Thanks Dan, I saw the other guy's screw through the button fix first, then I saw your one and thought that's how I would proceed. This is my 2nd Athlet, the first one started to get the cut out problem, then a cell died in the battery so that was that. I already had a similar replacement Athlet because they perform so well and after stirling service started to replicate the cut out issue. I found some plastic shim I had to cut to size and gradually file the thickness down. I was getting a problem with reattaching the handle as the gap had closed a bit too much but resolved that by cutting a small 45 chamfer on the white plastic that was shimmed to allow the handle to finally dock. Gave it a test by vacuuming the filed and shaved plastic where I was working and performed perfectly!
I have never posted a response to a you tube video before but you basically saved us having to buy a new hoover with this impressively efficient and easy fix. We used a piece of credit card thickness plastic to fix ours about a month ago. It's been used daily ever since and not cut out once. Many many thanks for posting this video and saving us a whole heap of money. 😃
Thanks mate!! Our Bosch Athlet just started the intermittent fault a few weeks ago. Of course, my better half's idea was to buy a bloody Dyson to replace It!! I cut a small rectangle out of ice cream container plastic and jammed it in behind the female connector. The removable handle is now quite tight, but we never remove it anyway. You've saved us from wasting hundreds on a vacuum that is likely to only last a few years. I did look at the other chap's video on using a screw. It also looks like a viable solution, but takes longer to do and the modification isn't reversible. Cheers.
The whole generation of Athlets saved from being thrown onto a scrapheap. GENIUS!!! Credit where credit is due. For me the hardest bit was pressing that stubborn button to get off the handle. The rest was a breeze. I am so pleased, thank you Dan.
Good fix, thanks. I fixed mine before I watched this by unscrewing the screws on the bit in the neck so that even if the neck wobbles the connectors won't wobble with the top section. Worked well, but your fix is better as you don't have to take the neck off. Now the thing won't charge. Tried a replacement charger but no joy. It's fair to say I've fallen out of love with this cleaner.
Thanks for this. I had to put it the other side of the connectors as the handle wouldn’t fit back on, but works perfectly the other side too and all fits back together now. Such an easy fix for something that has been annoying for months!! Thank you
I (and my wife even more!) was so angry of this issue that I was ready to throw this crap out and buy a different model! You just saved me ~200-300€. Thank you very much!
Brilliant, thank you! We were all ready to send the Bosch to vacuum heaven, but one sliver of plastic and it’s now working perfectly again! Thanks chap!
Wow, mine stopped working completely, had that intermittent thing from the start. Used your solution and now it works perfectly. Was about to ditch it and buy another! Thank you!
Much obliged for your extremely simple solution to a problem I've put up with for years. As you say, it's a great little vacuum - absurd attachment doofer aside - that's easy to empty and, being cordless, is a joy to use. Thanks for sharing!👍
Thanks for this tip, I did it on my friends two cleaners today, hoping she won't be phoning about her cleaner anytime soon. The screw idea looks promising as well, but not reversable.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to post this fix . mine has been driving me crazy cutting out every few seconds and your video has solved my problem and saved me buying a new cleaner. I cut a piece of an old bank card and it fitted the space no problem . Cheers Dan
Thanks so much for taking the time to film this (and keeping the video nicely concise). Bosch quoted me £99 call out plus parts. I was about to get into a whole Sales of Goods Act argument that would have no doubt been very boring and drawn out. After your video it was solved it in a few minutes, using a bit of disposable plastic cup.
Cheers Dan, this was driving me up the wall! Worked like a charm and if it helps, I cut a piece of a plastic card holder and taped it back so it didn't cover the slot.
Me too! I had a idea of the problem but your remedy worked a treat, Like someone below I used a bit of icecream container, only drawback was I had to finish off the contents! Bummer.
I know you haven't invented the wheel, but in my eyes, you are genius. Thank you so much. It saved me money, time and frustration. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
our Bosch fell over and top handle broke, bodged up a repair but intermittent fault, so I presumed was handle. With your help, put a sliver of plastic milk bottle in, all well and good. Very many thanks, I owe you a beer!
When I saw a video literally put a screw in, I was a bit shocked really. I personally am having to replace the cover due to the plastic breaking so this issue isn't related to mine, but this is a much better solution and you explain it perfectly for beginners/novices/non-experts.
Thank you. Perfect fix to a known problem. All I would add to your excellent advice is just to cleaning the electrical contacts whilst doing this as mine were covered in a layer of dirt. Doing this too has fixed the issue. Cheers
Ha - saw the same video you described with the screw - and came up with sames solution you did... used card instead of plastic... fault persisted. So switched to a sliver of plastic after watching your vid... all good now.
Brilliant, thanks for this, I had already made the screw mod which helped, but gradually the cutting out problem reappeared, this simple modification haS worked a treat. I was on the verge of throwing it out but was reluctant as in all other respects it was fine. Excellent tip.
Thank you for posting this, I was just about to replace my vacuum I thought the battery had gone! I followed your instructions and as good as new!!! Thanks again
on the other side of the cleaner there is a plug that fits into the socket . The 4 contacts of this plug become coated in carbon which can be cleaned with extra fine (240 grain) sand paper VERY GENTLY. If you have electrical contact cleaner, this can be sprayed on to improve the contact. I also cleaned the contacts in the socket with a small piece of the same sand paper
Brilliant - love the different things people are jamming in there! thats my 1 and only vid I think - glad its of use! Oddly I used exactly the same chopping board to fix a camera tripod at work :)
just got one for free. same problem. allready looked into the problem before i found this video. maybe someone is interested into what i found. realised its the contact to the handle because the problem didnt occur with the smaller handle. took the handle appart so that i could unscrew the contact. looks like the contacts from the main part grind into the contacts of the handle side so hard over time with that moving connection that the copper material is gone over time. like puncturing it. it has 4 contacts that are mirrored into both sides. i cleaned all the connections and soldered some tin on the handle side of the connection and grinded it back off a bit again. some small diy board replacement would be possible to. or maybe get rid of the connection and solder the cables together forever.
I think the reputation of Bosch is going down the plug hole. They have been made aware of this problem. This unit is still available in most large outlets, just hope customers avoid anything made by Bosch like the plague. Having to resort to U-tube for any help, and findin there are so many people with the same problem, really is unacceptable. No help from Bosch. BUT there was help and a solution from a really top man who took the time and trouble to share and film on u-tube a way of solving this problem. From reading all the comments here, he has saved quite a lot of people from forking out for a new machine. I say a huge THANK YOU to him. He's a top man.
I tried the flexible chopping board cut out and cut to size, but doesnt seem to allow the handle to fit into place...maybe a thinner plastic will be better in my case? ,but so happy to know i dont have to fork out money to fix it!
Heya - yes Id say tiny bit thinner - mine only just clicked shut - there is Jaka (below) who used a business card - so maybe try different thicknesses of card/ paper. Save the planet one fixed hoover at a time :)
Thanks. It worked for me. I tried the thin plastic strip at first, but that didnt work because I couldnt reconnect the top piece. I then tried a smaller piece of card and it worked. But I dont know if it worked because it was a little thinner, or because it was narrower ( 1/4")
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, as they say ;-) I hope Bosch will take a look at this design and improve it. I feel that the casing split there is purely for packaging reasons (transportation) so a design improvement is clearly needed, going on the amount of hits I’ve had on my video. It’s a nice design, let down by a compromise in connector quality. I’m sure the design could be helped by a better quality connector.
Thank you both for your videos. I had an older model that had a different, smaller handle attachment so that you could use it to vacuum the car etc, that is what the detachable handle is for.
Ours kept cutting out too, but instead of inserting a sliver of plastic in I simply bent both contacts in towards each other using a precision screwdriver blade. Been working for over a year now. Trouble is the batteries only last 5 mins on max, clearly not got a battery management system. Glad Bosch don't build EVs like they do their vacuums. (EVs never use 100% capacity as that's the way you kill a battery.)
Did this fix it made the machine last another 6 months, then the white plug cracked. Had to get the soldering iron out and extend the wires and solder them together as a permanent fix. Not a very well designed machine I mean who puts battery packs near to filter foam and actually has so much flex on the handle that it breaks the connector.
Clean the contacts contact cleaner. You could gently rub the contact in the handle with dry green scrubby thing,I would do that first,probably have to take the handle off and will need tork screwdriver, lkie a two pronged fork for that
Nice one, can't believe I couldn't figure this out myself - well done - but if you really are a genius help me figure out how to replace a lead on a Shark upright (piece of S@#t) vacuum cleaner
I had the same issue and it turns out that the connector pads on the handle side PCB wear out and loose contact. Applying solder to the pads fixed the issue, see flic.kr/p/29Gyamy
Thanks Dan, I saw the other guy's screw through the button fix first, then I saw your one and thought that's how I would proceed. This is my 2nd Athlet, the first one started to get the cut out problem, then a cell died in the battery so that was that. I already had a similar replacement Athlet because they perform so well and after stirling service started to replicate the cut out issue. I found some plastic shim I had to cut to size and gradually file the thickness down. I was getting a problem with reattaching the handle as the gap had closed a bit too much but resolved that by cutting a small 45 chamfer on the white plastic that was shimmed to allow the handle to finally dock. Gave it a test by vacuuming the filed and shaved plastic where I was working and performed perfectly!
Straight forward - no endless patter - no annoying ear blasting music. Good videoing with clear instructions. Worked a treat. Thanks
I have never posted a response to a you tube video before but you basically saved us having to buy a new hoover with this impressively efficient and easy fix. We used a piece of credit card thickness plastic to fix ours about a month ago. It's been used daily ever since and not cut out once.
Many many thanks for posting this video and saving us a whole heap of money. 😃
Thanks mate!! Our Bosch Athlet just started the intermittent fault a few weeks ago. Of course, my better half's idea was to buy a bloody Dyson to replace It!! I cut a small rectangle out of ice cream container plastic and jammed it in behind the female connector. The removable handle is now quite tight, but we never remove it anyway. You've saved us from wasting hundreds on a vacuum that is likely to only last a few years.
I did look at the other chap's video on using a screw. It also looks like a viable solution, but takes longer to do and the modification isn't reversible.
Cheers.
5 years later and this is still helping people to fix broken cleaners. Just fixed mine with a bit of credit card. Thanks!
Cheers chief!
The whole generation of Athlets saved from being thrown onto a scrapheap. GENIUS!!! Credit where credit is due. For me the hardest bit was pressing that stubborn button to get off the handle. The rest was a breeze. I am so pleased, thank you Dan.
haha, i had the same issue with pressing that small circle button to release the handle too, damn engineers need to test things better lol
You are a legend Dan. This problem is pandemic to this machine. Wouldn't you think a recall is the right thing to do? ...... or a refund.
Chris This Bosch Vacuum Cleaner Has Several Different Faults...
Infact They Aught To Do A Recall.
Good fix, thanks. I fixed mine before I watched this by unscrewing the screws on the bit in the neck so that even if the neck wobbles the connectors won't wobble with the top section. Worked well, but your fix is better as you don't have to take the neck off.
Now the thing won't charge. Tried a replacement charger but no joy. It's fair to say I've fallen out of love with this cleaner.
Thanks for this. I had to put it the other side of the connectors as the handle wouldn’t fit back on, but works perfectly the other side too and all fits back together now. Such an easy fix for something that has been annoying for months!! Thank you
I (and my wife even more!) was so angry of this issue that I was ready to throw this crap out and buy a different model! You just saved me ~200-300€. Thank you very much!
Brilliant, thank you! We were all ready to send the Bosch to vacuum heaven, but one sliver of plastic and it’s now working perfectly again! Thanks chap!
Wow, mine stopped working completely, had that intermittent thing from the start. Used your solution and now it works perfectly. Was about to ditch it and buy another! Thank you!
We have a different model, but the symptoms are the same - will go check - Thanks for the pointer!
Much obliged for your extremely simple solution to a problem I've put up with for years. As you say, it's a great little vacuum - absurd attachment doofer aside - that's easy to empty and, being cordless, is a joy to use. Thanks for sharing!👍
Thanks for this tip, I did it on my friends two cleaners today, hoping she won't be phoning about her cleaner anytime soon. The screw idea looks promising as well, but not reversable.
Thanks for posting this simple but effective fix for an annoying problem, working a treat now!
Thanks for the simple but effective hack. All good now. Should last another couple of years!
Thank you so very much for taking the time to post this fix . mine has been driving me crazy cutting out every few seconds and your video has solved my problem and saved me buying a new cleaner.
I cut a piece of an old bank card and it fitted the space no problem .
Cheers Dan
Thanks so much for taking the time to film this (and keeping the video nicely concise). Bosch quoted me £99 call out plus parts. I was about to get into a whole Sales of Goods Act argument that would have no doubt been very boring and drawn out. After your video it was solved it in a few minutes, using a bit of disposable plastic cup.
Cheers Dan, this was driving me up the wall! Worked like a charm and if it helps, I cut a piece of a plastic card holder and taped it back so it didn't cover the slot.
Me too! I had a idea of the problem but your remedy worked a treat, Like someone below I used a bit of icecream container, only drawback was I had to finish off the contents! Bummer.
I know you haven't invented the wheel, but in my eyes, you are genius. Thank you so much. It saved me money, time and frustration. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
our Bosch fell over and top handle broke, bodged up a repair but intermittent fault, so I presumed was handle. With your help, put a sliver of plastic milk bottle in, all well and good. Very many thanks, I owe you a beer!
When I saw a video literally put a screw in, I was a bit shocked really. I personally am having to replace the cover due to the plastic breaking so this issue isn't related to mine, but this is a much better solution and you explain it perfectly for beginners/novices/non-experts.
Nice little hack, it worked perfectly I used the lid from a takeaway container.
I’m so glad I didn’t follow the other instructions!
Thank you for posting this. Your easy to follow fix solved the problem for me.
Fantastic fixed it Saved a fortune Thank you
Thank you so much! The video was simple to follow and my husband has fixed it in 10 mins. Brilliant!
Helpful! Used a piece from old credit card and just chamfered the shim with sandpaper so slotted in very easily.
Thank you. Perfect fix to a known problem. All I would add to your excellent advice is just to cleaning the electrical contacts whilst doing this as mine were covered in a layer of dirt. Doing this too has fixed the issue. Cheers
Have just fixed the problem after seeing your video. What a star you are!
I was going to replace my vacuum until I saw this! Works like new again. Thanks so much!!!
Ha - saw the same video you described with the screw - and came up with sames solution you did... used card instead of plastic... fault persisted. So switched to a sliver of plastic after watching your vid... all good now.
Thanks god I found your video ! ours was out of warranty and I just fix it perfectly with your method ! Thank you mate
Brilliant, thanks for this, I had already made the screw mod which helped, but gradually the cutting out problem reappeared, this simple modification haS worked a treat. I was on the verge of throwing it out but was reluctant as in all other respects it was fine. Excellent tip.
Just tried this with a bit of photo paper. Working so far, thank you.
Thank you for posting this, I was just about to replace my vacuum I thought the battery had gone! I followed your instructions and as good as new!!! Thanks again
Awesome! Glad to be of assistance!
Thank you, I bought one for £7 and had this issue, and was a simple fix by you
Did a combination of your fix and the screw method seems to have done the trick for now thanks 👍
We have just tried and it works :-) Thank you very much, Dan!
Thank you Dan, worked for me ,great job bud and thanks for sharing too
Thanks really useful. I had a pair of pliers that let my nip the contacts a little closer together.
on the other side of the cleaner there is a plug that fits into the socket . The 4 contacts of this plug become coated in carbon which can be cleaned with extra fine (240 grain) sand paper VERY GENTLY. If you have electrical contact cleaner, this can be sprayed on to improve the contact. I also cleaned the contacts in the socket with a small piece of the same sand paper
Cheers! You took a good idea and made it better.
Excellent remedy. Works well.
Thank you soooooo much, I’ve just done it and it’s working perfectly 😊
Brilliant fix! Thanks very much for sharing 👍👍
You just saved me spending another 200£. Bless you
Great fix thank you a double sliver of yoghurt pot cut to size did the trick, battery life still rubbish, but doesn't cut out all the time. 👍
Brilliant, solves our issue straight away
Fantastic, Thank You So Much Dan
superb ! did the trick many thanks
Many thanks for this. Just avoided having to buy a new one!
Worked perfectly thank you!
Thanks, Dan, a sliver off a yoghurt carton did the trick.
Thanks a million, this worked great
Ive just done this. Used the last plastic part to the Scotch pop up tape....Works brilliantly
Brilliant - love the different things people are jamming in there! thats my 1 and only vid I think - glad its of use! Oddly I used exactly the same chopping board to fix a camera tripod at work :)
Genius ... thank you so much ... even I fixed it myself!
Sorted thank you! I used a cutting from the plastic/foil bit that holds paracetamol
Many thanks took your advice and know it's working
Thanks, works perfect!
Mine works perfectly again, thanks very much.
Brilliant, thank you so much.
Thanks Dan! Easy Peazy but genius!
