First, a lesson on Dyson Hand Held power settings:
Do Not use Max Power when using a powered head (anything with a spinning brush) for a few reasons:
1 The head sticks to the floor too much and becomes hard to push, this is because of the excellent seal on the floor head.
2 This puts a lot of pressure on the front of the Bin where the Tube connects, elongating that hole (so you have lots of ‘play’ between the Bin and Tube) and eventually breaking the electrical contacts.
3 Battery is drained needlessly !
Only use Max Power with a ‘Passive’ attachment like the Crevice or Stair Tool.
The Dyson V6 (SV03 – ’Stick Vacuum version 3’) is the Hero, there were earlier versions such as the DC44 (With power output for a Head) and the DC34 (No powered Heads possible).
Up until the V6, earlier Hand-helds did not have very good Floor Heads, at all.
The V6, V7 and V8 series were pretty sturdy with normal use.
I see all sorts here, somehow people break off the Trigger Guard and now and again you will get a Broken Tube after it has previously been used to lift a Paving Slab !
The Achilles Heel though, starting with the V7, was the Brush Bar/Roller, there are Two types: 3X Pin Roller and 2x Pin Roller.
You cannot buy the 3x Pin brush roller type as pictured below.
This means that when you wear your Brush Bar out and it needs replacing, you will have to buy an entire New head !
The other Type is the 2x Pin which is just a steel shaft with a Pin through it. There are a couple of different circumference sizes of roller but that’s also an easy find.
So, if you are looking to buy a used Dyson Hand Held V7 or V8 take the Brush Bar Roller out and hope to see the 2x Pin style, otherwise you will need a new head when this Brush Bar wears out.
Dyson V10 (SV12).
Now we start seeing common problems:
Triggers Collapse.
The early versions did not have a long enough bar stiffener along a crucial part of the Trigger, they collapse over time – this is a common repair for us but once the repair has been made the Trigger will not break again.
Bin flies off of machine when emptying.
This is because the ‘Bin Rail Stop’ has been broken off due to over-filling the bin and user trying to force bin to open.
Bin Seal broken (Red).
Same issue, when the Bin is filled above the ‘Max’ mark the Bin Scraper (this red seal) cannot do it’s job and gets forced out of it’s seat and will need replacing.
These last 2x Bin related problems are user error.
The V11 and those after that had redesigned Triggers.
I have covered the common issues and what to look out for when buying a ‘Used’ Dyson.
Caveat emptor (Buyer Beware).
