Knob won't lock in when switching from "floor" to "hose"

There is a little switch on the side of the machine base that reads "floor cleaning" and "toos or preheat". Switch that to the tools setting and a little flap under the "clearview" shield will lift. Just take the hose off of the little rack and attach one of the cleaning heads. Check that the flap isn't blocked by lint or something. If this doesn't work you may have some other problem.

I know this is an old question but this is a good vac and maybe I can help somebody else some day, wish I'd figured this out a couple months ago when this problem first started. :} Anywho, this is another option from an amateur; I don't know the right terms but here goes: Right below the yellow flow knob (Floor/Hose) are the tops of two hoses, one to floor beater, one leading to hose. There is a sort of black clip holding these in place. Open it up, it hinges toward the front of the vacuum. On the back of the vacuum to the right of the lower cord wrap is a gray screw-looking thing, with little pix of locks imprinted above - one locked, one unlocked. Turn the screw toward unlock. Take the top of the black tube that leads to the hose and maneuver it out of the hole it's in, and you may find your clog in the top there. I found just a handful of dog hair, leaves and sticks stuffed in that tube but it was dense enough to stop flow to the hose. Removing it fixed the problem completely.

theres a knob that switches it from floors to carpet turn the to floors.please leave feedback

THERE SHOULD BE A KNOB ON THE SIDE THAT YOU TURN IT WILL SAY FLOOR AND HOSE TURN IT TO FLOOR

Most likely the diverter valve is broken part #2136988. You will have to remove the top to replace it.

First you need to press the foot pedal for the height adjustment all the way down to lift the front of the vacuum off the floor. On the front top of the vacuum where the LED lights are is a cover. That section will lift up by lifting just below the LED's. Once it's lifted up there are some visual instructions, but here's what they are saying. The little circle on the front divided with the word KIRBY is the belt release. The section of the circle with the word on it will pull out. Like a wind-up flashlight it will turn from lining up with the green arrow counter clockwise 360 degrees and lining up with the red arrow. This takes a little pressure to turn it. Now just above this circle, under the LED bonnet, there is a lever that holds this whole front end on. It must be turned also counter clockwise to remove and front then slips off. The reverse would be used to put the beater roller portion back on. Also this would be the way to slip on the hose attachment to **** through it instead. I hope this is a little clearer.

just replace the switch

There should be a bottom plate covering the brush roll that you can remove, if you can't dig out the what is in there, try using your hose and suck it out from the bottom, maybe you will be able to get it out.

Before doing anything, make sure that the vacuum is unplugged from the outlet. After that, you are now ready to open your vacuum. Here are the steps to do so:
a) First, remove the dust cap by pressing the "cup release" button on the top rear right of the cleaner and pulling the dust cap away from the top. Set aside.
b) These first three steps are optional, but will make the process a bit easier... Now remove the hose attachment by twisting the base of the hose clockwise until the tabs line up and allow you to easily remove. Set aside.
c) Now remove the floor nozzle attachment by depressing the silver lock button located on the bottom back of the cleaner. While this is pressed in, pull the body of the vacuum and the carpet cleaning nozzle away from each other. (This is easier with two people, but can be done alone.) These steps will make the cleaner less bulky for you to take apart and work with.
1) Now on the back of the cleaner, you will see 9 screws. (3 on each side of the rear of the body, 1 on each side of the rear base of the body, and 1 in the middle of the hose actuator valve [the knob that switches between floor and hose]). Unscrew all of these and set them aside. *see note at bottom
2) Now that these 9 screws are removed and placed aside, you will now be able to remove the rear panel of the vacuum. Do so and move it out of your way. Keep in mind that the power cord runs through a hole in this panel and cannot be removed entirely without disconnecting wires (which I wouldn't recommend if you don't know what you're doing).
3) Now on the inside rear of the cleaner, your should see 1 screw in the top right holding the power cord in place. 1 screw below that on the right side holding a number of white and black wires in place. There will be 1 screw on top right of the gray plastic that the floor nozzle had attached to, and 1 on the bottom left. There are also 2 screws at the same height (1 on the left and 1 on the right) about a quarter way up from the bottom screwed into the green plastic on the left and right of the gray plastic floor nozzle attachment. Remove these 2 screws.
4) Now look on the outside left and right of the base of the cleaner. You should see 4 screws (2 on each side). Remove these.
5) Now you should be able to remove the front panel to expose the motor which will be surrounded by black foam and resting in a circular hole in the bottom. Voila! You have now opened up your vacuum cleaner.

*Something to keep in mind before removing the screw from the hose actuator valve is to pay attention to the position of the knob. Also look inside the hole of the hose coupling while turning the knob to note how the valve moves inside the cleaner. When reassembling, make sure that this is in the correct position.

Manual here in case you missed the link; http://www.bissell.com/images/UserGuides/7920.pdf Waiting on your photo as discussed. :)