2011hoover700
Well-known member
Hi I recently purchased an electrolux automatic e cord reel and the cord is shot. I'm looking to get inside the reel and attach a new cord to it but don't want to wreck anything.
Thanks.
Thanks.
How to change a cord on an Electrolux automatic e cord reel
- Thread starter 2011hoover700
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caligula
Well-known member
2011hoover700
Those cord winders have a very sharp spring, and were wound by machine at the factory. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THEM BY HAND!!!
Those cord winders have a very sharp spring, and were wound by machine at the factory. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THEM BY HAND!!!
There is another way . . .
My parents' model E had the same cordwinder and the spring broke, I think, because it wouldn't retract anymore. On a hunch I bought a shop work light with a cord reel, and believe it or not, the "guts" from it fit perfectly in the original cordwinder's housing. It was a simple swap of all the internals with no dangerous disassembly required. You might look into that. This was in the late '70s/early '80s, but such shop lights are still available. The winding sound changed from a "click-click" to a "zzzzzt" but that was a small price to pay to have a functional cordwinder again.
As an aside, and not to imply that the 'lux cordwinders aren't dangerous to disassemble, you ain't seen nothin' until you've replaced the spring in the motor of a windup phonograph. It goes "sproing" to the tune of about 25 feet of very stiff spring steel, an inch or so wide. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Oh, and unlike the springs in the 'lux cordwinder, windup phonograph springs are GREASY because the layers have to be able to slide against each other without binding. It takes "hours" (not really, but what a mess) to get that old dried grease off the hands.
Best of luck to you in fixing your cordwinder.
Joel
My parents' model E had the same cordwinder and the spring broke, I think, because it wouldn't retract anymore. On a hunch I bought a shop work light with a cord reel, and believe it or not, the "guts" from it fit perfectly in the original cordwinder's housing. It was a simple swap of all the internals with no dangerous disassembly required. You might look into that. This was in the late '70s/early '80s, but such shop lights are still available. The winding sound changed from a "click-click" to a "zzzzzt" but that was a small price to pay to have a functional cordwinder again.
As an aside, and not to imply that the 'lux cordwinders aren't dangerous to disassemble, you ain't seen nothin' until you've replaced the spring in the motor of a windup phonograph. It goes "sproing" to the tune of about 25 feet of very stiff spring steel, an inch or so wide. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Oh, and unlike the springs in the 'lux cordwinder, windup phonograph springs are GREASY because the layers have to be able to slide against each other without binding. It takes "hours" (not really, but what a mess) to get that old dried grease off the hands.
Best of luck to you in fixing your cordwinder.
Joel
2011hoover700
Well-known member
Say Joel will this work as a replacement reel?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Hard to tell
Unfortunately you won't know until you disassemble it. I happened to luck out when I did my parents' cordwinder. The one I bought was old-school with a metal housing, essentially the same diameter, so I was willing to take the risk.
Unfortunately you won't know until you disassemble it. I happened to luck out when I did my parents' cordwinder. The one I bought was old-school with a metal housing, essentially the same diameter, so I was willing to take the risk.
collector2
Well-known member
No there is a good chance it wont work as its a 3 wire connection which has 3 contacts where the Electrolux housing will only have 2
vacman1961
Well-known member
I repair cordwinders if you want me to do it, let me know.
2011hoover700
Well-known member
@vacuumman1961 can I have you walk me through fixing my own cord reel?
Thanks.
Thanks.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
That cord reel will NOT work. That is a garage extension cord for a workshop that you hang on the wall, they are about a foot or more across, and weigh about 20 lbs + It's about 4 times the size of the vacuum.
Cord reels CAN be repaired and people have done so. It's no different than repairing a broken tape measure. You have to be aware of your hands and make sure you don't let go. It's tricky to do mentally as you need to have your eyes and hands in more than one place to hold the spring and make sure it doesn't unwind.
Cord reels CAN be repaired and people have done so. It's no different than repairing a broken tape measure. You have to be aware of your hands and make sure you don't let go. It's tricky to do mentally as you need to have your eyes and hands in more than one place to hold the spring and make sure it doesn't unwind.
2011hoover700
Well-known member
@huskyvacs I've repaired outdoor motor starter mechanisms before I'm wondering how the cord reel compares to fixing a gasoline engine recoil starter.
Thanks.
Thanks.
