Kenmore (WhisperTone) Vacuum Question - 116-39189990

[launderess]

Have a Kenmore upright Whispertone vacuum, purchased around late 1990's and it is starting to give me problems.

First detected a burnt rubber smell during use, so turned off the unit and flipped it over to clean out the brush and such area. That still didn't solve the problem, and soon the unit began to switch itself off. Popped out the On/Off switch and cleaned some grease off, popped it back in, and got the unit to power on, but it stayed on. No big deal, just turned it off and on by plugging and unplugging. Now the darn thing won't turn on at all and am that ticked off.

Considering how little use the darn thing has had (we have mainly wood floors, so often use a swiffer instead of lugging a vaccum about), am not happy the thing is dying so young.

Can order a new switch from Sears PartsDirect, but wondering if that is the real problem. Don't wish to spend vast sums taking the thing in for repair if it is not really worth the bother. Thoughts?

If the unit is on it's way out, gives one an excuse to look for a Riccar, or vintage Hoover (Dial-A-Matic or Porta-Power comes to mind).*LOL*

L.

 

[petek]

Those Whispertones are made by Panasonic and highly reliable. Being a consumate vac collector I have about 8 varying models of the Panasonic. Usually a burning rubber smell indicates a worn out belt on the agitator but that wouldn't explain the power switch. Is the switch on handle under the grip or is it on the body of the vac? If you can get it fixed for around $30-$40 I'd go for it but if it's gonna cost more to have it done might be worth getting a new or vintage good vac. Can be tricky to take apart if you're not the handy type.

 

[launderess]

Thanks Pete!

Switch is on the body, am thinking the thing has simply worn out from use; the switch that is.

Darn thing is so heavy, and local vac repair closed up shop, so would have to lug it down town. Will contact the local Areus/Electrolux dealer down the street and see if he works on other models as well.

L.

PS

Love your Panasonic models! Was reading some of your posts regarding them in the Vacuumland archives. IIRC some Panasonic vacs were based on the Hoover DAM patents.

L

 

[petek]

Yep, from my understanding Hoover somewhat foolishly sold the Dial a Matic (clean air) design to Panasonic. However it is my humble opinion that the Hoover Concept One and Two and later essentially similar PowerMax upright which followed the Dial-a-Matic were the absolute finest machines they ever built if not the best cleaning upright ever built bar none. Noisiness aside that is.
Gotta be a vac shop somewheres around you. And btw none of my great condition Panasonics I got cost me more than $20 each at thrift stores etc. I seldom pay more than $20 for any vacuum I've ever bought so good deals are out there. Here's one of the two perfect working condition Electroluxes I've gotten in the past two weeks, this one I got this morning actually. All it needed was some spit and polish and it's now good for another 30 years.
Yikes I smell the anti-vac washer people a comin, better run LOL

 

[petek]

But not before I post the pic of the other Electrolux I got last week LOL

 

[petek]

Here's the switch available on Sears.com for $12.99

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/displayPartDetailAction.action?partNumber=4369051&productGroupId=0020&supplierId=116&brandId=x&documentId=P9120160&keySuffixId=NA&modelNumber=x&keyId=000010&pageId=00002&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=1163918

 

[launderess]

Thanks,

Contacted Sears already, was going to order but would take almost two weeks for the part to arrive. Also thought it may be best to make sure that the switch is the problem, before waiting two weeks without a vacuum, only to find out new switch or not, darn thing won't work.

L.

 

[launderess]

Checked local thrift shops today, and only came up with a vintage Eurkea "dirty bag" upright. Nice enough unit, and to it's credit, mainly metal underneath, but really prefer "clean air" designs to those that suck the dirt over the fan motor then into a bag, and also lack a HEPA filter.

Sooooo!

Took the Kenmore to a vac repair shop, and will wait to hear what they have to say.

Thanks all,

L.