Electroulx 87 Cord winder

[indy-453]

Hello,

I have an old and rather beat up Elux 87 that I am trying to get working again. I took it all apart and cleaned it out and started poking around with a voltage meter. I found that the switch is fine, the motor seems fine, the bearings spin ok too. However when plugged in, nothing happens, no humming or anything.

I started poking around some more, and found that the inner ring on the power cord reel does not have a connection to the cord. The outer ring has continuity to one terminal of the plug, but not the inner. I then plugged in the cord and followed it with a non contact voltage tester. There is power all the way up to the reel. So how do I take apart the reel and repair the connection inside? Attached is my reel (and nasty spring). I want to get the black thing off, and preferably be able to put it back on and clean up the mess I made.

 

[thevacomaticiec]

I  think i havea cord winder for  a  model  zb86  in red  but  youd have to  attach a  new  cord  to  it  

 

[indy-453]

Doug was kind enough to send me instructions on disassembly of the unit. I took it apart and found that the connections where fine, but the white wire broke about 6 inches off the reel. So I cut back the wire and re soldered it on.


Now my problem is getting it all back together. Between the big spring trying its best to come off the reel and the ball bearings scattering all over, I am having a terrible time of getting it just right so it goes back together.

Anyone have any tricks for how to get it all back in one piece without the spring taking out an eye?

 

[jo]

Yes….

It has been a while since I’ve rewound one of these. First off show me the housing for the cord reel so I can see it better. The older models had some parts that retain the spring.

When the spring is wound around the cord reel that is the “wound up” position when the cord is all the way out. When the spring is wound around the storage spool it is in the “cord retracted” sprung position.

You will want the spring wound on the small spool annd then wrap the cord all the way onto the cord reel by hand. Once it is in this state slide springs spool onto the small shaft being careful not to pull it too far away from the reel, so you will need to lower both into their positions first (after the ball bearing ring is in place.) then you will want to hold the cord reel down with one hand while gently pulling the cord out all the way…hold the reel in position with the other hand every time you have to stop to reposition your cord pulling hand to a new place on the cord. Pull the cord until it is completely unwound. Then with the cord in its little groove where it would come out of the vacuum look at how much spring is still on the little spool, if there is a lot, spin the cord reel around by the cord another complete revolution in the same direction as before and do this a few more times until there is almost only one complete strapping of the spring on the small spool, BUT NO LESS when the cord is still in the fully out position with it in the groove. Once this is set, carefully and slowly allow the reel to rotate on its own essentially winding the cord on it keeping the cord in the groove. Do this until the cord is fully retracted and then hold the reel in that position so it doesn’t tournament…if there is a retainer bracket for the spring spool, now is the time to put that on with its two screw and then the retainer spring clip to ho,d the big reel on, then the outer ball bearing ring goes next. Still holding the cord in position, install the cord guide ring in the body of the cordwinder securely and allow the cord to carefully retract to lean on it, then carefully attach the top of the cord reel making sure the hook on the inside of it is flipped outward. Insert the final screw to close the cordwinder. Install the cordwinder on the vacuum and test the operation with the vacuum in its normal position horizontal, the cordwinder will not lock the cord pulled out unless the unit is standing on its wheels in the normal position. Test the cord winder to make sure it locks when you slightly retract the cord after pulling it out. It will retract only every full revolution as that hook locks in at a certain spot on the reel. If the locking mechanism is t working take the back off again and make sure the hook is fully outward when you put the cover back on. Look at it and you’ll understand how the orientation has to be by the way the hook that swivels has to be to lock into the little groove on the reel and you’ll understand how that swiveling hook has to be.oriented.

Again send photos Alf all the parts you have. Not sure if you have a model 2 cordwinder and later or if it’ is an earlier model. If it is an earlier model the locking mechanism may be different.

Also you should apply silicone spray to the ball bearings and their tracks. It is not flammable like we-40 so better to use. This will allow the cordwinder dear to operate better reducing friction.

Jon