Normally this time of year I pay no mind to packages that arrive and simply take them home to my wife because she likes the convenience of having on line purchases shipped to my office. One arrived on Friday that was different. The box was recycled, rebuilt and clearly different. I still just took it home to my wife without opening it or paying attention to the label. Kathy disclaimed the package and then a glimmer of recollection hit me. Club member Chuck Chatham had asked my secretary if I would be interested in a Kenmore Commander. You bet I would. Thank you, Chuck! There is a Santa Claus.

The dark side of the gift of the Kenmore Commander relates to my decision to remove the motor. I can see Chuck’s quandary. While I do not need the motor, and shipping it without the motor would be less expense, is the hassle of removing the motor worth the additional shipping cost? The answer is obvious – no way.
And that is why I suspect Commanders end up in the dumpster. It takes a gorilla or a very angry person to remove the engine. I spent about thirty minutes, working aggressively and efficiently, removing the motor with a screw driver, cut off grinder and two pound hammer. I banged and cut and bent and destroyed and finally, with a misshapen case and motor parts on the floor, and a sore wrist, the motor was removed. I then, in a sort of post apocalyptic serenity, reshaped the case and reinstalled the end cap and nose cone. Having grown up in a body shop and salvage yard, reshaping the case was no big deal – almost a pleasure after the loud and painful demolition activity.
Now, I am not proud of the way I remove Kenmore Commander motors. Not at all. And each time I think it will go better. What, pray tell, is the secret? Should I attach a long extension to a socket and reach in the front and attempt to loosen the screws on the metal collar that holds the internal rubber motor mount? You see, I cannot get the motor to slide through that mount. It drags the mount along. Anyway, I am licking my wounds and happily adding the Commander to my inventory of future projects.
Again, thank you Chuck Chatham.
Mark

Regarding removing the motor - in the body shop, when trying to inflate a tubeless tire new to the rim, my dad would wipe the bead with anti-freeze - it seemed to help the bead slip over the shoulder on the wheel. Does it make sense to swab something on the rubber gasket/motor mount to allow the motor to slip through????

Hi Mark,
Enjoyed your Holiday video, and Happy Holidays to you as well. I have also enjoyed your robot giving birth video, and the photos of your creations. What a creative mind you have to come up with these things!
I have a question for you. What do you do with parts, accessories, etc that you remove from the vacuums you use for your creations? The reason I'm asking, is that right now there is a model 116.730 Commander on ebay that I'm considering bidding on, as this was the very model my folks had in the basement when I was little, but it is missing one wheel and the other one is broken, and is also missing one of the trim strips on the side. It's the model where the "nosecone," side trim, handle & switch are burgandy. Anyway, I was wondering if you would have a couple wheels and the side trim for it, and if so, how much you would want for them. Also, do you have any of the attachments for it? It does have a rug nozzle, upholstery nozzle, and dust brush with it, but the dust brush is in poor shape and it would be nice to be able to get the slide on brushes for the upholstery nozzle and the crevice tool. I don't want to bid on it unless I know some parts are available, so I would appreciate hearing from you soon, the auction is up in 4 days.
You can get back to me here, or email me at pressmanjs@yahoo.com. Thank you in advance,
Jeff

Jeff, I am currently out of the city, but will check my stuff upon my return (tomorrow if I am lujcky) - will email you "off-thread."