Thread Number: 11704
I'm horrified... Kenmore canister question
[Down to Last]

Vacuumland's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate vacuumland.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 125964   2/25/2011 at 23:52 (4,779 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

Hey guys.... I have a neighbor/friend who I have been encouraging to get a better vacuum since I've known him... 4 years now. He has a Bissell bagless, and well, we all know what those are like. Well, he forwarded me an ad from Craig's List this morning for a modern blue Kenmore canister that was only 45 dollars. He had a Eureka canister when he lived up north, and from everything he told me, I've been telling him that a modern Kenmore canister would be best for his needs... Quality, powerful vacuum with good attachments and quick release power nozzle. The vacuum he sent me a picture of seemed to fit these qualifications to a T. I told him I'd even get it. The C/L ad said the vacuum was "like new". He got it... I went to shampoo carpet for my family today, so I didn't get a cell phone signal all day... when I came home, I called him to find out what he thought of the machine. As we were talking about it, he said some things that didn't make sense to me. I was too tired to visit, but I popped over to see the machine because I was curious. When I saw it, I was simply horrified. Had I been with him, I would have forbade him to purchase this cleaner.

Problems!

The power nozzle is completely missing the front wheels. Therefore, it doesn't glide easily (it actually digs into the carpet on the forward stroke), and of course that makes height adjustment non-existent. It is also missing the handle release pedal.... the stupid wand must have crashed to the floor at least 15 times in the 10 minutes it took me to scoff at the condition of the machine. The plug has been replaced, so it's a smaller plug now and it actually goes up inside the vacuum when the cord winder is activated. Someone tried to pry out the upper wand release button instead of pressing it, so the plastic is bent out permanently, and almost broken off. The plastic at the power nozzle neck is also broken, so the power nozzle plug (where it connects to the wand) is "loose" and must be inserted into the wand manually by hand, which of course defeats the purpose of having a quick release power nozzle.

Before he got the vacuum cleaner, I told him some things to check, but I forgot to say, "Make sure it has the wheels!" Who the freak takes wheels off a power nozzle and leaves them off. How could such a modern and nice vacuum be in such awful shape. What am I misunderstanding about the English language... when someone says "like new" to me, that would mean the vacuum included wheels. It's been a long time since I sold vacuums at Sears, but the last time I checked they included wheels on their new vacuums, and like new means like new. Could it be that a person who is smart enough to type an ad on Craig's List is so stupid that she doesn't know the meaning of the phrase "like new"? If that's the case, I think there's a kindergarten class down the street that teaches the meaning of words.... or worse yet, maybe she was knowingly lying about the condition of the machine and needs a morals class instead of an English lesson.

Anyway, I think he just needs a new power nozzle. If the quick release thing was OK, I would just look for a new wheel assembly , but I really want him to have quick release.... the thing is, he doesn't have a lot of money and didn't spent a lot on this machine, so we can't invest much... anyone know what a fair price to pay for a power nozzle for this machine? I told him to write the lady and ask if she had the rest of the vacuum (the wheels) and why she had to lie about the condition... We'll see. I'm so mad I don't think I'll be able to sleep, and it's not even my vacuum!

What was supposed to be a great machine for a fair price is now turning out to be a nightmare because some stupid idiot on Craig's List couldn't get their stuff right.

Thanks for any advice, sympathy, similar stories, whatever! I don't know if I'm more disgusted about this or that it took me 4 hours, 7 Kirby (use Heritage 2 btw) bags, and about 50 tanks of water to make my family's black carpet even close the the color it was supposed to be when new, but I need to have a drink and go to bed after this crazy day. Tomorrow, I'll be prying dog hair and mud off my poor Hoover Steam vac, he did as good as he could, but didn't perform any miracles.... they bought their own online at my urging today, so I'll never have to "mess mine up" again.... at least I got to make lasagna with granny... and fix a sewing machine for her (I don't know what she was expecting it to do with the tension and stitch length both set to zero!), and give her the Bunn coffee maker finally.... it wasn't a totally bad day, but I'm exhausted now. Granny made me laugh... she was telling me that she needed a new "hand sweeper"... I asked what was wrong with hers and she said, "Well, just when I get ta goin' good with it, tha handle flies off!" I laughed almost as hard as the time I sucked up her hand sewn quilt blocks with my Dyson hose and they made it all the way into the filled dirt chamber.... what fun! :o)


Post# 126077 , Reply# 1   2/27/2011 at 01:49 (4,778 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

The Kenmores in that canister series are reasonably good vacs. This one is probably worth fixing, you just have to get the small parts you mention. Unfortunately, Sears has some favorite numbers they use for even the simplest parts, like $7-something for many of the small, plastic parts. They made many different models in this series and there is a lot of interchangeability in the parts. Maybe you can scout around for a donor machine, like a sad trade-in at a vac shop (checking of course to make sure the same parts aren't broken) or a thrift store.

Post# 126363 , Reply# 2   3/1/2011 at 19:45 (4,775 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()        

Thanks for responding.... we haven't decided what to do about it yet still, but he just found one of the first bagged non-propelled Windtunnels in the trash and rescued it, so at least he has something powerful now to clean with until he gets wheels or a new power nozzle for the Kenmore.

Post# 126395 , Reply# 3   3/1/2011 at 22:34 (4,775 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

Well, that's the beauty of a project, isn'tit? So long as you have something else to do the job, the project can sit until the parts come along. This gives you the time to shop the thrifts around and see about getting a parts vac.

Post# 126401 , Reply# 4   3/1/2011 at 23:07 (4,775 days old) by mark40511 (Lexington, KY)        

mark40511's profile picture
These are good vacs. I have tried a few other vacuums but always go back to these because they are so easy to use.......The only thing I've noticed is that little things go wrong with them in the wand/cord areas.....I'm going to try to attempt my first repair on mine.......I'm on my 2nd one in six years. I could have probably fixed the other one, but I didn't. The one I have now is almost three years old, but I use the hell out of it.....I do take care of it though.

Did Panasonic stop making their vacuums for Sears? I thought I heard a while back that Sears was going with another company, but looking at their website, their vacuums still look like Panasonic's to me.



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

Woops, Time to Check the Bag!!!
Either you need to change your vacuum bag or you forgot to LOG-IN?

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy