Thread Number: 26414
KHDRC 4.1 two speed canister restoration 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 296049   8/29/2014 at 23:27 (3,526 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

The Kenmore High Desert Restoration Center is proud to announce the completion of the restoration of one of the more rare examples of this series of vacuums. This one is among the earliest of the first generation 5055 bagged machines, still sporting the cream and brown motif of the latter years of the final square 5023/5033 bagged Kenmore canisters. The tools are the modern style still sold today but brown rather than gray. 4.1 peak horsepower with two speeds. The original hose is cream colored, as are the ends. The hose itself is in tatters but the ends are good and the Kenmore High Desert Restoration Center is investigating the process for replacing hose material on hoses that use the old style straight nozzle end and cuffs rather than the more recent gas pump handle style nozzles.

The cord rewind button lock spring was missing and the part is no longer available. It is similar to a clothes pin spring and it mounts circumferentially with the left pivot of the locking cam. Lacking the spring, the cord would not remain pulled out. There was nothing to push the locking cam against the cord to stop the cord from retracting. The KHDRC had to innovate a little using a spring from a ball point pen, some zip ties and a couple of pieces of self adhesive foam (left over material from the gasket material on the dust bag mount) to trap the spring in the right spot of the locking cam to force the cam against the cord. In addition a cord release button spring from a Whispertone model is employed beneath this vacuums cord release button to supplement the ball point pen spring so the release button is not dragging on the release mechanism. Not pretty but when the right part is NLA, other solutions have to be found. It is invisible under the body work.

The vac was delivered to the KHDRC with no wheels and one of the wheel mounts was pushed in (look closely at the first image), making mounting a new wheel impossible. Kenmore no longer sells a brown replacement wheel, but they do sell the same wheel in dark charcoal gray plastic. The KHDRC used Krylon Fusion paint to paint charcoal gray wheels brown. A heat gun was used to soften the plastic and reform the damaged wheel mount. Foam was placed on the bag side of the bag mount, a feature these vacs were not delivered with. This part came later with the first of the HEPA bagged machines to better seal the bag to the bag mount. Since all vacuums with very rare exceptions leave the KHDRC with HEPA bags and upgraded filtration, this part was backfitted to this older model vacuum to minimize dust intrusion into the bag chamber, motor and motor compartment.

The following images document this refurbishment at the Kenmore High Desert Restoration Center. Enjoy!

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 20         View Full Size
Post# 296079 , Reply# 1   8/30/2014 at 08:33 (3,525 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Nice work! I enjoyed that style machine, like its sleek looks

Post# 296080 , Reply# 2   8/30/2014 at 09:22 (3,525 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        

eurekastar's profile picture

Very nice!  I love it!  smile
Post# 296087 , Reply# 3   8/30/2014 at 11:37 (3,525 days old) by Gr8DaneDad ()        

Very Nice D-T!!
Post# 296101 , Reply# 4   8/30/2014 at 13:13 (3,525 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

A Panasonic Jet Flo is due in the facility next week. We're branching out a bit.

Post# 296117 , Reply# 5   8/30/2014 at 14:09 (3,525 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

I didn't mention this vac has a matte surface finish rather than high gloss like the other vacs I've restored. You can't polish it out and it's tough to clean. The color also makes it a dirt magnet and every little smudge shows up like a beacon in the night.


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