Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ant C on September 30, 2011, 01:41:30 pm
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Hi.
Does anybody know anywhere close to Northampton that can repair my Extracta Exel carpet cleaner.
I don't want to have to send it to Extracta, mainly because has to be packed and couriered and they're expensive.
One of the vac motors stopped working today. I tried to get the fuse out first but it just broke in half. Took the back plate off but can't get the fuse unit out. Fiddled about a bit then gave up before I wreck it completely.
So I need the fuse housing sorted out then try to see whats up with the vac.
Thanks.
Anthony
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Just order a new fuse housing from Extracta or ebay and the same for the vac motor, it's not a complicated job to replace them.
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OK. It've ordered a new fuse housing. Will see if that sorts it first. Extracta want £199 + VAT + postage for a vac motor.
Any suggestions on where to get the vac if needed. Seen one on ebay £169 new. Is that the best price?
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The vac is Lamb Ametek 3 stage super vac 183mm - 7.4"
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I would connect the two wires at the back of the fuse housing ...ie . bypassing the fuse ...even at least to see if the vac is working ...
many machines dont have fuses on the vacs anyway .
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If the vac motor has gone it may be worth swapping the 7.2 motor for the smaller 5.7 ones, I did last January at £50 a vac and it's been running fine ever since,
No noticeable difference in power either
It's also nice to know if they go again it's not going to cost a fortune,
Extracta prices are just ridiculous , 2 vac motors and that's half the price of a new machine :(
Regards
Steve
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Anthony where do you keep your Extracta overnight? Be honest? Also do you use anti foam or not?
If I was you I would spend the extra on an Extracta vac. Buy on Ebay and you might be buying Italian or Chinese crap to be honest!
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I keep it in the garage. WHY?
I only use anti foam if it gets very foamy in the tank.
The dirty tank did overflow today and spat it through the vac system before I got to it.
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Save up and get a machine with auto-dump.... ;)
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Never keep your Excel out in the garage, van or anywhere moisture can easily get to the vac motors. Unless your garage is heated keep it somewhere else immediately unless you want to have to replace your vac motors every few months! And when the weather starts getting frosty dont even think about keeping it in a garage!!!
I use 5 or 6 capfulls of anti foam regardless in my tank. You just never know if a customer has been using 1001 or Vanish! I would also recommend at the end of every day removing your hoses and switching on both vac motors for a few minutes.
Do these things and your vac motors should last you years like mine have! One is nearly 3 year old and the other is 4 years old!!
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swapping the 7.2 for 5.7 - Is the 5.7 still as powerful as the original vac?
Do they fit straight in?
Could I just change the broken on so I have vac 1 as 7.2 and vac 2 as 5.7?
Where do I get one for £50?
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The 5.7 isn't as powerfull as the 7.2 im not sure if it will be a straight swop but anything is possible. Try Woodbridge Commercial for vac motors.
Rob
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Fifty quid? Glad my advice helped!! :D :D :D
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Your advice did help!
Your post doesn't deal with the fact I have a broken vac. It deals with how to look after one that is working.
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I dont think it would be wise to change just one for a smaller vac, best to do both at the same time,
The fitting is easy, just need a few bits of plumbing accessories form b&q and your away.
The flanges are a bit smaller on the 5.7 vacs so you have to step them down a bit but easy enough.
Ive not noticed any difference in power with them and the machine is being used nearly every day.
I got cheesed of with replacing the so called 'super' vacs, at one point i had one that lasted 3 months, and no i it wasnt left in the cold / damp in my van or garage, but in my home, and it didnt have foam go through it.
I think the last one i bought from extracta was about £250 which is just ridiculous, i could have five of the smaller ones for that :o
Even if the only last a year its still going to work out cheaper, I'm sure the bigger ones just get too hot or something and destroy themselves or are faulty in some way, I dont think i ever had one last longer than a year.
The one and only time i sent the machine for a service to them it came back really damaged and no one would take responsibility for it so I vowed never to do that again.
To be honest there fairly simple to work on, and as a bonus with the smaller vacs theres more room to move around inside.
Not saying this is the only or best way to go but just what my experience has been, its just when you start chucking money down the drain you start to think or cheaper ways of going about it,
Regards
Steve
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also agree , there is no significant performance difference between 7.2 and 5.7
whoever posted saying there is ... post data please :)
This question has been answered here and other forums ..just google
http://www.truckmountforums.com/portable-carpet-cleaning/12685-5-7-vac-motor-vs-7-2-vac-motor.html
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Steve.
Where did you get the vacs from?
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Think it was ebay at the time there was several on their for around £50.00 and i bought three
The price does go up and down frequently, woodbridge had some on their website a while ago for around £50 , they are currently listing for £69.00, which is still not a bad price..
Steve
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Would that be the Ametek 240V 5.7" 2 stage Tan motor?
Whats the difference between 2 stage and 3 stage?
I'm assuming the mounting holes will be different. How or what would I need to solve that problem?
Anthony
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I replaced my first vac motor the other day, the great thing for me is i can be at extracta for 9 back home vac fitted and on a job by half 10.
£240 inc vat yeah ouch but when you think what your machine makes you its nothing.
Machines got 500 and odd hours on it and if looked after properly (which im quilty of not doing) it could have lasted much longer.
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I would chuck a machine like that in the nearest skip! From what I've read and heard, Extracta machines are notorious for vac failures and high cost of replacements... the technology has been around for years in portables to give much more reliability! So why don't they use it?!
With reliability so poor it's probably possible to spend more on vac motors in a year than servicing a truckmount!!
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lol ... don't think i'd buy one new .... but cant say i'd chuck it....
just from e-bay ...Two £50 vacs and that 170psi aquatec pump .... it'id be better than new .
The vacs are no more likely to take in water than say a scorpion with its downturned stacks and its tank a joy to clean out in comparison .
Think it looks better than some of the bland plastic machines ...
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I have a friend who gets through so many motors and accepts that it's quite the norm... :o
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Insert Quote
also agree , there is no significant performance difference between 7.2 and 5.7
whoever posted saying there is ... post data please
This question has been answered here and other forums ..just google
http://www.truckmountforums.com/portable-carpet-cleaning/12685-5-7-vac-motor-vs-7-2-vac-motor.html
Hi John,
There isn't a significant difference between the two vacs but if you would like to check the differences all the data is on the Ametek site. http://www.ametekfsm.com/ (http://www.ametekfsm.com/)
Rob
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Hi Everyone.
I think i've had a right result.
Ordered new fuse housing from extracta because I knackered the old one trying to get the fuse out. It came today. Fitted new fuse housing, said a quick prayer, turned it on and it worked.
Thanks for all the responses. I am now better informed (particularly on looking after it)
Anthony
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Hi Anthony,
Thats good news you got it sorted,
I normally carry a few extra fuses and holders for the extracta as they tend to get quite hot with use and sometimes melt and then you cant get the fuse out, for a few pounds it saves a lot of messing aound.
Regards
Steve