Kenmore 116.31721 User Manual
Owner's Manual
_®
Vacuum Cleaner
Model 116.31720
116.31721
CAUTION:
Read and follow att
safety and operating
instructions before first
use of this product.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.
www.sears.com
Part No. CO1ZBJBODUOO-8191917 Printed in UoSAo
Before Using Your New Vacuum ....... 2
Kenmore Vacuum Cleaner Warranty .., 2
Important Safety Instructions ............. 3
Parts and Features ........................ 4
Assembly Instructions .................. 5-6
Operating Instructions ................... 7
Pile Height Selection and Setting .......... 7
Releasing the Handle ................... 8
ON/OFF Switch ......................... 8
Attachments .......................... 9-10
Attachment Use Chart ................. 10
Vacuuming Tips ..................... 11
Performance Features .................. 11
Vacuum Cleaner Care ...................... 12
Vacuum Storage ...................... 12
Cleaning Exterior and Attachments ...... 12
Dust Bin Cleaning ................ 13-14
Secondary Filter Cleaning ................. 14
Filter Changing/Cleaning .................... 15
Belt Changing and Agitator Cleaning • 16-t7
Clog Removal ........................ t8
Motor Protector ...................... 18
Light Bulb Changing .................... 19
Agitator Servicing .................. 20
Agitator Assembly ...................... 20
Troubleshooting ......................... 21
Requesting Assistance Or Service ... 22
Please read this guide It will help you assemble and operate your new Kenmore vacuum in
the safest and most effective way.
For more information about the care and operation, call your nearest Sears store. You will
need the complete model and serial numbers when requesting information° Your vacuum's
model and serial numbers are located on the Model and Serial Number Plate.
Use the space below to record the model number and serial number of your new Kenmore
vacuum.
Model Noo
Serial Noo
Date of Purchase
Keep this book and your sales check (receipt) in a safe place for future reference.
LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON KENMORE VACUUM CLEANER
This warranty is for one year from the date of purchase, and includes only private household
vacuum cleaner use. During the warranty year, when this vacuum cleaner is operated and
maintained according to the owner's manual instructions, Sears will repair any defects in
material or workmanship free of charge.
This warranty excludes vacuum bags, belts, light bulbs, and filters, which are expendable parts
and become worn during normal use.
For warranty service, return this vacuum cleaner to the nearest Sears Service Center in
the United States.
This warranty applies only while this product is in use in the United States_ This warranty gives
you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state°
Sears, Roebuck and Co., D/817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
Yoursafety is important to us, To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, injury
to persons or damage when using your vacuum cleaner, foI!ow basic safety pre-
cautions including the following:
Read this manual before assembling or
using your vacuum cleaner.
Use your cleaner only as described in
this manual. Use only with Sears recom-
mended attachments.
To reduce the risk of electrical shock -
Do not use outdoors or on wet surfaces.
Disconnect electrical supply before any
servicing or cleaning. Failure to do so
could result in electrical shock or person-
al injury.
Always turn cleaner off before unplug-
ging.
Do not unplug by pulling on cord. To
unplug, grasp the plug, not the cord
Do not use with damaged cord or plug. If
cleaner is not working as it should, has
been dropped, damaged, left outdoors, or
dropped into water, return it to a Sears
Service Center/Departmento
Do not pull or carry by cord, use cord as
a handle, close door on cord, or pull cord
around sharp edges or corners. Do not
run cleaner over cord. Keep cord away
from heated surfaces,
Do not leave cleaner when plugged in.
Unplug from outlet when not in use and
before servicing.
Do not allow to be used as a toy Close
attention is necessary when used by or
near children.
Do not handle plug or cleaner with wet
hands.
Do not put any objects into openings.
Do not use with any opening blocked;
keep free of dust, lint, hair and anything
that may reduce air flow.
Keep hair, loose clothing, fingers, and all
parts of body away from openings and
moving parts.
Do not use cleaner without dust bin
and!or filters in place.
Always clean the dust bin after vacuum-
ing carpet cleaners or freshener, powders
and fine dust. These products clog the fif-
ters, reduce airflow and can cause the
bag to burst. Failure to clean the dust bin
could cause permanent damage to the
cleaner.
Do not use the cleaner to pick up sharp
hard objects, small toys, pins, paper
clips, etc. They may damage the cleaner
or dust bag.
Do not pick up anything that is burning
or smoking, such as cigarettes, matches,
or hot ashes°
Do not use cleaner to pick up flammable
or combustible liquids (gasoline, cleaning
fluids, perfumes, etc.), or use in areas
where they may be present. The fumes
from these substances can create a fire
hazard or explosion.
Use extra care when cleaning on stairs.
Do not put on chairs, tables, etc. Keep
on floor.
You are responsible for making sure that
your vacuum cleaner is not used by any-
one unable to operate it properly.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Proper assembly and safe use of your vacuum cleaner are your responsibilities° Your
cleaner is intended only for household use. Read this Owner's Manual carefully for
important use and safety information. This guide contains safety statements under
warning and caution symbols_ Please pay special attention to these boxes and follow
any instructions given. WARNING statements alert you to such dangers as fire, electri-
cal shock, burns and personal injury CAUTION statements alert you to such dangers
as personal injury and/or property damage.
i I'IlUHHII IIII I ulnnllllll ,, IlUlHHII
3
It is important to know your vacuum cleaner parts and features to assure its proper and safe
use° Review these before using your cleaner.
