The bag holder popped out about 1.5 inches (I think it was on the down cycle). Then it jammed. I'm guessing that there is a safety switch that intersects the bag holder. I sat on the floor and pushed against the outside panel with my back. The bag holder moved far enough in to engage some switch that let me turn the main switch so that the smasher plate could retract and I could again use the compacter. It's an old unit but 95% of the time it works just fine.