I have an XL Silver Upright Vacuum with a docking Station. Bag will not stay on and dirt & dust builds up inside the Vacuum. Big mess to clean out. Also vacuum is hard to push. Is it because BAG WON'T STAY ON. I have never had such a problem with other vacuums. Need help please.

Debby,
Do you have a bag dock that holds your paper bags? If you do, squeeze the bottom of the part that goes around the bag opening so that you can remove the hinged part and then you can spread the first part & take it off & then remove the bag. If you do not have a bag dock, there is a "U" shaped metal clip that goes over the opening on the connector assembly. Remove that clip & that will allow you to remove your bag. Hope this Helps!

If there is a bag dock on it, seperate large part of bag dock from smaller one, by squeezing bottom of bag dock to release tabs from larger one. Pull smaller part of bag dock apart and off of vacuum. Bag will now release from hole. If there is no bag dock, there is a metal piece around hole that is holding other bag on.

Put smaller part of bag docking system on first. Seperate it from the other. It has to be pushed on past plastic lip around hole. It should feel very tight. Then attach larger part of bag dock onto the smaller one.

Put the outer bag back on the unit. Make sure that you have pushed the outer bag down past a black lip. The piece that holds the inner and outer bag on the vacuum needs to be put on next. The small horseshoe shaped plastic piece goes on with hte open part down. Make sure that the docking station goes behind the lip I told you about. Next put the piece that the inner bag slides into on. This should have the bag back on the vacuum and ensure that it is on properly. If not, then it will pull of pretty easy and blow dirt into the outer bag...not the one that is meant to catch the dirt....I am a manager of an Oreck store.

Please make sure that the plastic pieces that holds the outer/inner bags on the vacuum are attached properly. Push the outer (permanent) bag down against the vacuum. It will go over a black lip. Put first piece of the bag dock on..make sure it is behind that lip also. When you reattach the second piece to the dock, this will tighten the docking system. It will keep the outer bag on and keep the inner (disposable) bag in place so that it is catching the dirt...not the outer bag.

I would Recommend getting a docking system. its $20 and takes place of the metal clip and ensures that the paper bag and outer bag both stay in place and to ensure no leakage.

My oreck xl was leaking bad at the internal bag entrance. I found out that the outer bag was not seated in all the way to where it snaps completly over the retainer lip on the plastic part on the tube. Once I did that, I then put the docking station on, again making sure it was seated all the way, and finally the inner bag. The problem was alot better.

What year model?

Pre-late 1990s, bag on upright just fit over the adapter in the tube.

Lat 1990s, went to a version that had a sliding piece of paper to cloe off the bag & prevent spillage, and required a hinged plastic piece for chipboard piece on bag to slide into.

Must have right bag for the unit, otherwise it will not stay on, will leak.

These units are called dirty air units because the dirt literraly runs thru the fan attached to the motor and is blown into the bag. Most newer vacuums are called clean air because the filter bag is in the path, and the dirt is sucked into the bag, never reaches the fan or motor.

I'd say if it is that dirty, may be a fire hazard, and you may have worn out the seals on the part down at base that pivots to a point that replacement is necessary.

(I'd blow out the dust and keep using if it was me, and then check again in a few weeks, before I replaced. But I like living dangerous.)

do you use a docking station to put your bag on or is it just a push on bag? also when you turn on the vac with an empty bag in it, does the outter bag blow up?