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Post# 294480   8/19/2014 at 23:21 (3,530 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

So I bought a pair of old square cream colored Kenmore canisters from the early '80s. The intention was the least attractive would be a parts vac for the others (the last time I bought a parts vac of this kind it turned out to be so squeaky clean and nice I could not bring myself to part it out, it's now a proud part of the collection) and the better looking one would get a hairy chested Lamb Advantek motor, HEPA filtration (it can be done, I've been experimenting on another of these vacs) and a couple of other upgrades to see if I can make one competitive with the best modern canister vacs. I also figured to use the cool lid with the indented tool holders on whichever one was the frankenvac.

Both vacs came from Florida and when I opened them I got a bit of a surprise. The 2.5 is on a smaller body than the other. It is about 3/5 the size of the 3.5 and my other cream colored square Kenmore canisters. I had no idea this vac even existed. Unfortunately it was poorly packaged and suffered some damage in shipment. The broken handle is repairable and I have a surface texture technique that will hide the seam nicely. The vac has a stale smell and some rust is apparent underneath, so who knows what awaits me when I open it up. Creepy crawly things maybe! I dunno.

The Powermate is also something I have never seen before. The markings on the bottom make me think it's a Matsushita product like other Powermates, but unlike all the other Powermates, this one has the height adjustment on the left of the wand, a dial at that, and the motor on the right, driving the brush through a central belt. Unfortunately you can see damage to the base in two places, at the swivel and at the front. What astounded me was putting the model number into Sears Parts Direct it seems the base may still be available. Lets say for now they show it's available for about $35. A few other unexpected parts are likewise shown available. I have been both surprised at what turns up on my door from Sears and likewise disappointed when parts they showed available turned out not to be. All I can do is order one and see what happens. If not, break out the epoxy.

As a bonus the 2.5 came with a perfect set of chrome wands and a good original hose. No cracks, just some minor damage to the canister side hose end. Amazingly those ends are still available new and I have three on their way now (my dog used one I previously ordered as a test as a chew toy two weeks ago, the little dickens).

I haven't tried running either. I'm a little leery of what might come out the back of the 2.5, heh, heh, heh. Tomorrow night hopefully. I just ran out of time tonight. Anyway, I didn't expect what showed up on my door step, but I don't mind. It's fun discovering you just bought a vacuum you didn't even know existed, even when you bought it. :-) Enjoy the before photos. Too bad you can't experience the stale aroma from the 2.5, lol. I hope nothing crawls out of it while I sleep tonight! It did come from Florida.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 17         View Full Size
Post# 294482 , Reply# 1   8/19/2014 at 23:38 (3,530 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Very interesting! Enjoy your finds! Keep bug spray handy maybe? JK

Post# 294492 , Reply# 2   8/20/2014 at 01:53 (3,530 days old) by Gr8DaneDad ()        

Looking forward to the report of their progress through the Southwest Refurbishment facility.
Post# 294496 , Reply# 3   8/20/2014 at 02:51 (3,530 days old) by bnsd60m9200 (Akron OH)        

bnsd60m9200's profile picture
wow that musta had a hell of a drop to crack that handle. that is high impact industrial plastic... let me guess, USPS?

Post# 294506 , Reply# 4   8/20/2014 at 07:16 (3,530 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

No packing material inside the box. The seller put the items in a simple box and sent it. Not even some rolled up newspaper. It was a Craigslist buy so the buyer wasn't intending to pack and ship it. At first they thought some kook from California was calling them.

I used to work for FedEx Ground and we destroyed plenty of packages. I can still hear in my mind the squeak of cardboard boxes being squeezed together in a big belt jam, followed soon by the geyser of packing peanuts and merchandise on the warehouse floor. I didn't call them "Package Handlers", the official title. Instead I called them "Package Smashers".

It's repairable. Just kind of a bummer to see it damaged.

