Electrolux 502 Upright Cleaner

[liberatordeluxe]

Do vacuum cleaners gradually loose suction as they get older?

I have an Electrolux 502 upright cleaner and when you use the hose attachment suction is so poor it doesn't pick anything up. There are no blockages and bag is hardly full. This is my grans cleaner so haven't owned it from new. I am guessing this must of been made in the 1970's.

 

[ozzie908]

502 suction

I have a twin turbo which is a newer version of yours and it has superb suction still I have replaced the bag and washed the filter underneath it all helps.
Also what is the hose made of is it a ribbed plastic or what looks like its plaited if its the plaited kind they lose suction as they wear where it bends and means it won't pick up also is it just the hose not picking up ? Have you tried placing your hand over the opening where you insert the hose does that still have decent suction?
Easiest way to see whats up is remove the bag and the 2 filters under it close the box and switch on if you have decent suction its the filters if not its the motor not running at correct speed.

Austin

 

[liberatordeluxe]

I will let you know tomorrow. I like it better than the Hoover 'Hurricane' as it isn't noisy.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

Electrolux 502

Sorted was the filters that needed cleaning. Suction 100% better.

 

[gizmo]

I have owned a couple of these in the past, an avocado green one, a mustard one and a later beige one with a more powerful motor. I have replaced all filters in the past but always thought them a bit lacking in suction. They are a lovely quiet unit, though. I hate noisy vacs.

Here in Australia they were badged as Volta, not Electrolux. There was a rigid distinction back then, here in Aus. Electrolux vacs were Australian made, only barrel vacs (no uprights) and not available in stores, only from door-to-door sales.
Electrolux Australia had a range of vacs that were sold in regular retail stores, they were all badged as Volta so that they could advertise Electrolux as only available from your friendly Electrolux man, who was called "Mr. Jolly" in the ads. Volta barrel vacs were made here, early ones were just rebadges of the Aussie Electrolux machines, later they had a cheaper plastic bodied unique Volta machine that still used the Electrolux motor and switch. They were incredibly noisy. The uprights were imported from the UK, like your 502, but were badged as Volta uprights.

http://https//collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/2095529

 

[ricky5050]

Screw in filter

Great to hear you like the luxes. Sadly the filters look hidden and never get the attention they deserve. The loose one should he changed every quarter then underneath that is a screw in one that should be replaced every year. If they aren’t broken a gentle wash will do as they’re not as common as I wish they were.

I have a 500 the first one and the poor thing was gasping along on its original 40 year old filter !

I also have a spare 502 free to good home in UK ( not the one in the picture)

Richard

 

[brisnat81]

Chris, I know what you mean about quiet.

We had an Orange Hoover Dynamatic, my Aunt had a Volta upright. As a kid I was captivated by how quiet the Volta was compared to the scream and roar that the Dynamatic made. I would offer to vacuum every time we went over

 

[rolls_rapide]

The Electrolux 500 Series machines were very quiet indeed. And the plastic was decently robust too.

My only complaint with them was that the metal motor spindle wore down in very quick fashion, allowing the flat belt to ride back along the spindle, and cut into the plastic casing (the soleplate also got cut through by the now misaligned belt).

 

[vacerator]

Nice machines.

Better than today's. The Harmony cylinder was also. Not the Ultra Silencer type, the one before the first O-2 with the hose inlet on the front, not on top.
Excellio too. Even was badged as a Eureka.