Where does this piece go?

[oldskoolguy]

So one thing I noticed after taking apart my dirt devil model 720 for cleaning was that after reassembly, the head always fell down when tipping the cleaner back and the handle adjustment to adjust the height of the nozzle wasn’t working too well (didn’t work good in the first place, but more noticeable here). I apparently discovered I forgot to put a piece in. However, here’s the catch: I have no clue where it goes, and it doesn’t seem to noticably fit anywhere unlike all the other parts. So where does this metal piece go? Or is it not part of the vacuum? It’s annoying how the handle seems to just go down whenever you tip tthe vacuum back. Unless I’m mistaken and it’s always been like that and have never realized it until now.

 

[bikerray]

1. is that metal piece a spring clip?
2. at the bottom of the handle you will notice a bump out that would lock against something like a spring clip.
3. did you have the handle in the right way or was it backwards?

 

[broomvac]

Broomvac here! I believe you are referring to the steel piece bent at about an 80-degree angle. That slots into one of the two halves (I don’t believe it matters which half) at the base of the handle. The tab on the black handle pivot piece catches on it to hold the handle upright. Hope that was clear enough. If not, I can try to give a better description.

Be very careful taking Broom Vacs apart. They are one of the most fragile kinds of vacuums I have ever worked on. I only take one apart if there is something explicitly wrong with it. The two motor mounts on the chassis are beyond fragile.

 

[oldskoolguy]

I’ve tried putting it in different spots, but apparently, both halves won’t come back together and it falls out. Maybe I’m doing something wrong and putting it on the bad instead of inside the handle? I’ve attached photos of some spots I’ve tried it in. It slots in in some spots, but it feels very loose. Perhaps someone has a parr’s diagram or a picture so I have a better idea? If not, then I can try maybe working with a more detailed drscription of where it goes and or how it fits/should look.

 

[bikerray]

The two ears of the metal piece fit over a plastic ridge, I would say that the metal piece goes on the piece you show in picture 1. Just turn it around and slide the two ears of the piece over the right angle corner so that part of the piece is covering the plastic corner and part of the piece is sticking out to fill the gap on the mating other half of the shell.

Photo 3 is a great example of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

 

[broomvac]

It clips on where I have drawn in green.

 

[broomvac]

@oldskoolguy

IIRC, you mentioned in the hotrodded vacuums thread that you were considering modifying your Broom Vac to accept HEPA bags. I'm not sure whether saw my reply, but I thought I would leave the message here, too, in case you didn't see it.

The good news is that you can fit HEPA bags to your Broom Vac without any modification. It turns out that Kenmore "Type U," "Type L," and "Type O" bags perfectly fit on the Broom Vac fill tube opening. "Type O" bags come in the HEPA cloth variety.

By corollary, Miele "Z" bags, as well as many Panasonic and Tacony upright bags, also fit the machine.

Hope that helps!

 

[oldskoolguy]

Broomvac, yes I saw your reply, and I now use hepa bags! They work great!