Repairing My Morphy Richards Vorcity 71082 Vacuum Cleaner

I have a Morphy Richards Vorcity vacuum cleaner (model 71082) which is a great vac, it's main attraction is that it's very quiet compared to e.g. a Dyson. the other day while in use, the motor sounded like it started slowing down a little and a funny sound could be heard (a bit like someone blowing a raspberry), along with a faint burning smell. I took out the filters and removed the hose to make sure there wasn't any clogging causing the issue.but there was nothing stuck anywhere. I confirmed that the smell wasn't coming from a circuit board, and that it was basically coming from inside the motor.

Got it around the time of post: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/106116

What I would gather is happening is that a piece of rubber inside the motor/impellor has come loose, is rubbing, making the raspberry sound and then causing the burning smell. I've called Morphy Richards support for parts, but I could only leave a message. I also went on numerous websites that sell parts for this vac, but none of them actually have a motor. I tried a few sites like ifixit etc., but nothing specific to this vacuum.

Wondering if anyone out there has some advice on how this could be fixed?

Update 1: Morphy Richards (or Glen Dimplex as the parent company is known as) got back to me saying they don't carry the motor as a spare part, and in fact the previous owner for Morphy Richards, Asko, never carried it as a spare part. As such, they can't help and things are looking a bit grimmer.

Comments

  • Pull the motor, bearing/bushing has likely failed. The motor may have identifying numbers that you can use to find one online.

    • I disassembled to the point of taking the motor out of the chassis, there were no markings on it at all, looking through the cut outs of the outer housing I could see the impellor and the bolt holding it in place on the top. I wasn't game enough to take the internals out of the housing but I might do that as I don't know if I have another option.

  • If it was me and if I was qualified, I'd open up the vacuum and take out the motor. Most vacuum cleaners use standardised motors inside. Have a look at the motor.

    Then have a look at the catalogue from Cleanstar (https://www.cleanstar.com.au/shoppingcart/pages/Catalogues.h…).

    They should have something to fit that original motor. Otherwise you can try and call them up. Goodluck.

    Note: I would highly discourage anyone that's not qualified to fix electrical appliances to not work on appliances.I take no responsibility for anything at all that arises or results from this comment. I'm just a random off the internet that you shouldn't listen to.

    • thanks, good to see that someone has replacement motors. I have had somewhat of an education regarding electricity, so I'm happy to do it.

    • Had a look through the catalogue, nothing turns up on a search, and when looking at the motors they do have some appear to be similar in size (although I will need to measure mine) however none look identical.

      There's probably more chance that I can find a bearing/bushing as @brendanm mentioned, rather than a motor from anyone besides the manufacturer. I don't know how feasible it is to change one of those bearings as I haven't done one before.

  • Is it a brushed or brushless motor? Can't find any info online.

    Is the smell specifically plasticy/rubbery or does it have a sweeter enamel-ish note?

    • I believe it's brushed, it appears that there are 2 brushes, one on each side of the windings (opposite sides of the cylinder). The symptoms don't appear to me to be consistent with what my limited experience with these things would consider a brushes problem.

      Regarding the smell, initially I assumed it was something on the circuit board burning, but it's definitely coming from the motor. I could try smelling it again so I can answer your question but I couldn't say off hand.

  • If there's an affordable drop-in replacement, I'd just go for that. Even repaired you'll probably lose some of the performance and quietness, and it sounds like that's the benefit of this unit

    • Yes, happy to do that if the part is available, just seems to be a long shot that one will be :-/

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