Need help identifying where this part came from on my Electrolux PN6 power head

[redneckchinadian]

Recently acquired a decent Electrolux model 2100 with matching PN6 power head and it was badly clogged and mostly neglected when I purchased it and upon tearing into I discovered that the power head was CAKED in dirt and even had a clog in it. Not sure how long the previous owner had it like that but it was clearly in need of a major cleaning/lube/tune up. When I was pulling the motor and elbow out that this metal piece came clanking out. Problem is I don't know if this metal piece was part of the clogged glob of crap in the pipe or if this was legit a piece that was used to support something. I'm super confused and generally VERY good at putting things back together but in my lapse of thinking that I didn't notice this until after I lifted the motor out. Does anyone have a PN6 exploded parts diagram or have a PN6 they're willing to open up to take a peek at where the metal piece I have in my hand goes? FYI this is NOT part of the brush guard if anyone was wondering.
Thanks

 

[paul]

The attached schematic lacks that part. I wonder, then, if it's what I call a brush roll rung - that allows it to spin above the nap. Except for the commercial upright nozzles, Electrolux switched to plastic ones circa 1990, which is what the schematic features. I think your power nozzle is a model PN6 or PN6A, with the metal rungs. The later 6B and 7B also paired with the 2100 were equipped with the plastic ones. The attached photo shows the PN6A's metal rungs.

 

[paul]

On closer examination, I think the part is #13 on the schematic, a shaft retainer.

 

[redneckchinadian]

OMG Paul you’re a lifesaver! I think that is it! Part number 13! It definitely is not a brush roll ring as the two metal ones in mine are metal and in place. The bigger question now is how the heck does this supposed retainer wire go in? Been trying to understand how that piece got in but no dice... I see a groove for it but how it sits between that groove and the motor is a bit of a mystery

 

[redneckchinadian]

I think this is how it is supposed to go in. It seems to just butt up against the corner of the motor to reduce vibration and noise maybe? It seems to act as a tension spring. I can't put it all the way down into the groove b/c then it would sit weirdly and the only way I could get this to work right is by inserting it and the motor into the chassis at the same time which makes sense b/c I heard the part fall out when I removed the motor. Am I right you think?

 

[paul]

It looks like you have it, although I would think it would snap in place and not just sit loose. I have no way of accessing mine at the moment, but maybe someone else can do so and will confirm or reveal something else.

 

[rugsucker]

It looks like you have it, although I would think it would snap in place and not just sit loose. I have no way of accessing mine at the moment, but maybe someone else can do so and will confirm or reveal something else.

This would be the 'axle retainer '. The above picture shows the front in the correct position but the rear should point straight back under the chrome axle . Hope this helps . Great vac and nozzle.

 

[rugsucker]

This would be the 'axle retainer '. The above picture shows the front in the correct position but the rear should point straight back under the chrome axle . Hope this helps . Great vac and nozzle.

 

[redneckchinadian]

Winner winner chicken dinner! Figured it out after you said it hooks under the axle. There is a TINY little passageway in the elbow cover that lets it go to the axle. What does that little wire do precisely anyways? Not like the wheels would fall off if it wasn't there.

Fixed! Thanks you guys!

also I included some pics of the silicone rubbers I put onto the worn out stock wheels. They're actually refrigerant line silicone rings that stretch perfectly onto the grooves of the wheels.

All I need now is a control valve fix and a new power head power switch b/c this one apparently is broken and doesn't shut the power head off.

 

[rugsucker]

Winner winner chicken dinner! Figured it out after you said it hooks under the axle. There is a TINY little passageway in the elbow cover that lets it go to the axle. What does that little wire do precisely anyways? Not like the wheels would fall off if it wasn't there.

Fixed! Thanks you guys!

also I included some pics of the silicone rubbers I put onto the worn out stock wheels. They're actually refrigerant line silicone rings that stretch perfectly onto the grooves of the wheels.

All I need now is a control valve fix and a new power head power switch b/c this one apparently is broken and doesn't shut the power head off.
View attachment 168489

 

[rugsucker]

"Not like the wheels would fall off --". But they did on some PN5s when the black plastic axle cover came off. Much improved on later nozzles.

 

[paul]

Glad you got it! Maybe the retainer has something to do with the spring-loaded axle.

 

[redneckchinadian]

"Not like the wheels would fall off --". But they did on some PN5s when the black plastic axle cover came off. Much improved on later nozzles.

That is interesting! I had no idea but glad that it’s all out back the way the factory intended. I was a dummy and washed the power head base and I thought I used enough compressed air to dry the wheel axles and spring assembly but apparently not. It somewhat rusted up a little bit but an application of triflow lubricant for that axle and spring moving freely again. I wished I took some photos of the initially assembly. Holy lord was it BAD! It looks factory fresh by comparison . Any advice on fixing the power switch? It isn’t turning the power head off and when I look at the tiny holes in the bottom of the switch I can see contacts kinda bent up. I am sure a new switch is needed. Also the control valve is really hard to turn and no matter what the setting is, I block the suction port and despite the vacuum pulling a string vacuum in my hand that it never turns on the bag full indicator. Short of replacing the control valve is there a way to get the old one working again?

 

[redneckchinadian]

Glad you got it! Maybe the retainer has something to do with the spring-loaded axle.

Yes I am glad I got that all reassembled right. Couldn’t have done it without the help from you guys here. I wished I didn’t use magic eraser on the canister and instead should have used goof off first to get rid of the paint rub marks on the body. That would’ve maintained the uniform gloss in the chassis. The chassis now doesn’t look bad after using magic eraser but of course I see the dullness even though most wouldn’t even flinch at how it looks.