Hopping - jumping - skipping - bouncing

The one's I've used the sprayer is on the back of the suction (suction hood which is kind of clear plastic), you watch that clear part to see if it is picking up dirty water. Recall it's easier to pull it and if caught just push down on handles and that raises front of machine to clear carpet snag. I would walk backward as it sprayed and then picked up the water with dirt. If different machine you could spray moving backward, go back to same starting point go again and don't spray but just hold it near carpet so it picks up the water.

I've had that exact issue with a Kirby Diamond Edition. What has happened is that the bracket inside the machine that activates the forward and back motion of the tech drive has come out of its slot. The only way to fix this is to disassemble the machine and put it back into place.

Don't know your brand vacuum but if I understand you correctly the solution should be pretty straight forward unless the lowering lever is broken somehow. Usually there is a foot lever on the left, or sometimes the right, toward the rear part of the base to push with your foot. Step on it while at the same time push it slightly forward first - just a quick 1" forward motion, then pull it toward you. That SHOULD disengage the handle to be able to vacuum freely.

Hi Michelle,

I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulties with your DC17. It might help to check the cleaner head is free of blockages, and that the internal hose is not damaged. You can do this by following the steps shown in our online support guide:

http://www.dyson.com/support/help.asp?article=954&product=DC17-ANIMAL

You might also find the video below useful when checking the cleaner head.

If this doesn't resolve the issue, please give us a call free on 1-866-693-9766, or email us at [email protected] so we can provide further assistance.

Kind regards,

Jack
Dyson Online Customer Support

How to Change Actuator on Hoover Self-Propel vacuum Cleaner - Step by Step This is a notorious problem for the Hoover WindTunnel Self-Propelled Models. What happpens is that the handle of the vacuum that controls the transmission is controlled by an actuator arm that is attached to a cable that runs down through the machine. The poor design of this self propelled system is design in such a way that if you pick up the vacuum using the handle (this is natural way to do it, I'm guilty of this as well), it puts too much strain on the actuator arm that controls the self-propelled mechanism, and causes the nut, washer, and screw to strip right out of the actuator arm. This explains why your handle is so loose. You may verify this by looking at the gap between the upright body, and the lower agitator housing, right where the vacuum pivots when you step on the handle release pedal. You should see when you move the handle up and down that the cable and nut are the only parts moving, and you should be able to see where the nut did sit inside of the actuator arm before it was stripped. The good news is that this is a relatively inexpensive part, and the repair is really not that difficult.

I will explain step by step, and include pictures so that you may see how to replace the part that's broken.
Always be sure your vacuum is unplugged from the electrical outlet before performing any kind of service!
Tools and materials:
Torx bit or driver size T-25
Flat blade screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Actuator arm – Hoover part number 43143046

Here's the picture of the part that probably needs to be replaced.

Step 1. Place your vacuum cleaner upside down with handle resting on the floor and brush roll housing resting on a work bench.
Remove 4 screws from rug plate and set rug plate aside.

Step 2.
Remove power drive belt, brush roll belt and brush roll.


Step 4.
Remove 6 screws as shown. Also remove duct hose cover and small plastic section that was under brush roll in upper left corner.


Step 5.
Place vacuum right side up on top of work bench with handle all the way back. Using a flat blade screwdriver; gently pry the top cover away from the bottom housing in the area shown by(#1) arrows. Leave the 2 adjustment knobs(#2) in place.


Step 6. If the self-propel adjustment cable HAS NOT broken away from the actuator arm, proceed as follows; mark the position of the cable(#1) in relation to the cable retainer with a black magic marker to avoid having to readjust the cable position. Remove the screw(#2) (usually a Torx T-25 size screw) and cable retainer. Next, using a flat blade screwdriver; slide the ‘C’ ring (#3) off the metal post. Bend the metal bracket up off the post just enough so you can lift the damaged actuator up and off the post. Slide your new actuator arm back over the metal post. Slide the ‘C’ ring back over the post.Lock the self- propel cable back in place with screw and retainer. Test to ensure the power drive is adjusted correctly; CAUTION, YOU ARE ABOUT TO COME VERY CLOSE TO MOVING MACHINERY, NO NECKTIES, NECKLACES, LOOSE SHIRT TAILS,UNACCOUNTED FOR TOOLS OR CLUMSY FINGERS ARE ALLOWED FOR THIS NEXT STEP!!! Reinstall the power drive belt, plug your vacuum cleaner back in and turn it on. Check to make sure the handle is in the neutral position; observe that the power drive is NOT moving. Push the handle slightly forward. You should see the power drive wheels move in the forward position. Pull the handle back, you should see the power drive wheels move in the reverse position. Some finer adjustment may be necessary.
If the power drive cable has broken away from the old actuator; just try to get the new actuator arm as straight as possible. Using the handle and while observing the cable moving back and forth through the retainer area; move the cable all the way forward, then pull it all the back, try to gauge where the middle of the forward and reverse position would be and lock the cable down. Perform testing procedure as in previous paragraph. Again, some fine readjustment may be necessary.


I hope that this was helpful. I'm am 99% sure that this will fix your problem, but if for any reason it doesn't, please feel free to use the Clarification Request Form here on Fixya, and explain why this didn't work. Please feel free to logon to our website, http://www.govacuum.com/ if you need any parts for your Windtunnel.
If you can't find a particular part, more then likely we have it, just feel free to give us a call.

If this repair was hepful to you please be sure to rate the repair as helpful by clicking the Thumbs Up Icons in the top right hand corner.

Thanks again,

Chris J.
GoVacuum

they bounce because they spin backwards try to pull back slower.

I had the same problem. It would pull backwards but not go forward. A closer examination revealed the clear plastic part on the bottom in the very front of the machine had popped loose on one side.
If you look at the front of the machine, there is the clear plastic part on top where you see the dirty water being sucked up. The bottom half that creates the channel for the vacuum is where it came loose. It wouldn't create enough suction to draw the water up either. By taking out the two screws that hold the top part in place and removing it, I was able to snap the bottom back in. Works fine now. Hope this helps.

I found that if I pull back too fast, it tends to bounce the front end, I have slowed down on the return trip

There is a cable that connects to the handle and goes down to the powerdrive transmission. It is visible at the actuator arm on the drive if you look at the bottom of the handle where it pivots on the main housing. It will be on the right hand side, front corner of the handle bottom. You should be able to see the cable connected to the arm of the drive and will move back and forth with the top handle. Sometimes, they break at this connection. The cable may be frayed and broken, or the acuator arm may be broken where the cable connects.
This could also be a simple worn belt problem. The roller is always rotating in a direction that pulls the machine forward and if the belt is worn, the roller will turn sluggishly but still enough to pull forward, but the belt also drives the transmission and a worn belt will not have the capacity to overcome the forces involved to propel the machine backwards. Always change the belt(s) yearly.(on average)