Rubber Collar B431-4214

The Rubber Collar (part# B431-4214) seals the joint between the tube and the bag mount on the Tornado CK-LW 13/1 ProLite, models 97130 (115V) and 97131 (230V), and on the Powr-Flite PF62EC.

Suction on an upright is only as good as the weakest joint in the path from the nozzle to the bag, and a rubber collar is there because a rigid-to-rigid joint would leak as soon as either moulding moved. The collar absorbs the flex, and it is the part that takes the strain every time the machine is leaned back or set upright.

Compatible Models

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

Symptoms of a failed collar

The classic sign is a machine that picks up well on a flat push but loses grip when the handle is raised or lowered, because the joint opens as the geometry changes. You can often hear it: a faint whistle that changes pitch as you move the handle. Rubber that has hardened with age does the same thing more quietly — it no longer conforms to the mating faces, so there is a permanent gap that simply bleeds air.

Check it by feel rather than by eye. A serviceable collar is pliable and grips when twisted; a spent one is stiff, may have taken a permanent oval, and will usually have surface cracks at the flex point.

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 collar fit?

The Tornado CK-LW 13/1 ProLite, models 97130 and 97131, and the Powr-Flite PF62EC.

My machine loses suction only when I raise the handle. Is this it?

That symptom points squarely at a joint that opens as the geometry changes, and this collar is the usual culprit. Listen for a whistle that changes pitch as the handle moves.

Is rubber that looks fine still worth replacing?

If it is stiff, yes. Appearance is a poor guide with rubber – hardness is what matters, because a hard collar cannot conform to the mating faces however clean it looks.