Isn't Google wonderful! Thanks guys for helping me get the cover off - would never have found those screws under the handle cover.
Still, I couldn't find any loose or burnt wires - on first turning on switch the flywheel on top gave a little turn and then died out, no motor sound at all.
Sounds like the motor has finally died? Was running great - any ideas how much to replace please?
tracy
August 2014
Brilliant piece of advice - thanks for sharing it. I was about to throw the vacuum cleaner out after many decades of useful work.
The plug kept fusing and my disassembly revealed that a screw had got caught under the switch and was shorting the live wires
Mark in North West London
January 2014
There are two more screws under the handle cover.
Andy
April 2009
The handle has a cover fitted over, remove the cover and 2 more screws hold the top of the assembly together