Getting the height adjustment to work

If the height adjustment on your Bissell PowerForce Helix Turbo Rewind vacuum is not functioning properly, there are a few things you can try to fix it:

1. Make sure that the height adjustment lever is being pressed down all the way. Sometimes the lever can get stuck in the "up" position, which prevents the height adjustment from working.
2. Check the height adjustment mechanism to make sure it is not damaged or obstructed. This may involve removing the vacuum's dustbin or base plate to access the mechanism.
3. If the height adjustment lever and mechanism are functioning properly, the problem could be with the vacuum's belt. The belt is responsible for driving the height adjustment mechanism, and if it is stretched or damaged, it may not be able to move the mechanism properly. In this case, you may need to replace the belt.
4. If none of these solutions fix the problem, the vacuum's internal hardware may be faulty and will need to be repaired or replaced. You may need to seek the assistance of a professional for this type of repair.

Here is the link to the manual:
http://hoover.com/file/431/


You will need Adobe Reader to view it, as it's a .pdf file.
Click on the link above and when a box opens up on your screen, select OPEN. Go to pages 12 & 13. There are specific instructions with pictures. You may want to print them, as part of the instructions are upside down on your screen and will be hard to follow otherwise.

Manual says to tilt the vacuum back so the front wheels are off the ground (unit turned off of course) and make the adjustment. May take some back-and-forth force, but should adjust. If not, then something is jamming the switch.

Assuming that the automatic height adjuster is working properly, most likely your Sebo needs a new brush roll because the bristles on the old one are worn to the limit. To test the height adjuster, put the machine in the normal operating position (with the handle not upright) then switch on - the green "down" light may come on briefly (or may stay on if the brush is worn). Then, leaving the machine switched on, move the handle to the locked upright position - the green "up" light should come on, and you may be able to see the whole machine tilt backwards slightly as it lifts the brush off the floor. If that happens, the adjuster is working properly and you definitely need a new brush roll.
I hope this helps. If you need more guidance, just post a reply here and I'll get back to you soon. Please remember to rate this answer as I do value feedback. Good luck!

The height adjustment wont engage unless the handle is in the down position. Not knowing this led me to overturn the hight adjustment knob.

Step on the handle release, pull the handle back and lay the vac on its side. Then you can get the knob and the plate back together again.

BTW, the reason I had this problem is because the front brush slows dramatically when using on carpet, I thought it was set too low, and turned the knob (in a manly fashion, putting it past its limit). Still working on that one. After inspecting the belt, looks like one worn and cracked spot gumming up the works.

remember the last thing you took off and start there,work your way in reverse towards the first thing you took off

HI
are you sure its the height adjuster?
More likely to be the bearings in the brush.
Rob

http://uk.bissell.com/images/UserGuides/3920E_508.pdf

This is the pdf manual. If you look at page 12 you'll see that the bottom of the machine has been pictured. Between the middle wheels near the brush (where arrows 4 and 2 are) you'll find that the adjuster bar has a sprung mechanism. Now this is easy if you have time! If you take off the or just inspect the bar, check to see that nothing is clogged behind it. If it looks fine, check with your other hand by moving the rotary dial a couple of times and your other hand pressed down on the central bar between the wheels - if you can feel that the bar is moving whilst you turn the rotary dial then it should be working. Sometimes the spring that connects the dial to the bar can loosen and this may well have been the case. If you can unscrew the assembly do it gently as it will pop up to see if the spring has been put in place and then carefully put everything back together.

Some uprights don't allow the height adjuster to adjust whilst in the upright position though but if it doesn't adjust at all then the spring has definately moved.

Hi
The Miele uprights (S170 and upwards) with the Powerhouse title are ALL Panasonic uprights which have been at one time sold in the UK. Therefore the upright may use TWO drive belts which need to be looked at: Take off the sole plate and examine the drive belt which is around the beater bar. Check that this belt is moving easily. Then look at the fly wheel to the motor (usually to the left hand side) and check that the smaller motor belt is moving - it may be broken which is why the beater bar isn't moving and why tension is tight.
Generally NONE of the Miele Powerhouse models have a manual selector for height adjustment - they all use auto adjustment which means no manual selector. The vacuum principle means that general carpet which comes into contact with the brush creates a vacuum anyway between the brush and the floor. If the brush isn't touching the floor then its a possibility dirt or debris has managed to get between the bottom 2 rollers after the beater bar. Check behind the wheels to see that there is nothing there - most auto adjusting Powerhouse models will have a spring behind the wheel and it may have come off. 

Maybe this picture will help, put the pieces together, then it sits directly under where #230 in the pic.