Vacuum Cleaner Help Forum

[74simon]

Hi, I hope someone can help me out here! I restore old Hoover Juniors as a hobby, and I need some advice about the motor bearings, or more specifically, the rear bearing.

I have been advised by a friend in the know NEVER to lubricate a new rear bearing, as it comes pre-lubed, but what do you suggest I do with an old and sound but dirty bearing? Should I clean it out and relubricate it? or leave it as it is? I understand that it's OK to lightly lubricate the front sleeve bearing, for which I've been using a smear of multipurpose lithium grease.

If anyone can give me a pointer in the right direction I'd be very grateful!

Simon

[petalpop]

if i remember correctly from way back when i used to recon them i would leave them submerged in 3in1 oil overnight and never had a problem

[Martin]

if i remember correctly from way back when i used to recon them i would leave them submerged in 3in1 oil overnight and never had a problem

Blimey Hoover 1346?................Eeeee! It takes me back.....happy days!

Well 3 in 1 won't do any harm I guess? The rear bearing is a phosphor bronze swivelled bush held in place with a gun metal washer, under that is a cotton pad which is usually "pre-lubricated" in nothing more elaborate that 3 in 1 oil anyway. The replacement part is still available and cheap enough to replace by the way. But if the armature end is scored in any way, both the armature and the bearing will need replacing.

The front bearing cannot be eaily lubricated, back when Adam was a lad we had a special grease gun that could force grease around the sleeve and into the shield. Again replacement being the better option if it doesn't run smooth.

By the way, A long while back I've used your old Keymatic pictures from your website Simon.......Thanks for that and a good site for old timers like me to reflect on....Cheers!

Martin

[74simon]

Thanks Petalpop! 3-in-1 it is then. I've been toying with the idea of selling refurbished ones online, but that was the area I really wasn't sure about.

Martin, thanks for your description of how they work! I don't have a repairs background, so I just pick things up as I go along.

Incidentally, if anyone has a 3224/6 Keymatic door gasket knocking around, it would probably make a bomb on Ebay! It looks like a fascinating old machine, although I've seen what they look like on the inside, and they look like an absolute nightmare to fix! I'm sticking with my Hoovermatic 3314L...

Simon

[Alex]

Am I in a timewarp?? 3314L my gosh we are going back. 1334 & 1346 rear bearing, Hoover used to advise you clean the armature shaft with petrol before fitting to the bearing. Regards the special brass grease applicator, and nozzles, I still have one.

Re the 3224 door seal, if you can get the pale blue one, that is a find, Martin will know what I mean. They were replaced by the black one in the late 60's. The sump-hose (aka Bagpipes) have been unobtainable for 20 odd years now.

Alex

[electrofix]

clean with petrol !!

can you imagine the health and safety uproar if they suggested that now lol

Dave

ps still got the hoover grease gun athough gathering dust these days and used to use washdog as my cb handle those were the days