Thread Number: 45407  /  Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
I have a 103 Now! 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 470174   3/17/2024 at 02:37 by RoyalFan103 (Washington)        

royalfan103's profile picture
So, my mom let me go to Habitat for Humanity, and I bought a Royal Dirt Devil 103 Hand Vac. It came with a Mostly Complete set of attachments and bags (Missing extension wand), but I have an extension wand, so it souldn't matter if it's missing the extension wand. It sounds bit rough, but I'll take the time to restore and clean it up before I get to replacing the Bearings on my 500.

BTW, the reason why I'm replacing bearings on my 500 is because the motor's wind down isn't smooth and it seems to vibrate without the brush and belt attached (The Fan is fine) to the spindle.

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Post# 470178 , Reply# 1   3/17/2024 at 17:00 by RoyalFan103 (Washington)        
Just started working on it today!

 royalfan103's profile picture
There’s some pics. Also, the dusting brush looks like it came off of another machine.

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Post# 470181 , Reply# 2   3/18/2024 at 08:04 by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
you'll make it sing

 gottahaveahoove's profile picture

no doubt!

 
Post# 470183 , Reply# 3   3/18/2024 at 08:10 by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)        
Dirt Devil

 One of the best hand vacs ever.Might be good idea to take fan off while it is apart and check for thread,strings,hair under it.Dust brush is 60s,70s deluxe Eureka with horse hair bristles and would fit many other vacs.

Post# 470185 , Reply# 4   3/18/2024 at 09:15 by RoyalFan103 (Washington)        
It’s restored!

 royalfan103's profile picture
Here’s some Before and After pics and Vids.




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Post# 470186 , Reply# 5   3/18/2024 at 09:28 by RoyalFan103 (Washington)        
Also, here’s the tools.

 royalfan103's profile picture
They cleaned up Nicely!

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Post# 470187 , Reply# 6   3/18/2024 at 11:47 by human (Pines of Carolina)        
Nice find...

 human's profile picture
...especially with almost all the tools. It's nice that you got two belt lifters in the deal. I'm personally more partial to its metal predecessor, the Royal Prince 501. I almost bought a pair of 100s at Goodwill. one for $4 and one for $5. The less expensive one was missing the belt cover, but was in better overall shape. I almost moved the cover off of the more expensive one, but it just didn't feel right to do so, thus I ended up passing on both of them.

Post# 470190 , Reply# 7   3/18/2024 at 18:38 by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Victor

 Great job on the Dirt Devil.Did replacing the bearings take care of the vibration on the spin down? Curious if you were able to re-pack the old bearings or if you went with new? Your brushes look fine so probably a low mileage unit. I bought my first #103 in '92 and it still runs great,although I'm thinking new bearings are in order as it has a loud squeal on the spin down.

I bought the paper insert bag kit,sold separately back then,which makes emptying a lot easier and preserves the outer bag to an extent.

I know the number 103 co-insides with the date of your parents marriage,1/03/XX.I'm sure you pointed that out to them at some point!

Looks like you've come a long way in the 5 years you've been posting here,now that you're able to do most of the resto work yourself! Billy




Post# 470191 , Reply# 8   3/18/2024 at 22:21 by RoyalFan103 (Washington)        

royalfan103's profile picture
About the Vibration, the 500 had it. The vibration seems to be coming from the fan and something went wrong while trying to take it off (The spindle got messed up.) so I’ll be looking at my thrift stores for a donor machine for it. I couldn’t get to the bearing because the Fan was stuck on so I tried replacing the back bushing with a bearing, only for it to be weird with the Armature so I put the back bushing back. Basically, it was not the Bearings, it was the fan.

About the 103, I did also try replacing the bushing with a bearing, but the Casing didn’t fit with the bushing, so I just left it in there. It runs very smoothly now and the Brushroll just needed oiling.


The 103 was pretty much the first vac I actually gave a Bathtime to. It was filthy when I got it.

Also, nice that you got a bag adapter for your unit. Those are so much cleaner than shaking the bag out.

Post# 470192 , Reply# 9   3/18/2024 at 22:25 by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Victor

 Great job on the Dirt Devil.Did replacing the bearings take care of the vibration on the spin down? Curious if you were able to re-pack the old bearings or if you went with new? Your brushes look fine so probably a low mileage unit. I bought my first #103 in '92 and it still runs great,although I'm thinking new bearings are in order as it has a loud squeal on the spin down.

I bought the paper insert bag kit,sold separately back then,which makes emptying a lot easier and preserves the outer bag to an extent.

I know the number 103 co-insides with the date of your parents marriage,1/03/XX.I'm sure you pointed that out to them at some point!

Looks like you've come a long way in the 5 years you've been posting here,now that you're able to do most of the resto work yourself! Billy




Post# 470194 , Reply# 10   3/19/2024 at 01:13 by RoyalFan103 (Washington)        
Billy

 royalfan103's profile picture
Was that double post an error?

Post# 470230 , Reply# 11   3/21/2024 at 19:53 by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Victor

 It sure was, sorry about that! About that bag kit,I don't remember if a hose was included,doubt it,but I know I hooked one up and used the 103 as a hand held blower just for kicks. The adapter directs the exhaust through a round port that would accept a hose,though it wasn't advertised for such purpose. I took the belt off the pulley also,and with the bags off,it made for a handy little blower. Won't replace a real leaf blower for sure but hey...

Later models came with a hose for suction and two speeds and a larger motor. I believe the original bare bones red plastic one speed two amp motor model 103 was the biggest seller. I remember they were heavily advertised and pushed as a great stocking stuffer during the holidays! They flew off the shelves.

Tip: The bottom of the bag where it mounts to the machine tends to wear from scraping the carpet or what ever so that's something to watch if you're going to use the cleaner very much. Nice chatting with you as always.


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