Do you need to constantly press the reset button on the Powermate? If so, you have a motor that is failing, or there is excessive drag on the belt, caused by an obstruction, or debris stuck in the brush roller ends. If brush operation is intermittant (going on and off on its own), there is a connection problem. Carefully inspect the connections to your Powermate, the wand cord, and connection at the handle, for burned/ melted connections. One possiblility is that you have a bad swivel (part that plugs into your canister), it is most evident when moving the swivel back and forth and seeing the Powermate go on and off. In some cases, I have seen the center tube break inside the handle, causing the connector on the handle to be pushed inward (not flush with the plastic handle), not allowing it to reach the powermate cord (connector at the top of wand). If you need to go inside the Powermate, take the light cover off first (part with the Powermate name graphics on it). Push on the sides of the cover and lift upward. Now you will see two phillips head screws and the light bulb. Take the light bulb out by putting a rag or paper towel around the glass (to avoid cuts if the glass breaks), then pushing inward on the bulb and twisting to the left. Now take out the two screws. Now look at the bottom of the Powermate. Underneath, there is a place on each side of the unit where the top cover snaps onto the base, usually indicated by a notch in the cosmetic cover. Take a flat blade screw driver and pry the top cover away from the base slightly as you pull the top cover off. With the top cover off, you can get to all of the internal components. When reassembling the Powermate, be sure to push downward on the top cover to snap it onto the base before putting the screws back in. If you need any additional help or for parts information, e-mail me at arctic@worldlynx.net.
Help Around the House
May 2006
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