Why Omaha repairs and Elf doesn't

[omahas]

I've been trying to figure out why my vacuum cleaner doesn't work. The only real problem seems to have been that the main vacuum head, the one that has it's own separate little motor, wasn't turning on. So I suspected that there was a wire that wasn't connecting properly somewhere between the handle, where one can turn on the little motor, and the vacuum head itself.

I have used Sears parts and repair in the past in order to fix my machines, especially since most of my household appliances were bought from Sears. And I've despised it every time I've done so. There hasn't been a time where I wasn't snapped at by one of the operators at the parts and repair shops nearby (granted, I've only used the one in the south Seattle industrial area). They are hard to get to for someone who can't drive, and two weeks or more is way too long for me to wait to get a vacuum cleaner to be fixed (that's how long it took the last time, for something pretty trivial.)

All that together had caused me to decide to do a little bit of detective work and determine how much of this vacuum cleaner I can fix on my own. The first thing I did was try and determine in which part of the vacuum the short actually existed. I have another vacuum head for this vacuum that is smaller and is used for stairs and such. It worked fine when attached to the handle...which meant that the handle didn't have the short.

At this point, Elf decided to step in and help out. Oh, whoa is me for deciding such a thing.

At first it worked out very well. He grabbed a pair of load-bearing wires, stripped the ends, and we tested out parts of the vacuum until we located the exact place where the problem was. We decided that the place was the wand section, and I got online to see if I could order a part and get it pretty soon.

But Elf decided that he wanted to see if he could fiddle with it some more...work out something that would result in us not having to buy a part after all. I told him no, that we were doing fine, and that I didn't want to mess with it any further. Like he'll listen to me.

Next thing I know he's placed one side of the test wires against the handle, and the other against the metal of one of the screwdrivers...I guess thinking that this was no different from the power supply of a computer or something...and sparks are flying. And the motor stops. And doesn't start again. Nothing Elf or I do starts the motor again. Another half hour of opening up the base of the vacuum to see if we could find a reset button doesn't get the motor to start again (no reset button that we could find).

So, what could have ended as the opportunity to spend about $75 to replace the wand section of the vacuum (which diagrams online showed couldn't be broken down any further anyway...by us or the Official Sears Repair Person (TM)) ended with a trip to the repair shop to see if they could fix the motor. We decided to use the Sears repair shop in Kent, and received a polite lady to talk to, and a promise of a quick estimate and a fix in six days. At least it wasn't two weeks, like last time.

Elf will never touch my precious appliances again.

Comments

Elf!!!

[j5nn5r.livejournal.com]

You are telling me our Elf was troubleshooting an applicance while it was plugged in *and* playing with hot wires to boot!

Bad Elf! Bad!

First the spankings...

I sympathise with you both

[tonyawinter.livejournal.com]

First of all thats the sort of thing that happens to me all the time - on both ends. Sometimes when someone says that they are going to help they end up using up more time/mone/resources than if they had left me alone. But if you let me I might open up your vacuume and er, fix it... I have ruined several electronic items to include my stereo. Lucky for me none of them have been loved by anyone but me.

There are few things more dangerous than a programmer with a screwdriver!

[mouser.livejournal.com]

Computers operate at 15volts
Vacuums at the full wall outlet power.
They have no reset switch. And I've never seen one with a fuse, either.

You may want to price a new vacum, since 90% of the price IS the main motor, and if you DIDN'T blow it, I'm amazed.

[solarbird]

Reader's Digest makes a great pair of books - the Reader's Digest Fix-It-Yourself Manual and the Reader's Digest Do-It-Yourself Manual. They're genuinely both very good introductory guides to repairs and home projects. We have both. Get 'em. ^_^

[omahas.livejournal.com]

Thanks! We'll take a look. :)

[riverheart.livejournal.com]

I've seen that sort of "Here, let *me* fix it" attitude far more often from men than from women, though I must admit to feeling that way myself at times.

Bob used to do it all the time. I've most often seen it from men, directed at women.

If you don't let him touch your appliances, how's he supposed to help with cleaning?
:-)

anti-tamper devices

[hermesinbattle.livejournal.com]

Have you considered buying "The Club"?

Re: anti-tamper devices

[omahas.livejournal.com]

Heh. :)

Re: anti-tamper devices

[angelpdx.livejournal.com]

I've got a few bits of leather that could keep him occupied the next time you want to repair something... *grin*

Tammy

[(Anonymous)]

You should have used a bigger hammer...

On Elf...

If he carries on like that, he could kill himself. Which would be a terrible waste.