Other than duct tape?

Kenmore's supplier/builder pulled a real boner with this hose which has rendered most Kenmores of this era essentially useless. Compounding the problem is the variations in hose end electrical connections that are incompatible with each other across the model line year to year.
Exclusive to Sears Kenmore apparently, I have not seen this particular lateral splitting on any other maker's hoses. But it is the most common condition you'll find on secondhand Kenmores - even the replacement hoses do this after a time. The hoses are noticeably stiffer and less flexible than one would expect, right out of the shipping carton. The double coils make them heavy.

The problem stems from the too-much-clay/vinyl mix extruded too tightly over the double excessively heavy stiff gauge wire coil and the visible lateral striations formed by the extrusion die.

There's really no point trying to tape it up attractively as fresh new splits will appear before you're done. The best you can do is tape it and use it until it falls apart. Meantime keep your eyes peeled for some other electric hose and perform a hose end transplant. Also not the easiest thing to do because the Kenmore ends do not open along seam lines - they are totally molded in place and the fittings are 'proprietary' at the swivel intake end.

I'm not precisely sure when these hoses were introduced (early 70s?) but I always see them on the white rounded compact tool-under-the-lid versions with the printing silkscreened in red beside a large 3 digit model number. When the coloured plastic larger Whispertone models came out a newer better colour-matched hose was supplied.
It's a gosh-darn shame since these smaller compact 'bean' Kenmores and their power nozzles are quite good.

I have several of them and only one has an intact hose. Interestingly, they are molded from white plastic but every one I've seen has yellowed on the exterior surfaces (surely not every one lived in a smoker's house ?)
Here's one that was left on my doorstep last week split only at the handle end...so far:


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Post# 146172 8/7/2011 at 13:44 (4,639 days old) by shag (Ontario, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Is there anyway to fix this hose? I always thought this Kenmore hose was so thick and heavy. I was suprised at how thin the covering is.

Post# 146175 , Reply# 1 8/7/2011 at 14:01 (4,639 days old) by twocvbloke ()
Checkrate/Likes Stuff like this perhaps?: CLICK HERE TO GO TO twocvbloke's LINK

Post# 146178 , Reply# 2 8/7/2011 at 14:45 (4,639 days old) by guardsman69 ()
Checkrate/Likes dear shag in order to repair that hose get a roll of white vinyl electrical tape and start on the molded end of the hose right where the hose starts... the secret is in the overlaps due it slowly and tightly untill you pass the tear white vinyl tape will look better and duct tape should never be used to repair a vacuum hose its cumbersome messey and does not seal.....remember shag overlap tightly and tape to tape contact dont pull on it when you finish just cut it with a siscors

Post# 146183 , Reply# 3 8/7/2011 at 15:07 (4,639 days old) by twocvbloke ()
Checkrate/Likes I wouldn't recommend electrical tape for anything, not even electrical connections, after a while it shrinks back to it's original shape, leaving behind the glue on the outer surfaces, ending up with a sticky mess that is not very nice, and believe me, I've pulled enough of the vile stuff off of wiring, even pretty recent wiring at that, to know how horrid the glue gets... :S Self-amalgamating tape and that "rescue tape" on the other hand are basically a synthetic rubber or plastic compound that bonds to itself forming an air and water tight seal on whatever you use it in (straight electrical connections, satellite cable plugs, car windscreen washer hoses, etc.), no leftover mess and no future problems with sticky residues... :)

Post# 146194 , Reply# 4 8/7/2011 at 16:23 (4,639 days old) by vacu-finder ()
Checkrate/Likes *Is there anyway to fix this hose?* I would say no don't do it...! On some hoses you can pull out, cut out the ripped portion from the hose cuff, cut off the damaged ends reattach the wires using special heavy gauge connectors, then use silicone or rubber glue and reinsert hose into the cuff. These wire connectors are non insulated.

Post# 146201 , Reply# 5 8/7/2011 at 17:26 (4,639 days old) by henry200 (Saint Paul MN)
Checkrate/Likes I've never seen a hose split like that. I've only ever seen them split following the spiral of the wire coil inside. Short of major surgery to cut off and reattach the hose to the ends I would vote for the Rescue Tape. One trick I found which helps is to secure the affected part of the hose between two vises. That way I have both hands free to wrap the tape around the hose.

