HELP!!

[singingrainbow]

I just brought my 1979 Sears best magicord canister out from my garage to use some I had noticed a little exposed rubber wire right by where the cord goes into the plug but I ignored it and as soon as I pluged it in I saw a blue light shooting out of the plug and a single spark I imediately made sure nothing was on fire and I ran to my computer what do I do?

 

[bagintheback]

I know nothing about electrical stuff, but it probably needs a new cord. I don't know anything about electrical problems, so don't ask me how to fix it.

 

[aeoliandave]

Not a new cord...a new plug aka replacement. Obviously electricity is flowing and the cordwinder is fine. Re-cording a cordwinder is no stroll in the vacuum park if you're new.

All that's happened is:

1) if it's the original molded plug it has had it wires pulled out of the cord bond, twisted and short circuited.

2) if it was an already replaced bojack plug, same short circuiting, likely caused by loose screws or even one copper strand touching the other terminal wire.

No problem, the motor & switch will be fine. Just cut off 1" of the burned wires, strip 3/4" insulation for fresh copper, twist the strands and put on a new plug. Doesn't really matter which wire goes to which terminal. Unlikely that the insulation is crumbling in a kenmore so 'recent'.

and in future let the cord slip between your fingers as a brake during the last 2 feet of cordwinder retraction so the plug doesn't snapwhack against the opening.

Dave