First, take the brushroller out. Where the lower hose connects to the base, there is a bracket holding it on. Take the 2 screws to remove the bracket and loosen the hose. There are 2 small silver screws on the bottom of the base that hold the cover on. Look for them near the center, on either side. Once those are out, push the two tabs, on either inside edge, with a screwdriver to unlock the cover from the base. Make sure the 2 black adjuster knobs are pushed inward. Now pull the base cover off. The tensioner usually breaks where it fits into the base frame. Sometimes you are lucky and only the spring has come undone. Otherwise, replace it with a new tensioner.
www.vacuumcleanerhelp.com, January 2009
