Thread Number: 11177
On Cord Retractors 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 120680   1/9/2011 at 00:03 (4,846 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

There are cord retractors and cord retractors, some being better than others. The Electrolux and Miele machines I've known haven't given trouble; the cords go back in promptly as they should.

I've had a couple of Hoover Whirlwind canisters, one an S-3630, the other an S-3661 which are similar. There are other machines in this lineup that are related.

Both of my Whirlwinds had weak retractor action. Looking around on the net, I find this is fairly common. I took the "lid" off both of these machines. First thing I noticed was that the secondary filter exhaust is aimed right into the side of the retractor device.

The second impression I got is that the retractor spring appears to be an "S" shaped piece of carbon spring steel and is subject to rusting.

The air from the exhaust blowing through the retractor must have a drying effect, so any oil on the spring is gone fairly quickly, and minute particles of dust that get by the filters can pass through this area. Dust can settle in the spring and in the bearing cavity for the spool axle. This area is just plastic, and plastic when it is newer has some inherent lubricity to it but when it ages, it dries out. So, all this dryness and dust cause friction that impairs the operation of the cord retractor.

When that spring loses any oil it might originally have had on it, it is subject to rusting which also will cause friction. My believe is that vacs that don't get used often will probably develop rust on this retractor spring more quickly than those are see more use. Humidity is storage areas may also be a factor.

Knowing the cause of weak retraction helped me to save one of these machines. The other one had a rusted spring and combined with other problems, well, it wasn't a candidate for reclamation.

Post# 120712 , Reply# 1   1/9/2011 at 09:16 (4,845 days old) by Jayelux (Dallas, TX)        
Cord Retractors

 I am a big fan of cord retractors. I love how they keep the cord from getting tangled and how they keep the cord from being a tangled mess on the closet floor. Not having to wind and wind and wind is a great work saver.
That said, it seems they could be a lot better. I usually have to coach the last foot or so into the machine on my old Luxes. I was never a fan of the window-shade locking mechanism, and the seemingly unrestricted velocity on the uptake was always a bit of a concern. Did someone say that the cord slot on the later G's was to keep the plug end from whipping around? On the new ones, the velocity is restricted, and the spring seems to be weaker.
I keep looking for automatic cord retractors for all the extension cords in the garage. Instead, I wind and wind and wind....
Anyway, I love them and get annoyed with them at the same time.

Post# 120713 , Reply# 2   1/9/2011 at 09:17 (4,845 days old) by Jayelux (Dallas, TX)        
Better said....

 Maybe I should have said, "I wind and wind and whine."

Post# 120714 , Reply# 3   1/9/2011 at 09:40 (4,845 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Love em! The Miele will haul it big time, little scary. Old Silverado have never had trouble with it, but it does seem smoother and faster if I sit it on end first.


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