> No worries ! I have one more. However, my career may depend on whether > this one works when I get done. BTW it is midnight. ... > Step 2. I take it apart, and SPROOIIIYOYOYING! ... Take two prototype vacuums- only outer housing is required on one but can be complete.. Go to (preferably all night) department store. Fry's perhaps ???? Look at vacuum cleaners with cord retracters that work 100%. Buy smallest available. But 10 syringe packs of quickest setting poxy available and several tubes of neutral cure silicon rubber. Take back to office - or better still home workshop.. Use hacksaw, angle grinder, skillsaw, dremel as appropriate to excise working mechanical spring retraction unit. Look inside prototype. Install spring retractor in optimum position. Remove whatever of interior is required to allow this. If the vacuum can be made to work after this, well and good. If not, well and good. Test cord retraction action. Epoxy retractor in position. Test cord retraction action. Hold till epoxy set (5 minutes) Test cord retraction action. Add copious silicon rubber to maintain position. Test cord retraction action. Smile at lack of strong acetic smell. Test cord retraction action. Seal up vacuum. Test cord retraction action. Smile. Take 2 prototypes to show. Demonstrate cord retraction action. "This prototype is functionally OK but the retractor doesn't function as it should" (which is 100% true.). "Here's how it's meant to work" (which is 100% true) "They'll all work like this" (which is 100% true) A 3d motion walk through is worth a 1000 pictures. Russell McMahon -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads