gpiwowar

You can see from the comments of djpauw below, that sometimes it is worth trying again to clean the surfaces of the electromagnets that need to mate with the metal plate in order to hold the toast down. (A bit of sparking from the electrical contacts is not that serious as long as there are no flammable fumes around.)

Hi Annette, (Sorry for the delay, but I just got notified of your message.)I am surprised to hear there is sparking at the electromagnet...If the sparks really are AT the electromagnet, it might mean the wiring around the electromagnet arms is faulty (unrepairable).If the sparks are from the spring contacts, and just NEAR the electromagnet, that might be normal, in which case I would try again to scrape clean the arms of the electromagnet and the metal plate they mate to.I'd be interested to hear how it turns out - Good luck!

Hi Paytrie,Sorry for the delay, but I just noticed your question.The levers/knobs usually "just" slide off because usually they are held on by friction alone. However, it may take some real force to remove. If you use a tool to provide some leverage, be careful not to scratch the housing or cause other cosmetic damage. (Try a wooden spoon!) If something does break - you may have to glue it back together at the end! (Use a cyanoacrylate-type "super glue" - sometimes the "gel" kind give better results with plastic.) Good luck!

It’s really rewarding to hear that story!I think we could all use a little more of that feeling- of regaining some mastery over the technology in our lives!All the best of the season to you and your family.May we all leave 2020 with a little more wisdom, and hopes for a resilient New Year.(eg If the repair doesn't work the first time, take another kick at it!)Cheers,Glenn in Whitehorse PS At our most recent Repair Cafe event, we took apart a toaster because only half the elements were working..... and then we understood what the "Bagel" setting was for... (It was news to me!)

If the grooves in the handle are stripped to the point they can't engage the teeth on the shaft, then yes the handle needs to be replaced. (It seems to me this is likely the problem.)However, if the teeth on the shaft of the cranking mechanism are worn or stripped, then the whole mechanism needs to be replaced - which will probably be expensive. (This entails unscrewing the mechanism from the frame when the window is cranked open.)As a cheap alternative, you might try applying REMOVEABLE "thread locking compound" (like "Loctite Threadlocker BLUE 242") to the teeth on the shaft before you slide the handle on. (Note that you would then have to apply heat (eg hot air gun) to the handle in order to remove it.)Good luck and please let me know how it goes!

PS If you do try to buy a replacement handle, try a window / glass shop as many parts are standard (but be sure to take your old one for comparison).

I have not tried it myself, but I have been told that you can try to open a window with a broken crank:- Ensure the latch / keeper lever is disengaged; (on my window that means it is in the downward position).- Try to jiggle / vibrate the window open by applying outward pressure while attempting to open it with the broken crank. (It may help to spray some penetrating oil like WD-40 etc into the mechanism.)I am told that if you are patient and persistent with the jiggling (while applying outward pressure on the window), you might get it open enough to get access to the screws that hold the crank mechanism against the frame of the window.Good luck and please let me know how it goes!

I have not tried it myself, but I have been told that you can try to open a window with a broken crank:- Ensure the latch / keeper lever is disengaged; (on my window that means it is in the downward position).- Try to jiggle / vibrate the window open by applying outward pressure while attempting to open it with the broken crank. (It may help to spray some penetrating oil like WD-40 etc into the mechanism.)I am told that if you are patient and persistent with the jiggling (while applying outward pressure on the window), you might get it open enough to get access to the screws that hold the crank mechanism against the frame of the window.Good luck and please let me know how it goes!

Excellent idea - my nose feels toasty just reading about this!

Yes - it gives tensile strength to the concrete so that it doesn't crack when you step on it (like re-bar does in concrete building footings).

That's the spirit! - cast iron is so much happier when it is put to work in the kitchen, surrounded by a loving family.

Thank you for the comment. While a hake brush would work fine, that's not what I used.