Thread Number: 26048
This is a good vacuum and a good deal
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Post# 292133   8/6/2014 at 12:24 (3,543 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

This is a nice vacuum.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KENMORE-WHISPERT...

I already have an identical one or I'd be on this like a duck on a June bug!

A little elbow grease with some Scotchbrite and orange cleaner on the belly will take care of the scuffs and battle scars. Ditto the wheels and furniture guard. Don't be afraid to lean in hard with the scrubbing pad.

Regardless of what the seller says I would disassemble both the vacuum and Powermate and clean both thoroughly. Once you pry the cord release off the back (pry from the sides, be gentle and take your time) there are two screws underneath, two more under the hinges for the bag compartment door (take the whole door off with the tool compartment and set it aside for cleaning), and from there the rest is pretty obvious. The center bulkhead lifts out so you can remove the cord, motor, relay and wires all in one piece and set them aside to wash the rest. Some auto polish and more elbow grease will bring a nice shine up on the white parts.

Scrub the tools too, they can be pretty scary inside sometimes. The horse hair brush is a wonderful thing. You can wash it in dish detergent and dry it in the hot August sunshine. Don't forget to scrub the crud out of the inside of the brush housing, it gets pretty grody in there. You don't want to clean your house with somebody elses creeping crud on the tools.

These things are well built, have high quality old school Lamb motors with big two stage fans, and because the motor is in a little white cocoon (you want to take that off and clean it out good) they really are worthy of the name Whispertone. As a bonus, this example is one of the earlier production US made versions. Mine is Hecho en Mexico senor.

Someone go for it. Great vac, you won't be disappointed. This is your new daily driver. Believe it.


Post# 292183 , Reply# 1   8/6/2014 at 17:16 (3,543 days old) by vac-o-matic (Saint Louis, Mo.)        

I agree DT, I would put that machine up against any current Kenmore, Simplicity, Riccar, etc. with power nozzles. I have a pre-Whispertone model, 4.5, that was purchased back in '88, and still running strong. I think I got it on sale for $269.99. Nice long hose with the machine on/off switch in the grip, double brush brushroll, plus a beater bar, features for me that clinched the sale. It's still running strong. At one point, I did have to replace the lower wand years ago. I'd like to see some of these current machines in 26yrs., and what condition they might be in.

Post# 292208 , Reply# 2   8/6/2014 at 19:51 (3,542 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Ah, I have a pre-Whimpertone 4.5 too! Another great vacuum. Mine is white, model number 116.2145090. What's yours? I just had the motor rebuilt and put a new old stock cord reel in it. I bought it out of the junk pile of my favorite vacuum store for $25.

The Powermate with the 4.5 is the wrong one. I didn't want to spend what someone is asking for one with the right graphics, lol. Maybe some day.

The little blue 9 Amp suction unit is an oddball I found on Craigslist for $25 and the gas to drive to LA.

I will need to replace both hoses soon, but want to go eight feet. I am investigating using hose stock for the Intuition model but the electrical contacts might be incompatible. Some are round and some are square. I need round. I hate to spend that much money for bare hose stock and find out it doesn't work with my handle and hose end then have to go through all the rigamarole of returning it.

Here are a couple of pics of the 4.5 and the Whimpertone. Both great vacuums.


  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 3         View Full Size
Post# 292265 , Reply# 3   8/7/2014 at 08:59 (3,542 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)        
Dircik

kirbylux77's profile picture
I agree with you, that Kenmore on Ebay is very nice & would be a good buy. However, to anyone reading this, be warned....the models like this one (like Dircik's middle Kenmore with red lettering) with the manual performance indicator that's at the front, right beside the hose, is usually a sure-fire way to tell if one of these Kenmore Whispertone's has the single-stage 5.7-inch Ametek or Panasonic motor. Back when they had the lighted performance indicator on the motor cover, they were still using 5.7-inch Ametek double-stage motors. While the single-stage Panasonic motor would still be in good shape, by now the single-stage Ametek motor would be close to dying, if not already dead.

Rob



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