on the exterior of the vacuum, 93/94 F on the filter mesh, 113 F around the blower hole ring, and then I stuck the probe down the blower hole and was reading 142.9 F off the motor! Is any of this at all normal or do these motors just run hot? This is my first "modern" Electrolux so I've only ever had experience with the 70's models. The filter is broken completely off which is why it was duct taped on. Are these individually replaceable filters or do you have to replace the entire thing? It looks like it has a charcoal filter in there with some kind of other mesh on the top. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 7 View Full Size

Post# 447958 , Reply# 1 11/18/2021 at 03:34 (889 days old) by LadyDobermann (Marshfield, Wisconsin)
Checkrate/Likes The shaft (ooer) on the motor of my Kirby Tradition gets pretty hot (probably about 120+, certainly hot enough to make my hand automatically lift off of it due to the heat). So I'd guess it's either normal or we both have overclocked vacuums. I have an oil radiator in my old pickup truck out back, maybe I could send it to you to keep your Electrolux cool! lol

Post# 447966 , Reply# 2 11/18/2021 at 11:54 (889 days old) by Thevacomaticiec (Bathurst New Brunswick Canada )
Checkrate/Likes First thing id check is bag filter or clogs some were hot motor not enough air flow and no i dont think supose be that hott

Post# 447981 , Reply# 3 11/18/2021 at 23:40 (888 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)
Checkrate/Likes Bag is a new bag but paper bag that seller included with it. No clogs in hose. I might try next with filter off and see what happens.

Post# 447982 , Reply# 4 11/18/2021 at 23:56 (888 days old) by Thevacomaticiec (Bathurst New Brunswick Canada )
Checkrate/Likes Could be it dirty fan ? or shorths makign it over heat ? or carbon brush to worn down making it stpin slower??

Post# 447983 , Reply# 5 11/19/2021 at 00:29 (888 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)
Checkrate/Likes No idea. Not going to open it up right now, no place to work.

Post# 448018 , Reply# 6 11/19/2021 at 07:16 (888 days old) by Gabowenjr (tampa fl)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Run it with no filter, those machines will over heat if the filter is clogged. If it stays running and doesn't get that hot with the filter off that is your problem. Who knows how long the filter has been on the machine. Probably a long time especially if the clips were broken off on it. Also if the filter is an after market one the clips will break really easy and every time you put the machine on it will blow the filter off the top of it. You really want to change them every 2 years. Now that machine does have a few boards in it as well so you want to make sure it's not a board going. I am pretty sure though it's the filter. The motor has a t stat in it so if it gets to hot it should shut off.

Post# 448022 , Reply# 7 11/19/2021 at 09:16 (888 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)
Checkrate/Likes 2 I'll second that. I have the Guardian model as well, just like yours. Run it with the filter off, and it shouldn't be so hot. Buy a new filter for it, don't reuse the old one. They should be changed after a couple years, and yours is probably the original.

Post# 448255 , Reply# 8 12/1/2021 at 18:55 (876 days old) by Jo (Dallas,TX)
Checkrate/Likes *Sometimes* The motors just run hot. I used to go in my Electrolux branch frequently and on one occasion I had a power nozzle that kept shutting off and the top cover was very hot. I asked the repairman and he said it�s just a bad motor and it runs hot�we just replace the motors. So that could be the problem if it persists when the filters are off and an empty bag is in use. Jon