This miserable design actually sends line voltage up the hose to the switch, and back down again.

If your vacuum is completely dead silent, chances are one of the wires in the hose broke.

To start the motor without the hose, get insulated clip leads, apply power, and short the left and right terminals together. If the vacuum starts, you're on the right track.

You can also place a small bit of #14 or #12 stranded insulated wire between the two terminals, leaving enough space for plugging in the regular wand. You won't have switch control, but the thing will work.