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Message: [QUOTE="Sean Regan, post: 198402, member: 5841"] Too damp to clear any leaves, but I did a bit of "essential equipment maintenance." I've had one of these cheap Chinese, Kingfisher garden vacs for about five years, they are only about £35 on eBay. [ATTACH type="full" alt="s-l500.jpg"]73401[/ATTACH] They've a very strong 2,600w motor and are adequate for small gardens like ours. The problem is that they can't tell leaves from soil, so over time they pick up small amounts of fine damp soil with the leaves which the fan compresses and it sticks all around the fan housing reducing the efficiency. You can dislodge some of it if you poke a screwdriver up where the bag attaches, but not much. Now there's none of that "No user accessible parts," nonsense, the whole thing comes apart into two halves. (about 20 screws, mind). So every few months, like this morning, I give it a service which anyone who has one can do, (unplug it first of course). Take the tube off firdt then it's easier to manage. As you will see there was hell of a lot of soil caked around the internal surfaces and the little flap that changes it from blow to suck was partially jammed. The motor can be lifted out for better access, but the wires are still connected [ATTACH type="full" alt="P1040664.JPG"]73402[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type="full" alt="P1040669.JPG"]73403[/ATTACH] It's important after cleaning, to make sure the flap moves freely and locks into either position. (the handle is underneath it) [ATTACH type="full" alt="P1040666.JPG"]73404[/ATTACH] The motor has lugs on it top and bottom, which fit into both sides of the casing, so you can't put it back the wrong way round. Just make sure the wires fit back where they should and don't get jammed between the two halves of the casing. [ATTACH type="full" alt="P1040670.JPG"]73405[/ATTACH] Then a drop of oil on the rear bearing and it's ready for reassembly. The reduction of power over time isn't that noticeable until it's had a service and you see how much you had lost. [/QUOTE]

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