PC Shop Vac Malfunctioning

[Izzy Charo]

I have the older Porter Cable 7814 (15 gallon) shop vac with Hepa filter. It has worked well for years. Today it started doing something odd: When I press the On/Off it will turn on for about 2 seconds, and then stop. To see if the motor was the problem I plugged my chop saw into the vac 110v port, and when the saw is on the vac turned on, and stayed on. So, I think it's a switch issue...has anyone ran into this problem...and more importantly, does anyone know how to change the on/off switch?
Thanks in advance,
Izzy

[Dave Sabo]

Switch is under the cover and a spring. Prys off , but it's finicky and can break.

Switch held in in by a set screw that's hard to reach.

And it might be the control board too.

[Izzy Charo]

Got switch cover off and spring out... don't see a set screw, or how the switch would come out without removing some part of plastic vac surrounding it... So, progress, but not quite there yet..... Thanks for the help!

[Izzy Charo]

Afraid I'm stuck at this point...Vac will only work with tool running in the "trigger" outlet...can't figure out how to get on/off (or micro) switch out...Any other thoughts from folks who have owned this vac?
Thanks in advance...
Izzy

[Dave Sabo]

Sorry I overlooked this earlier. I may have misled you unintentionally. The screw holds the microswitch for the receptacle cover. I believe the on/off switch is just a press fit into the socket.

Have you removed the top of the unit and the faceplate with the light and the receptacle ? That should make things a lot easier to access and work on.