Post# 294537 , Reply# 5   8/20/2014 at 11:10 (3,529 days old) by luxy1205 (Wilmington, IL)        
Know the Feeling

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I bought an Electrolux model G from a member on here and the original back wheels were broken off and shattered beyond repair! There was one thin layer of deflated bubble wrap on it. It was also shipped next to another vacuum, so very tight fit package. I'm just upset that the original wheels are now garbage, history lost! Also upset because my husband had to buy me ugly replacement wheels that don't match! At least he restores cars for a living and can match the paint. Oh yeah, and the wheel shafts were bent too! My husband also is a metal fabricator so he re-straightened them! I feel so sorry for "Tealy" that he now lives in our bedroom with "Ollie" the Olympia One! :) -Michelle

Post# 294540 , Reply# 6   8/20/2014 at 11:34 (3,529 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Gr8DaneDad turned me on to Krylon Fusion paint for plastics. Great stuff. I bought a used vac I really wanted knowing the wheels were missing. Sears sells the correct replacement wheels but only in a dark charcoal gray. Some brown "Gloss Expresso" Krylon Fusion had them looking like freshly manufactured brown wheels in a jiffy.

My technique for repairing that broken handle will be to epoxy a plastic part inside the groove of handle bridging the crack to provide strength while putting just a smidge of epoxy into the crack itself. Not enough to squeeze out of the crack, just a hint of epoxy. Once good and hard, the technique for hiding the crack involves softening the surface plastic with some carb cleaner and dabbing it with the end of a clean paint brush. That will bring up a nice texture on the plastic and the softened plastic will flow into the crack and hide it. I can hide the repair inside the groove with some paint that matches the color of the vac. It's like my old skills from making plastic models as a kid are once again useful restoring old vacuum cleaners.

Post# 294543 , Reply# 7   8/20/2014 at 12:15 (3,529 days old) by bnsd60m9200 (Akron OH)        

bnsd60m9200's profile picture
Dircik, don't use epoxy. is DOES NOT BOND to that type of plastic these late 70's early 80's powermates are made of. my dupe 2997 had one of the fins crack. with epoxy it still fell right off. believe it or not, use testors model cement, itll actually melt and fuse the two parts back together. that worked fantastically.

Post# 294552 , Reply# 8   8/20/2014 at 14:02 (3,529 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Interesting. I was thinking exactly along those lines initially but hesitated thinking that since things like MEK and Diazanon have been banned probably model cement has been detoxified to the point of being useless. If it still melts plastic like the old days then it is indeed the way to go. Thanks for the tip.

Post# 294588 , Reply# 9   8/20/2014 at 17:29 (3,529 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        

super-sweeper's profile picture

Hey D.T, Your teacher in the ways of Kenmore LIVES in Florida! I wouldn't be talking bad about his beloved state! One day you might need wiring directions for one of your beloved cleaners.....Let's say i play the Revenge Card! "Connect motor black to power-nozzle neutral.....Cord hot to motor neutral.....", You might just need that fire extinguisher! But don't worry, I wouldn't intentionally cause the destruction of an old Kenmore.....or would I? tongue-out

 

Good luck in getting her back in shape, Be sure to write down the wiring diagram winklaughing
Post# 294594 , Reply# 10   8/20/2014 at 17:37 (3,529 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Tongue in cheek my friend. I lived in the Sunshine State for a while too. To use a local expression I still have some sand in my shoes. Work will eventually drag me back to Eglin AFB.

Anyhoo, I have already tested the effectiveness of the garage circuit breaker when I crossed some wires the first time I had the Avocado Bomber apart. Turn the vac on and the lights go out, heh, heh, heh. Whoops.

Post# 294596 , Reply# 11   8/20/2014 at 17:44 (3,529 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        

super-sweeper's profile picture

It's funny you mention that, I had my own Avocado Bomber blow a GFCI circuit when i tested it, I forgot what i wired wrong, all i heard was a circuit blowing and the fan slowly spinning to a halt! tongue-out

 

The thing runs great now, hasn't blown any more circuits yet! laughing

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