Hoover Celebrity rubber motor ring seal/switch question

[fan-of-fans]

I took apart my Constellation today to have a look at the switch. The rubber gasket on top of the motor I noticed was very oily feeling. I washed it before putting back in, but it still felt oily.

I have had the vacuum apart before but never noticed this. Has anyone else had this happen? Is the rubber breaking down?

Also the reason I took apart is some time ago the toggle switch broke and it's stuck in the on position. The switch just flops loosely but doesn't do anything as far as powering on or off. I was hoping I could take it apart to reseat something, but apparently it's riveted together.

Anyone know of a replacement for the Hoover flippy switches? I know they are NLA, but nothing else seems it would fit. Maybe I could substitute a metal toggle switch but the opening would be too big.

 

[madman]

Are we talking about a Celebrity or a Constellation?

A picture of the switch might help. There's a good chance a generic switch can be used as a substitute.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Oops, I put Celebrity in the title, I meant a Constellation. The switch is the flippy beige toggle like the Convertible, cheaper Celebrities and other models used. Looks a bit like a light switch.

I took it out, and it's riveted together, no way to get it apart. It's held in place by two black metal clips that snap together over the switch.

Here's a pic in this link:

http://www.sweeper-city.com/hocosw01.html

I did find a similar switch on eBay for sale, but as you can see it has that extra fiber piece. I wonder if it could still work somehow.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hoover-Convertible-Vacuum-Cleaner-Switch-/264624621231

I've even thought of substituting an ivory light switch, but it would be too big.

 

[madman]

You might be able to make that one on ebay work. You might be able to take a rocker switch and make it fit. The hole is rectangular, take some measurements and hop on digikey.com and see if one will fit in the hole.

Possibly, though I doubt it, you mentioned a light switch. The old fashioned small light switches (those ones you could stack up to three high?) that *might* work with some finagling.

Or... drill the rivets and fix the switch.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

"The old fashioned small light switches (those ones you could stack up to three high?)" called Despard switches. Special order at most hardware stores