Handle Assembly C431-4400C

The Handle Assembly (part# C431-4400C) is the moulded grip at the top of the handle tube on the Tornado CK-LW 13/1 ProLite, fitting model 97130 (115V) and model 97131 (230V) as well as the Powr-Flite PF62EC. It carries the operator’s hand, houses the switch and routes the cord down the back of the machine.

On a lightweight upright the handle takes more abuse than any other moulding. It is what the machine is carried by, and it is what takes the impact when the vacuum is set down hard or tips over against a wall. The usual failure is not a clean break but a hairline crack around the switch aperture or the tube socket, which lets the handle flex under load and eventually splits. If your handle has started to move independently of the tube, or the switch no longer sits square in its opening, the moulding is done and no amount of tape will hold the geometry.

Compatible Models

• Tornado CK-LW 13/1 ProLite, model 97130 (115V)
• Tornado CK-LW 13/1 ProLite, model 97131 (230V)
• Powr-Flite PF62EC

Fitting it

The handle assembly comes off the tube once the retaining screw is out, but the switch and the cord pass through it, so the job means freeing the cord at the lower clip and the cable clamp before the old handle will slide clear. Take the chance to check the cord where it enters the handle: that is the point where flexing is concentrated, and a cord that is stiff or scuffed there is the next failure waiting to happen.

Twin City Vacuum has been selling and servicing Tornado equipment since 1956. Call 763-535-0770 with your model and serial number and we will confirm the part before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which machines does this handle fit?

It fits the Tornado CK-LW 13/1 ProLite in both voltages, models 97130 and 97131, and the Powr-Flite PF62EC. The Tornado and Powr-Flite machines are built on the same platform under different brands and share the great majority of their parts.

Does the switch come with it?

No. The main switch is part number A428-2014 and is ordered separately. If you are replacing a cracked handle it is worth inspecting the switch while everything is apart, because the two fail for the same reason.

Can I replace just the tube instead?

Sometimes. The handle tube is part number B431-4700B. If the damage is a bent or dented tube with a sound moulding, replace the tube; if the moulding itself is cracked, the tube will not fix it.