Tornado Transport Handle 31214

The Tornado Transport Handle 31214 is the genuine OEM carry handle for the PS Series professional spotters — the bent tubular loop that bolts to the back of the machine and takes the whole 20-pound weight every time the spotter goes into or out of a vehicle. Tornado’s parts catalog lists it simply as “Handle, Transport”, and it is the handle itself rather than a kit.

Compatible Models for the Tornado Transport Handle

• Tornado PS Spotter 98220 — PS Series portable spotter, 115V (Series F and G)
• Tornado PS8221 Spotter 98221 — the 230-volt build of the same spotter (Series F and G)

Earlier Series C, D and E machines are not listed for this handle: the factory parts book did not carry a separate handle assembly drawing until Series F. If your serial label shows an earlier series, call us at 763-535-0770 before ordering and we will check it against your machine.

What the transport handle does

A spotter earns its keep by being portable. The 98220 is 21 inches long and weighs about 20 pounds dry, and it gets lifted into a van, carried up stairs and set down on hard floors several times a day. The transport handle is the single point that load passes through. It is a steel tube formed into a loop and finished to match the machine, and it mounts through the back plate rather than clipping to the housing, which is why it can be replaced on its own without touching the tanks or the pump.

When to replace the transport handle

Replace the handle if the tube is bent out of line, if the finish has worn through and the steel underneath is corroding, or if the mounting ends have been elongated by a fastener working loose over time. The warning sign most operators notice first is play: the handle moves slightly against the body when you pick the machine up. Check the fasteners first, because a loose handle is often a screw problem rather than a handle problem — but a handle with elongated mounting holes will not tighten up again no matter how much you torque it, and that is the point to replace it.

Fitting notes

The handle mounts with the Tornado Screw 19617 and the Tornado Lock Washer #10 Heavy Series 01713, and the factory drawing carries an explicit instruction for this joint: do not over-tighten the screws when attaching the handle to the main body. The handle lands against a moulded housing, so over-torquing strips the threads you are trying to secure. Snug them evenly and stop. If you are replacing a handle because the old fasteners worked loose, fit new screws and washers at the same time rather than reusing them.

Tornado also catalogs a separate steel transport replacement handle kit for the PS Spotter under part number 31215, which bundles the handle with its mounting hardware. If you want the hardware included, order that part number instead of this one — call us at 763-535-0770 and we will tell you which one suits your repair.

Twin City Vacuum has been selling and servicing Tornado equipment since 1956. You can browse every assembly for this machine on our Tornado PS Spotter 98220 parts page, and the manufacturer’s specifications are published at tornadovac.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Tornado Transport Handle 31214 do?

It is the carry handle on the PS Series spotter. It bolts through the back plate of the machine and carries the full weight of the spotter whenever it is lifted or carried.

How do I know if my Tornado Transport Handle needs replacing?

Look for a bent tube, corrosion where the finish has worn through, or mounting ends that have been elongated so the fasteners will no longer pull up tight. Play between the handle and the body when you lift the machine is the first symptom, though that is often a loose screw rather than a worn handle.

What is the difference between part 31214 and part 31215?

Part 31214 is the transport handle on its own. Part 31215 is Tornado’s steel transport replacement handle kit for the PS Spotter, which includes the mounting hardware with the handle. Order 31215 if you want the fasteners supplied, or 31214 if you are reusing or separately replacing them.

How do I order the Tornado Transport Handle (part# 31214) or get help?

You can add the Tornado Transport Handle (part# 31214) directly to your cart on this page, or call us at 763-535-0770. Our staff at 5415 West Broadway, Crystal, MN 55428 has been servicing Tornado equipment since 1956 and can help confirm the right part for your machine.

Questions? Call us at 763-535-0770 or visit us at 5415 West Broadway, Crystal, MN 55428.