Hoover Electrons

[matchboxpaul]

Hi guys.

Three weeks ago saw me and Rob (Aquarius1984) buy our first collection piece.
Two weeks ago I drove to Newcastle to collect it.
The weekend just gone saw me drive it over to Rob's and we plugged in and played.

It's a Hoover Electron A3350 1100 de luxe.

Just thought I would post a few piccies of it and throw open the thread to the world of Hoover Elcectrons.

Seems quite a good time to do so, seeing as there has been another Electron discovered and saved in the form of Gary's first generation Electron - the A3190 Electron 1100 de luxe.

Once again, congratulations on a great find Gary. I have noticed your WANTED adverts for the A3190 (and Keymatics) on Google, whenever I did a search for Electrons. Now you have got the A3190 and a matching dryer too. Brilliant.

Be really great to see loads of Electron images, as a tribute to a great series of machines.

Cheers
Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

Apologies for the naff quality pictures - I will be needing a new camera soon, but anyways.

Preparing for its first load under its new ownership...

 

[matchboxpaul]

I wont post too many pictures otherwise there would be a load of repetition.

If you look closely, you may see the only external flaw with the machine. The small window over the top of the programmer had cracked and was held in place with stickytape.

Suffice to say that on the Saturday, I went and sourced a replacement. So now the machine is externally pretty much immaculate.

Oh, and the grubbyness you can see on top of the buttons was also removed on Saturday morning. Made a real improvement on its appearance.

 

[matchboxpaul]

First load in and nearly ready to go.

 

[matchboxpaul]

Progressing through the programme.

 

[matchboxpaul]

another family member decides to join the proceedings...

 

[matchboxpaul]

The old water/suds pathway down and under the middle of the porthole glass...

 

[matchboxpaul]

The high water level rinsing.
Rob later cleaned out the pressure switch (I think thats what it was!) and it now fills another centimetre or so...

 

[matchboxpaul]

the spin.

Now here's the crux - it is a right bu**er to balance.
The first time we tried it, the back of the machine was on lino. We tried raising and lowering the rear feet which offered some improvement.

At 500 its a bit vibraty, 800 CAN (not always) be a bit of a nightmare, whilst it settles down at 1100rpm.

It did 4 loads over the weekend and subsequently we sat the back of the machine on a piece of carpet. This did improve things and it seemed a lot more behaved.

Any ideas on any potential issues which may be causing this? The shock absorbers look in good nick.

 

[matchboxpaul]

first load done!

 

[matchboxpaul]

The following day saw the machine parked up and joined by Rob's recently discovered red Hoover Turbopower...

 

[matchboxpaul]

The classy facia...

 

[electron1100]

Robs 1100

You know rob there is something about these machines that just draws me in, dunno what it is.
It has never gone away since i owned one many years ago

These are great pictures, a bit like looking at a good portrait, plenty there to see

i am so glad you made that journey as i am sure you are

i would love to have one of mine used in the house, i would gladly dump my modern Bosch, but the other half is having none of it :-(

again lovely machine and pictures

Thanks
Gary

 

[matchboxpaul]

and finally, one from the official Hoover brochure. I will have to buy a set of green towels!!!

The previous owner thoughtfully wrote the machines history on the brochure:

would have been built during the tail end of 1985.
was purchased or installed on 1st February 1986 and cost the princely sum of £304.00.
the machine received a repair on February 14th 2001 which cost £58.00 (unfortunately it isn't mentioned what was done to it).

Cheers
Paul

 

[matchboxpaul]

I was going to say 'over to you Gary (A3190) and Rob (A3346)', but Gary, you are here already.

How's the A3190 going - had time to play yet?

Paul

 

[aquarius1984]

Great 1984 line up!

Myself included, 84 was certainly the year for quality, Electrons, Turbopowers (the red version posted above is from March 84 ) and as all us folk know had a fantastic Activator brush roll, combined with its very simple direct airflow quite simply whoop the ass off any Dyson or any modern vac for that matter. I couldnt believe just how much our 6 month old Dc07 allergy was leaving behind, even comparing brush rolls on the dc14s etc they just dont compare in terms of grooming, deep down dust and grit removal. nice to see the Electron and Turbo next to eachother in a show room sort of way. Now all we need is the matching dryer to this and we are perfecto for now. The cycle we used on the whites was indeed my prefered 95deg White Cotton which gave excellent results, was such a wonderful sight seeing it all hung outside to dry on saturday morning! I bloody love this machine although not as much as his nibs for the wonderful time we always spend together. Paul, already said it I know but THANKYOU SO MUCH for collecting us this machine. I hope we spend many years together enjoying pieceing our collection together and building our lives with as much enjoyment as we have had so far. R

 

[electron1100]

Balanced Spin

Hello Paul

Assuming that the suspension is all ok, you can test this by taking the top off and pushing the tub down hard, when it rises it shuold not bounce but rise up at a steady pace. same as a car or motorbike suspension

Every machine I have gotten I have as a matter of course replaced the suspension with a new kit, I use either plumbers silicon grease or Molykote Dx paste on the suspension both work very well

The big problem with these Hoover Machines is that they sit on wheels, the rear wheels have a sort of brake on them which helps, but the rear wheels often mishape due to the weight of the machine and the front ones are just loose on their axles.

All these leads to a machine that is not stable on its mounts to start with. Plus the cabinet can flex quite a lot, though on the energy control series the rear plate is much better fixed to the cabinet than on the earlier range like mine, so this helps

Other than putting packing under the machine so it canmot rock on it wheels there is not a lot you can do.

I had four square steel plates made up with adjustable feet fitted to each of them, i would have removed the wheels and rivetted these plates to the base of the machine, at the time i was planning to use the machine in the house but that got blocked so i have never tried them

But remember these machines were designed to cope with unbalanced loads, it is just that todays machines have spin balance circuitry in them, so that is an improvement

I think one thing to do i never undefill the machine, i see a lot of people dont put enough in their machines i often think this leads to unbalanced spins

One other thing (if you are still awake).....i always a use about a table spoon of washing soda with each wash, it is a very good degreasant and so helps keep the machine clean if you a lot of low temperature washes are used, it also softens the water, i think it is one the best kept secrets of the washing trade

Right thats me peices sed

Gary

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoover - The Product of Experience!!!

Nice work guys, perfect machine to start your collection!!!! I remember the glamour & glitz (and dosh) that Hoover put into launching these machines...I was working at Trident and as we had the largest store in the region, Hoover would come along and put on food & drink for all the regional staff...and then demonstrate the machines, (in times when we would have them connected and you could use them realtime) this machine was originally the A3060 with all the bugs worked out and reliability stable... a fine machine, I love that "ratchet" timer..and those half full drum fills!!!

 

[sparkymarky1973]

Paul / Rob

Congrats on getting a lovely machine! I wish I still had my Energy Control Electron. I would always use the 60 down to 45 button. A great feature of these machines.

Now a telling off young men! You both need your backsides smacked!

When you have parked the machine up..what do I see.......The door closed!

Tut Tut

Mark
xx