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Thread Number: 45169
/ Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
My first Panasonic |
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Post# 468107 12/14/2023 at 15:46 by JustJunque  (Western MA) |
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Hey all,
I guess I'm officially off the wagon. While I am more selective now than I used to be, I still don't seem to be able to resist anything that stands out as somewhat unusual, vintage, pretty, etc. Well, this one may not be pretty, per se, but it did catch my eye on the level of, "You don't see those every day". I can't get a decent picture at the moment. But, it's a Panasonic Jet-Flo MC-5116. Serial number is 104145. I couldn't know less about Panasonic vacuums if I tried. Somehow, it didn't even hit me at first, but I read a comment from someone who called it a ripoff of a Hoover DAM. Now that that seed has been planted in my mind, I can't unsee it. I've given it my standard initial wipe-down with sanitizing wipes, and I plugged it in and hit the switch. The motor seems to sound decent. There might be a little brushroll bearing noise, but I'm not sure. Hopefully, it's not motor bearings. It's blue and what was probably white, originally. Now, it's sort of a cream beige color. The fairly short cord is a dark brown. From other similar Panasonics that I've checked out on YouTube, I'm guessing this was a BOL model. Also, am I correct in assuming it's from the mid 1980s? Based on its styling, I would have guessed '70s. At the moment, as the sun has set here, and I'm looking at it under dim light, it looks great! In reality, it has a lot of scratches and scuffs to the plastics. But, for $10, I couldn't resist. It was either this, or a Bissell bagless CleanView Swivel Pet, for $20. I figured I'll probably see plenty of Bissells. But, I've never stumbled upon an older Panasonic before. So, anything that anyone can tell me about it would be very much appreciated! Are bags, belts, etc still available for it? Does anyone make a HEPA bag that will fit it? Any characteristic idiosyncrasies I should look out for? Please...talk to me! And, enjoy one lousy, sideways picture. Thanks, Barry
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Post# 468110 , Reply# 2 12/14/2023 at 16:17 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Thanks, Mike! | ||
| Post# 468114 , Reply# 3 12/14/2023 at 17:11 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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| Post# 468116 , Reply# 4 12/14/2023 at 18:07 by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN) | ||
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Barry, Very nice clean air,self adjusting,trouble free upright.I like this style better than the heavier,bulkier on board hose/attachment style.This one could have a standard or deluxe attachment set that was quick and easy to use. | ||
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Post# 468118 , Reply# 5 12/14/2023 at 18:22 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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| Post# 468128 , Reply# 8 12/14/2023 at 21:12 by EvolutionClean1 (Nampa, Idaho) | ||
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Just seeing that Someone else mentioned the patent sale, my bad for repeating 😆 At any rate, the DAM was a huge innovation and paved the way for Panasonic's success. I wish they still made vacuums! | ||
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Post# 468129 , Reply# 9 12/14/2023 at 21:28 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Hmmm. I wouldn't say this one struck me as being exceptionally quiet. I've only heard it once, for a few seconds.
All I've done so far is give it a sanitizing wipe-down on the outside. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can start trying to take some parts off and see what needs help. I'm wondering if it needs brushroll bearings. Or, at least lubrication for them. For all the scuffs and scrapes, I don't think it really looks like it has a ton of hard use. But, I'm far from an expert. | ||
| Post# 468131 , Reply# 11 12/14/2023 at 21:39 by EvolutionClean1 (Nampa, Idaho) | ||
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Those old paper bags However did leak a lot of dust and it can cause the motor bearings to screech. If you're feeling daring enough to open up the motor those bearings can be oiled too | ||
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Post# 468132 , Reply# 12 12/14/2023 at 21:46 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Post# 468133 , Reply# 13 12/14/2023 at 21:51 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Post# 468140 , Reply# 14 12/15/2023 at 10:52 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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I just took off the base plate. It's cleaner inside there than any other used vacuum I've acquired!
The belt is still getting the job done, but I definitely see some damage on it. So, that will need replacing. Just turning the brushroll by hand, and leaning my ear close to it, I'm afraid it seems more like the gritty sound is coming from the motor area, rather than the brushroll. Basically, right where the shaft is that the belt rides on. With the bottom plate off, it looks like the hose would just lift out at that end. Is there an easy way to remove it from where it goes into the back of the bag compartment? If so, I'd like to take it off completely and give it a bath in the sink, along with the base plate. I tried just gently pulling on the upper end of the hose, but it didn't feel like it wanted to let go. And I don't want to damage it. Edit to follow up: I checked eBay for hoses for these vacuums, and I found someone selling the lower hose. The one they're selling includes the plastic port where the accessory hose attaches. So, I'm guessing that I can somehow remove that whole assembly from inside the bag compartment. I haven't poked around in there just yet. Hopefully, I can still drop the whole thing in the sink, with the plastic part attached. This post was last edited 12/15/2023 at 13:08 | ||
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Post# 468147 , Reply# 15 12/15/2023 at 14:38 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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I don't know if anyone is really interested in every little detail of this vacuum. But, I've never seen one in person before, so I'm still sort of in "Ooh...shiny!" mode. So, I apologize if I'm guilty of overkill.