Post# 146235 , Reply# 6 8/7/2011 at 20:54 (4,639 days old) by guardsman69 ()
Checkrate/Likes american electrical tape take the shape of the hose better and last a long time and give new life to what would be an unuseable vac....do te white tape with the shape of the hose it will bend and flex with it i have done it many times but remember start on the solid molded end and carry it to the soft vinyl that split through overlapping dont gunk it up with those other crazy tapes they will not seal

Post# 146255 , Reply# 7 8/7/2011 at 22:01 (4,639 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Kenmore's supplier/builder pulled a real boner with this hose which has rendered most Kenmores of this era essentially useless. Compounding the problem is the variations in hose end electrical connections that are incompatible with each other across the model line year to year. Exclusive to Sears Kenmore apparently, I have not seen this particular lateral splitting on any other maker's hoses. But it is the most common condition you'll find on secondhand Kenmores - even the replacement hoses do this after a time. The hoses are noticeably stiffer and less flexible than one would expect, right out of the shipping carton. The double coils make them heavy. The problem stems from the too-much-clay/vinyl mix extruded too tightly over the double excessively heavy stiff gauge wire coil and the visible lateral striations formed by the extrusion die. There's really no point trying to tape it up attractively as fresh new splits will appear before you're done. The best you can do is tape it and use it until it falls apart. Meantime keep your eyes peeled for some other electric hose and perform a hose end transplant. Also not the easiest thing to do because the Kenmore ends do not open along seam lines - they are totally molded in place and the fittings are 'proprietary' at the swivel intake end. I'm not precisely sure when these hoses were introduced (early 70s?) but I always see them on the white rounded compact tool-under-the-lid versions with the printing silkscreened in red beside a large 3 digit model number. When the coloured plastic larger Whispertone models came out a newer better colour-matched hose was supplied. It's a gosh-darn shame since these smaller compact 'bean' Kenmores and their power nozzles are quite good. I have several of them and only one has an intact hose. Interestingly, they are molded from white plastic but every one I've seen has yellowed on the exterior surfaces (surely not every one lived in a smoker's house ?) Here's one that was left on my doorstep last week split only at the handle end...so far:

Post# 146257 , Reply# 8 8/7/2011 at 22:06 (4,639 days old) by henry200 (Saint Paul MN)
Checkrate/Likes *I know, a stupid question* Why did Sears go to such an inferior hose? My aunt had a Kenmore Powermate cannister purchased in the 60's and the hose was still in perfect condition 30 years later when the vacuum was replaced.

Post# 146528 , Reply# 12 8/10/2011 at 14:20 (4,636 days old) by kenkart ()
Checkrate/Likes *Electrical tape...* Be sure to buy Scotch brand electrical tape, My Uncle has been an electrical contractor for over 50 years, and he says any other brand will indeed get sticky and shrink.

Post# 146530 , Reply# 13 8/10/2011 at 14:49 (4,636 days old) by whirlpolf ()
Checkrate/Likes *I'd probably* not tape it but cut it off entirely, then disassemble the handgrip and refit the (now somewhat shorter) hose. Dave, the one in your pic looks like a bondage version of a vacuum hose ;-)))) so black, so shiney and tightly bound in the most different spots gg Can it still move? It shouldn't, you know.

Post# 146260 , Reply# 9 8/7/2011 at 22:11 (4,639 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes another one more severely split and taped, showing the bizarre quick-connect fittings that mate with nothing else on the market. next to a Sanyo and Panasonic of the same era with no electric hose deterioration problems - still supple and easily connected through pigtail extensions.

Post# 146273 , Reply# 10 8/8/2011 at 06:40 (4,638 days old) by KirbyLover (Louisville Kentucky )
Checkrate/Likes It looks like it's mostly the ends of the hose are cracked I would see if it's possible to remove the end then cut the bad area of the hose off (assuming hose is long enough) then reattach them. Otherwise i'd be looking for some sort of replacement hose as I think using tape looks bad (ok maybe alright if it's one small crack or something).

Post# 146482 , Reply# 11 8/9/2011 at 21:50 (4,637 days old) by whirlsonicmore (South US)
Checkrate/Likes There is an aftermarket hose available for that front-mount type of hose. The handle is different though, and it uses generic pigtails at the ends for the electrical connections. As for the Kenmore with the top-mount hose, you can get a replacement Panasonic hose for a V9640. New hoses are kinda pricy, but they're still being made. Email me if you can't find any. I always have something around here for those older Kenmores.