Item Part No. Part No.
In U.S. In Canada
Primary Filter 20-50722
Exhaust Filter 20-86889
Headlight Bulb 20-5240
Belt 20-5275
Hose
Primary
Filter
Cleaning
Knob
\.
Dust Bin
Release
Handle
Primary
Filter
(Inside)
Height
Adjustment
Lever (Some
\
Nozzle
Cover
Bin
• Exhaust
Filter
(inside)
Headlight
(Some
Models)
20-50722C
20-86889C
2O-40600
20-40096
Wand-_ 27 tabs
Power
Handle
Suction
Inlet
On/Off
Switch
Handle_
\
(Some
Models)
".,..
Model!Serial Hose
Numbers
ATTACHMENTS
Wand (Some Models, Qty_1 or 2)
Hose
Holder
Cord Hook
Brush
Wand
Retainer/
Carry Handle
Crevice
Toot
Motor
Protector
Short
Furniture
Guard
Nozzle Cover
Retainers
Nozzle
Base
Dusting Brush
(Some Modets) _ Adaptor _-_
/2 J (Some Models)
Combination Brush (Some Models) F__.___.
Extension Hose (Some Models) _"$-_'_
I
f Floor Brush
Crevice Tool
Before assembling vacuum, check the
PACKING LIST on the cover of the separate
Repair Parts List_ Use this list to verify that
you have received all the components of
your new Kenmore vacuum.
Position the handle as shown in the illustra-
tion below,
While holding the power cord out of the way,
slide the handle into the opening at the top
of the vacuum°
R
WARNING
Electrical Shock Hazard
Do not plug into the electrical sup-
ply until the assembly is complete.
Failure to do so could result in elec-
trical shock or injury.
HANDLE ASSEMBLY
Remove the screw located just below the
top edge of the back of the vacuum.
Hand_
Handle
Screw
Hole
Insert the screw so it passes through the
handle into the vacuum°
Begin to tighten the screw with your fingers.
It may be necessary to adjust the handle
slightly,
CAUTION
ATTACHMENT
ASSEMBLY
Do not overtighten.
Overtightening could strip the screw
holes.
Do not operate the cleaner without
the screw in place.
Using a
screwdriver,
tighten the
screw,
CORD ASSEMBLY
After the handle has been assembled to the
body and the power cord has been wrapped
around the cord hooks, the attachments can
be assembled.
1. Snap the suction inlet end of the hose
into the back of the vacuum cleaner.
2. Place the hose behind the handle and
over the hose holder_
3. Place the hose in the front slot of the
tool holder, twisting and pushing down over
the short hose to assure a good connection.
4. Place the extension wand in the rear slot
of the tool holder,
5. Slide the crevice tool into the slot beside
the wand.
6. Place the dusting brush or combination
brush on the wand with the brush portion
up.
Make sure the quick release cord hook is in
the upright position, Remove the wire tie
from the power cord.
Lock the cord into
place by forcing it
into the locking
notch on the body
of the quick
Notch
release cord hook
as shown° This
helps keep the
power cord out
from under the
vacuum cleaner
agitator,
Wrap the
power cord
around the
Quick Release
Cord Hook.-..
quick release
cord hook
and lower
Power
Lower Cord
Retainer.,..
cord retainer,
then lock the
power cord
plug onto the
power cord.
®
Handle]
Suction
Inlet
Tool
Holdei
Hose
HoMer
Dusting
Brush
Extension
Wand
Tool
Hose
HOW TO START
1. Turn the
JF ,,ok
", Releasl_ok
2. Release the power cord plug from the
power cord and pull the cord off the quick
release cord hook° Check to be sure the
power cord is still locked into the locking
notch in the quick release cord hook,
NOTE: To reduce the risk of electric shock,
this vacuum cleaner has a polarized plug,
one blade is wider than the other,, This plug
will fit in a polarized outlet only one way, If
the plug does not fit fully in the outlet,
reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, con-
tact a qualified technician to install the prop-
er outletr DO not change the plug in any
way_
quick release
cord hook to
either side and
down to
release the
power cord,
• WARNING
!
Personal Injury and Product Damage
Hazard
• DO NOT plug in if switch is in the
ON position. Personal injury or dam-
age could result.
• DO NOT use outlets above coun-
ters. Damage to items in surrounding
area could occur.
3. Plug the polarized power cord into a 120
Volt outlet located near the floor.
SOME MODELS
To select a pile height setting:
Turn off cleaner. Select a pile height setting
by tilting the cleaner back until front wheels
are lifted slightly off the floor as illustrated,
Slide the adjustment lever to the correct
setting,,
Models with no selector adjust automatically
for varying carpet heights_
SUGGESTED PILE HEIGHT SETTINGS
You may need to raise the height to make
some jobs easier, such as scatter rugs and
longer pile carpets. Suggested settings are:
Models with two (2) positions:
HIGH: medium to long pile.
LOW: short to medium pile_
Models with four (4) positions:
HIGH: shag carpet, long pile, plush, scatter
rugs
MED: medium to long pile.
LOW: short to medium pileo
EX LOW: very low pile.
Place unit in "HIGH" when using attach-
ments to prevent possible floor damage.
A'R'ENTION: Special care is required when
vacuuming certain types of carpet of floor
covering.. Always check the carpet or floor
covering manufacturer's recommended
cleaning instructions before vacuuming,,
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