Install foot pedal release on riccar 8800 series

you will need to get the whole base plate look on ebay

If you remove three screws you can remove the assembly with the foot pedal. Look at how it is installed closely in the assembly, including the spring, shaft and pedal. Disassemble it and install a new foot pedal exactly the same way you took it apart.

Your 8850 is probably over 15 years old, almost all parts are interchangeable with the 8955 or 8925 model made today. You may need to replace the pedal if the catch has worn or broken. There is no wire on the. Pedal assembly but there is a spring that goes on the pedal shaft to make the pedal spring back after you push on it.

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Remove the assembly that holds the foot pedal by removing the three screws after you've removed the bottom plate and brush roll. This allows you to get the nozzle housing out of the way so you can rotate the assembly holding the foot pedal from the metal pivot. Remove the e clips from the shaft and pull the shaft out of the foot pedal (be sure to look closely at the spring and how the shaft are positioned so you can be sure to install them exactly the same way you took them off. It is not a hard job but can be confusing the first time. It's not an expensive fix to have done by your Riccar dealer.

Your. 8650 is likely well over 20 years old. It has carbon brushes in the motor that may need replaced but your best bet Is to take it to your Riccar dealer to diagnose it or you might replace the wrong thing. You have a very durable long lasting machine obviously but there are minor things that need occasional service to keep it running properly for many more years. This series started with the 8600 models of which I still have many brought in for annual service. There has been an 8700 and 8800 series and now the latest 8900 series which has been out well over 10 years.

Unwind cord and plug it in
As you view the back of the machine, the foot pedal release is on the bottom left of the vacuum. Press this with your foot to enable you to lower vacuum into cleaning position.
Turn on and vacuum.
On/off switch is on the handle.

Hello,

This a fairly frequent repair on the Eureka Smart Vac model 4870, so I decided to go ahead and take a few pictures of the handle release pedal repair, and walk you through this step by step. The model that I did the repair on is a slightly newer model, but other then maybe the color of the vacuum, or the color of the foot release pedal, the repair is identical. $40 is an awful lot of money to do this repair, after it's all done with you'll be very happy that you choose to post this repair on Fixya, rather then paying $40 for someone else to fix it.

What you'll need to complete this repair. The links contained in the parts are links to the parts on our website, GoVacuum if you don't already have the new pedal.

- Eureka Smart Vac Model 4870 Handle Release Pedal (colors may vary, but will fit ALL 4870 models) Eureka Part 70042-355N
- Eureka Smart Vac Model 4870 Handle Release Spring (Only needed if missing underneath of old pedal)
- Large Flat Head Screwdriver
- A small amount of elbow grease. :-)

Step 1. Remove the old handle release pedal from the base of the Eureka Smart Vac if it hasn't already fallen out of the base of the vacuum. Here's what the pedal looks like installed in the base:



The easiest way to remove the old pedal if it's still inside of the base of the machine, is to take a larger sized flat head screw driver, and put it up underneath of the pedal. With the screwdriver underneath of the pedal, pry upwards on the pedal until it pops off. This can take some pressure to get it out, don't put too much pressure on this part or it will crack the bottom housing. If the pedal won't come out from the bottom, you may also try putting the screwdriver in between the top housing (different colored plastic part in front of the pedal) and the pedal and try prying here. I find it the easiest to do when I put the screw driver underneath and pry upwards like this:



Step 2. Once you've removed the pedal from the base of the vacuum cleaner, make sure that the spring is still inside the base. The spring is a metal torsion part that pushes upwards on the pedal to keep it from always falling out of the vacuum cleaner. I have highlighted the spring in this picture in red:



Step 3. If the spring is still installed, you're now ok to put the new pedal on. You'll see on one side of the pedal that the notch that locks the machine in the upright position, as well as on the bottom part of the pedal that part of the pedal that connects into the lowest part of the base that has two little circular notches that protrude out. This part of the pedal goes on the side closest to the vacuum cleaner's upright body. There's really one way the pedal will go into the vacuum. Put the pedal over top of the metal spring, and push down on the pedal as far as it will go. I find that a few GENTLE hits with a hammer on the top of the pedal will gently slide the pedal into the correct part of the lower base:



Step 5. Test the pedal by stepping on it to make sure that the handle release when you're stepping on the pedal. Also make sure the vacuum will lay flat on the floor when you step on the pedal a second time. Now raise the handle into the upright position and make sure that the machine locks itself in the upright position. If yes, then you're all set! If it's not locking, then there may be a more serious problem of the lower base part being cracked, which will not allow the pedal to sit properly. If this is the case, please just reply to this repair, or start a new repair with that problem, and I'll be happy to show you how to fix this. If this repair was helpful to you, (it seems that it saved you $40!) please be so kind and rate my repair helpful by clicking on the 4 thumbs up icons in the top corner of the repair. I really do appreciate that. We do carry most every part for your vacuum on our website, please feel free to check out our site, Govacuum.com for all of your Eureka vacuuming needs!

Thank you,

Chris J.
GoVacuum

Are you sure that you get the right sized belt? This is the correct one you need:

Riccar 8800 Belt

You will have to take the top loose so you can put the handle release in its place. It probably isn't in the right place, either that or a piece of it broke off and it needs to be replaced.