Miele vacuum S4212 Polaris with SBD 450 - 3 Combination Carpet/Smooth floor tool
(Recommended for: short-pile carpeting, area rugs and smooth flooring)
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Changing The Actuator Arm on a Hoover Self-Propel Vacuum Cleaner
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 – Can be ordered below.
Hoover Actuator Arm – $6.99 – Free Shipping!
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.
Remove power drive belt, brush roll belt and brush roll.
Remove 6 screws as shown. Also remove duct hose cover and small plastic section that was under brush roll in upper left corner.
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.
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.
Reassemble all parts.
Oh, man, this is the thing that I wanted to find over the last several years. Hoover company does not reveal how to fix neither sell the service manual. I have the windtunnel Hoover upright vaccum cleaner, and the actuator arm plastic part around the nut is broken. And I fixed by using the bare wire running around the nut and the plastic to hold them together. I will use this method to fix my vacuum cleaner, and I will post the result. Thank you so much.
My unit was not staying upright, unless you nudged the foot release pedal into place (it wasn’t springing into position on its own). I installed a replacement release pedal, no help. I jammed a square piece of sponge behind the flat at the end of the curved spring portion of the release pedal, now snaps into position like when it was new. Hope this helps.