Thanks thanks thanks!! From barcelona thanks!! It works perfectly!! Like other user you save me spend hundred euros!
well done lad did the same thing and it does work
Tanks m8. Saved my monny. 😁
Merci Monsieur!
Thanks Dan. Thumbs up
just got one for free. same problem. allready looked into the problem before i found this video. maybe someone is interested into what i found. realised its the contact to the handle because the problem didnt occur with the smaller handle. took the handle appart so that i could unscrew the contact. looks like the contacts from the main part grind into the contacts of the handle side so hard over time with that moving connection that the copper material is gone over time. like puncturing it. it has 4 contacts that are mirrored into both sides. i cleaned all the connections and soldered some tin on the handle side of the connection and grinded it back off a bit again. some small diy board replacement would be possible to. or maybe get rid of the connection and solder the cables together forever.
Exactly what I did a couple of months ago!!
I think the reputation of Bosch is going down the plug hole. They have been made aware of this problem. This unit is still available in most large outlets, just hope customers avoid anything made by Bosch like the plague. Having to resort to U-tube for any help, and findin there are so many people with the same problem, really is unacceptable. No help from Bosch. BUT there was help and a solution from a really top man who took the time and trouble to share and film on u-tube a way of solving this problem. From reading all the comments here, he has saved quite a lot of people from forking out for a new machine. I say a huge THANK YOU to him. He's a top man.
it works. thank you youre my hero =)
Top Banana !!!! Thanks mate.......wife was eyeing up a £300 Dyson. No more :-) Phew
Thanks mate!!
Quick and easy fix, I stuck a cutout from a buisness card in the slot and the problem is gone. Thanks.
I tried the flexible chopping board cut out and cut to size, but doesnt seem to allow the handle to fit into place...maybe a thinner plastic will be better in my case? ,but so happy to know i dont have to fork out money to fix it!
Heya - yes Id say tiny bit thinner - mine only just clicked shut - there is Jaka (below) who used a business card - so maybe try different thicknesses of card/ paper. Save the planet one fixed hoover at a time :)
Parece que funciona! Gracias!
Genius!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks. It worked for me. I tried the thin plastic strip at first, but that didnt work because I couldnt reconnect the top piece. I then tried a smaller piece of card and it worked. But I dont know if it worked because it was a little thinner, or because it was narrower ( 1/4")
I chopped out the board and pins after several short-lived fixes. I soldered in a HDD molex connector ìnstead.
works a treat
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, as they say ;-) I hope Bosch will take a look at this design and improve it. I feel that the casing split there is purely for packaging reasons (transportation) so a design improvement is clearly needed, going on the amount of hits I’ve had on my video. It’s a nice design, let down by a compromise in connector quality. I’m sure the design could be helped by a better quality connector.
Thank you both for your videos. I had an older model that had a different, smaller handle attachment so that you could use it to vacuum the car etc, that is what the detachable handle is for.
Same issue. I had fixed it by relocating the board in the handle to seat a bit lower down. I noticed as it was it was 5 mm higher than it could be.
Cheers ! lots!
Great!!!
Ours kept cutting out too, but instead of inserting a sliver of plastic in I simply bent both contacts in towards each other using a precision screwdriver blade. Been working for over a year now. Trouble is the batteries only last 5 mins on max, clearly not got a battery management system. Glad Bosch don't build EVs like they do their vacuums. (EVs never use 100% capacity as that's the way you kill a battery.)
Did this fix it made the machine last another 6 months, then the white plug cracked. Had to get the soldering iron out and extend the wires and solder them together as a permanent fix. Not a very well designed machine I mean who puts battery packs near to filter foam and actually has so much flex on the handle that it breaks the connector.
Thanks Dan, we've tried this however it still isn't working. Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks in advance
Clean the contacts contact cleaner. You could gently rub the contact in the handle with dry green scrubby thing,I would do that first,probably have to take the handle off and will need tork screwdriver, lkie a two pronged fork for that
Alguien me dice algo en español creo que tengo ese problema gracias
I have perhaps a more unusual problem, mine won't switch off
Nice one, can't believe I couldn't figure this out myself - well done - but if you really are a genius help me figure out how to replace a lead on a Shark upright (piece of S@#t) vacuum cleaner
Cheers for the feedback! Shimmed mine out twice now and still going!
I had the same issue and it turns out that the connector pads on the handle side PCB wear out and loose contact. Applying solder to the pads fixed the issue, see flic.kr/p/29Gyamy