Royal 6103b -- handle not staying in handle clamp

[superocd]

My newly acquired Royal 6103b from the mortuary is finished after a teardown, cleaning and polish, but the handle tube is not staying in the clamp/fork attached to the motor, no matter how tight the wing nut is. So, whenever I pull back, the handle pulls out of the clamp and I'm unable to vacuum. I can't tighten the wingnut any further. What gives?

 

[lesinutah]

Do

You have the acorn nut at the bottom of the handle installed?

 

[superocd]

It just has a nylon lock nut

And the weird thing is, I held onto it from the handle when I carried it away, with the full weight of the motor/nozzle assembly hanging down from this clamp. I took it apart and washed everything, and now the bottom of the handle isn't staying in the hsndle fork. I'm not missing parts, because my 880 is identical in basic structure, as are other Royal metal uprights.

 

[madman]

Older vacs will have a sheet of fish paper wrapped around the bottom of the handle, to electrically isolate the handle from the rest of the machine. I don't know if that's the case with Royals. But maybe cut up a cereal box or something and use it the same way. It'll add friction, too, which will help. And take up any slop.

 

[lesinutah]

Pic

I have a few royals. If you provide a pic I can take a pic of how it's suppose to look.