Today, I started on the bag compartment. The bag that was in it was a Panasonic brand paper bag, and it had to have weighed a couple of pounds, easy. I'm pretty sure it was filled beyond the recommended level. The inside of the compartment is very dusty. I wish I could put the whole vacuum in the dishwasher! But, I'll do the best I can at getting it clean. And, the HEPA bags have been ordered. So, hopefully, that will keep it cleaner in there. Well, coupled with the fact that this will be a very limited use vacuum. There's a whitish foam filter in the bottom of the bag compartment. I don't know if it's factory, or if someone just made it. And, I don't know if I should wash and reuse it, or try to make my own replacement out of a/c filter material or something. A package of genuine Panasonic belts is ordered as well. The data tag says UB belts. But, the ones I ordered are UB-8. But, it says right on the package that it replaces UB, and it lists the 51** series of machines as using this belt. I think I kind of like the very simple, base model look. Sure, all the bells and whistles are nice. But there's something about the clean, simple look of this one that appeals to me. Even the white painted handle, as opposed to chrome. | ||
| Post# 468148 , Reply# 16 12/15/2023 at 15:49 by Rugsucker (Elizabethton TN) | ||
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Hose Twist and pull below hose port flap and remove from bottom. Hose should have bump that fits in hole in plastic part for proper position. | ||
| Post# 468153 , Reply# 17 12/15/2023 at 20:02 by SebringVanguard (GA) | ||
Evo, the dual sweep looks like the Kenmore progressive multi-force series, they were bagless but one had two brush rolls just like this model and two different hoses for suction. The model was 116.32735201. There was another one (116.33912301) and it did not have "twin brushes" but it did have a fat and beltless one. below are pictures of model 116.32735201 and a link to its thread.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO SebringVanguard's LINK | ||
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Post# 468210 , Reply# 18 12/21/2023 at 15:08 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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I've been away from it for a little bit, but I'm doing a little more cleaning today.
I have the hose, hose port, plastic base plate, and bumper soaking in some Tide. I washed the little foam pre-motor filter too, but I didn't leave that in to soak, as I wasn't sure how it would stand up to being washed. As it stands, it seems to have fared just fine. I wish I knew of an easier way to clean in all of the little recessed squares inside the bag compartment. Good night! That's a lot of fiddly work with a small brush and paper towels! But, I want to get it as clean as possible. Both for sanitary/allergy reasons, and because I bought HEPA bags for it. Hopefully, that will keep it from getting this dusty again. Now that I have it out, I can say that the brushroll bearings seem great. Nice and quiet, and it spins very freely. I'm going to see if I can get a couple of drops of zoom spout oil on the end of the motor, where the belt shaft comes out. It's probably not ideal, but it's what I have to work with. | ||
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Post# 468310 , Reply# 19 12/27/2023 at 17:35 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Well, I think I've done about all I can do with this one. I put way too much time in today, polishing the plastic by hand. In the physical shape I'm in, I'm definitely going to feel that!
The Panasonic brand belts I bought are just way too short. I expect a new belt to be shorter than the old, stretched out one. But, this is just inches too short. I couldn't get the brushroll anywhere near where it needed to go. So, for now, the old belt is back in. The vacuum looks a lot better than it did, it doesn't sound too bad, and it has a very light, maneuverable feel to it. I wish I had a friend who was a vacuum expert. I'd feel better having a pro look at it. You know, for the stuff I won't attempt to do. And, to double check the stuff I did do. I'm not sure why, but I feel like someone could probably talk me into parting with this one. And I'm not used to that feeling. | ||
| Post# 468321 , Reply# 20 12/28/2023 at 12:08 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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Post# 468326 , Reply# 21 12/28/2023 at 16:12 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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The vacuum's tag said it uses Type UB.
The ones I bought are genuine Panasonic, Type UB-8, and it says on the package "Replaces Type UB". I bought these for that reason, and because they're genuine Panasonic. I figured, that way, you know what you're getting. Oh well. Edit: I forgot to mention; on the package, it also lists the series that these belts are supposed to fit. It lists the 51** series. And, this vacuum is a 5116. This post was last edited 12/28/2023 at 16:48 | ||
| Post# 468331 , Reply# 22 12/28/2023 at 17:24 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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Post# 468350 , Reply# 23 12/29/2023 at 08:51 by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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