Kenmore Direct Drive Issue

The problem this vacuum is having is the microswitch that shuts the powerhead off when upright & using tools. This vacuum would be at least 10, maybe even 11 years old by now, & like you said has seen lots of use.

My suggestion would be to tell your friend to pitch it or sell it for parts on Kijiji or Craigslist. The problem with the Kenmore Direct Drive uprights is this is a VERY complicated design, & frustrating to take apart & repair. If you do take it apart, expect to utter a few curse words putting it back together! Once dismantled, you could bypass the switch by removing it & connecting the 2 wires together, & tell your friend to use the brushroll on/off switch to turn the powerhead off when using tools to avoid carpet damage. That's all I would consider doing to this vacuum, it probably only has another 2 or 3 years left before it dies, & if it was taken for repair to Sears or a local shop, it's gonna cost at LEAST $50 to $70 to repair properly....not worth it for a upright of it's age.

What I would tell your friend to do is to buy a new Kenmore upright, the one in the link here. DO NOT let her buy a Kenmore Elite with the Direct Drive, as they will eventually have the same problem all over again. The newest Kenmore uprights have a lot more power than your friend's Progressive & the HEPA Filter on the exhaust is now encased in plastic, unlike the previous models encased in cardboard, & it is a sealed system now. Don't worry about the complaints about the short hose, I would bet there is likely a extension hose available thru Sears or you could go to a vac shop & get a extension hose for a Panasonic that will fit & work. This model avoids the Direct Drive, & replaces it with a V belt, traditional 2 motor upright design, much more durable & easier to take apart & repair when needed. The brushroll isn't quite as aggressive as the Elite, but the Elite is overkill & this Kenmore upright is every bit as aggressive as any other clean-air bagged upright out there.

If your friend is willing to spend a bit more & make a investment, a mid-line Riccar Vibrance or Simplicity Symmetry upright with a HEPA filter would be a good choice as well. Although it's a single-motor upright with a flat belt, you still have the brushroll shut-off option, self-sealing HEPA Cloth bags & a sealed HEPA Filter on the exhaust.

Hope this helps you out with your repair, & after all after how old this vacuum is, your friend surely deserves a new one by now.

Rob

CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbylux77's LINK


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Post# 345626 2/27/2016 at 16:47 (2,973 days old) by vacmaster (San Diego)
Checkrate/Likes Suggestions? CLICK HERE TO GO TO vacmaster's LINK

Post# 345661 , Reply# 1 2/28/2016 at 03:52 (2,972 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes Not only a problem with the brushroll motor-also sounds like the suction motor has dirty fans-the loud out of balance sound.

Post# 345687 , Reply# 2 2/28/2016 at 11:41 (2,972 days old) by vacmaster (San Diego)
Checkrate/Likes *Yes..* Definitely a suction motor issue, but the brush roll motor works, but only in that one position. After leaning it all the way flat, and going up to it. I think there could be an issue with the switch that actuates the electric motor in the brush, or the wiring is loose or worn somewhere because this vacuum has seen a lot of use.

Post# 345703 , Reply# 3 2/28/2016 at 14:15 (2,972 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes The problem this vacuum is having is the microswitch that shuts the powerhead off when upright & using tools. This vacuum would be at least 10, maybe even 11 years old by now, & like you said has seen lots of use. My suggestion would be to tell your friend to pitch it or sell it for parts on Kijiji or Craigslist. The problem with the Kenmore Direct Drive uprights is this is a VERY complicated design, & frustrating to take apart & repair. If you do take it apart, expect to utter a few curse words putting it back together! Once dismantled, you could bypass the switch by removing it & connecting the 2 wires together, & tell your friend to use the brushroll on/off switch to turn the powerhead off when using tools to avoid carpet damage. That's all I would consider doing to this vacuum, it probably only has another 2 or 3 years left before it dies, & if it was taken for repair to Sears or a local shop, it's gonna cost at LEAST $50 to $70 to repair properly....not worth it for a upright of it's age. What I would tell your friend to do is to buy a new Kenmore upright, the one in the link here. DO NOT let her buy a Kenmore Elite with the Direct Drive, as they will eventually have the same problem all over again. The newest Kenmore uprights have a lot more power than your friend's Progressive & the HEPA Filter on the exhaust is now encased in plastic, unlike the previous models encased in cardboard, & it is a sealed system now. Don't worry about the complaints about the short hose, I would bet there is likely a extension hose available thru Sears or you could go to a vac shop & get a extension hose for a Panasonic that will fit & work. This model avoids the Direct Drive, & replaces it with a V belt, traditional 2 motor upright design, much more durable & easier to take apart & repair when needed. The brushroll isn't quite as aggressive as the Elite, but the Elite is overkill & this Kenmore upright is every bit as aggressive as any other clean-air bagged upright out there. If your friend is willing to spend a bit more & make a investment, a mid-line Riccar Vibrance or Simplicity Symmetry upright with a HEPA filter would be a good choice as well. Although it's a single-motor upright with a flat belt, you still have the brushroll shut-off option, self-sealing HEPA Cloth bags & a sealed HEPA Filter on the exhaust. Hope this helps you out with your repair, & after all after how old this vacuum is, your friend surely deserves a new one by now. Rob CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbylux77's LINK

Post# 345719 , Reply# 4 2/28/2016 at 17:00 (2,972 days old) by Vacmaster (San Diego)
Checkrate/Likes So, I took it to the vacuum shop and they said it will probably cost more to fix than the vacuum is worth. The person deserves a new vacuum anyways. They will probably just get a new one