Kenmore 116.31732 User Manual

Owner's Manual

Vacuum Cleaner

Model 116.31722

116.31732

CAUTION:

Read and follow all
safety and operating

instructionsbefore first
use of this product.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.
www.sears.com

PART NO. CO1ZBFE1_IUa(_-8191585 Printed in U.S.A.

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 ............... 6

Pile Height Selection and Setting ........ 7

Carpet]Bare Floor Selector ............ 7

Releasing the Handle ................. 8

ON/OFF Switch ..................... 8

Attachments ..................... 8-10

Attachment Use Chart ............... 10

Vacuuming Tips .................... 11

Performance Features ............. 11-12

Vacuum Cleaner Care ............... 13

Vacuum Storage ................... 13

Cleaning Exterior and Attachments ..... 13

Dust Bin Cleaning .................. 14

Filter Changing/Cleaning ........... 15-16

Belt Changing and Agitator Cleaning . . 17-19

Clog Removal ..................... 20

Light Bulb Changing ................. 21

Agitator Servicing ................... 22

Agitator Assembly .................. 22

Troubleshooting .................... 23

Requesting Assistance Or Service ... 24

Please read this guide. It will help you assemble and operate your new Kenmore vacuum in
the safest and most effective way.

For more intormationabout 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 Plale.

Use the space below to record the model number and serial number of your new Kenmore

vacuum.

Model No.

Serial No.

Date of Purchase

Keep this book and your sales check (receipt) in a safe place for future reference.

FULL ONE-YEAR WARRANTY
When used for private householdpurposes, if withinone year from the date of purchase, this

vacuum cleaner fails dueto a defect in material or workmanship, RETURN ITTOTHE

NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTEPJDEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, and Sears

will repair it free of charge.
This wananty gives you specific legal rights,and you may also have other rightswhich vary

t_omstate to state.

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO., D/817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

VV, WARNING

Your safety is important to us, To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, injury

to persons or damage when using your vacuum cleaner, follow basic safety pre-

cautions including the following:

Read this manual before assembling or
using yourvacuum cleaner.

Use yourcleaner only as described in
this manual. Use onlywith 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 resultinelectrical shockor 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, lelt outdoors, or
dropped into water, return it to a Sears
Service Center/Department.

Do not pull or carry by cord, use cord as
a handle, close door on cord, or pull cord

around sharp edges or cornors. Do nol.
lun cleaner over cord. Keep cord away

from heated surfaces.

Do not leave cleaner when plugged in.

Unplugfrom 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 fil-

ters, reduce airflow and can cause dam-
age to the cleaner, Failure to clean the

dust bin could cause permanent damage
to the cleaner.

Do not use the cleaner to pick up sharp
hard objecls, smnll toys, pins, paper

clips, etc. They may damage the cleaner

or dust bin.

Do not pick up anything that is burning
or smoking, such as cigarettes, matches,

or hot ashes.

DO not use C_O[L/!OI" 10 pick tip [lalnlllat_lo

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.

Itisimportanttoknowyourvacuumcleaner'spartsandfeaturestoassureitsproperandsafe
use.Reviewthesebeforeusingyourcleaner.

Item Part No. Part No.

In U.S. In Canada
Exhaust Filter 20-86889 20-86889C
Headlight Bulb 20-5240 20-40600

Belt 20-5275 20-40096

Primary Filter

Cleaning Knob

Switch

Dirt Sensor

(Some Models)

Quick Release

Power Cord-

Lower

Cord Hooks

Carry
Handle _

Crevice _=
Tool

Telescoping

Brush _

Combination

Brush

Ptinaary
Filter •

(inside) /

Nozzle

Cover

Height

Adjustment

Lever

Nozzle

-- Ready-to-Use

Swivel Hose

Stretch Hose

Dust Bin

Release

Dust

Headlight (Underneath)

Spare Belt
(Underneath Nozzle Cover,

Behind Height Adjust Assembly)

EXTENSION HOSE KITS

SOME MODELS

Extension Hose

Indicator
(Some Models)

(Inside)

Floor Selector

Cover

Latch

Base

Release F

Handle

Pedal

ModeUSeHal

Numbers

Agitator
(Underneath)

_.._ SOME MODELS

_-D _ Adoptor

Floor arushwand

l

Q

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

Before assembling your vacuum cleaner, be
sure you have all the parts as shown in

PARTS AND FEATURES.

Position the handle as shown in the illustra-
tionbelow.

Slide the handle into the opening at the top
of tile vacuurn.

Remove the screw located just below the

top edge of the back of the vacuum.

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,

Usingascrew-
driver,tighten

thescrew.

CAUTION

Do not overtighten.

Overtightening could strip the screw

holes.

Do not operate the cleaner without
the screw in place.

CORD ASSEMBLY

Make sure the quick release upper cord

hook is in the upright position, Remove the

wire tie from the power cord.

Lock Ihe cord Into
place by forcing it

into the locking
notch on the body of
the quick release
upper cord hook as
shown. This helps
keep the power cord

out from under the
vacuum cleaner agi-

tator,

Wrap the power cord around the upper
lower cord hooks and lock the power cot

plug onto the power cord.

Quick Release

Upper Cord
Hook

Lower

Cord
Hooks

IlK

HOW TO START

I/Quick Release
_" Upper Cord

Release the power cord plug from the
power cord and pull the cord off the quick

release upper cord hook. Check to be sure
the power cord is still locked into the lock in
the quick release upper cord hook.

NOTE: To reduce the risk of electric shock,

this vacuum cleaner has a polarized plug,
one blade is wider than the other.

Turn the quick
release upper

cord hook to
either side

and down to
release the

power cord.

This plug will fit in a polarized outlet only
one way.If the plug does not fit fully in th

outlet, reverse the plug. If it stilldoes not

contact a qualified technician to install th
proper outlet. Do not change the plug in

way,
Plug the polarized power cord into a 120

Volt outlet located near the floor.

:WARNING

ersonal Injury and Product Dama_

Hezerd

• DO NOT plug in if switch is in the
ON position. Personal injury or dan
age could result.

• DO NOT use outlets above coun-
ters. Damage to items in surroundin

area could occur.

Toselectapileheightsetting:

Turn off cleaner. Select a pile height setting
by tilting the cleaner back untilfront wheels
are lifted slightly off the floor as illustrated.

Slide the adjustment lever to the correct
setting.

SUGGESTED PILE HEIGHT SE'N'INGS

You may need to raise the height to make
some jobs easier, such as scatter rugs and

longer pile carpets. Suggested settings are:
HIGH: shag carpet, long pile, plush, scatter

rugs.
MED: medium to long pile.

LOW: short to medium pile.
EX LOW: very low pile.

SOME MODELS

Bare floor setting: Slide the carpet]bare
floor selector all the way back and down

toward the bottom of the nozzle untilit locks
into place.

In this position the brush assembly does not
revolve. This setting should be used for
cleaning hardwood and tile floors and when

any attachments (tools) are used.
Carpet setting: Slide the selector all the

way forward and up to the carpet
position.

In this position the brush assembly wilLturn.

When carpets are being cleaned the selec-
tor should be in this position.

Attention: Refer to your carpet manufac-
turers cleaning recommendations. Some

more delicate carpets may require that they
be vacuumed with the agitator turned off, to

prevent carpet damage.

iiiiiiii?!i!ili ¸

I 'WARNING

Personal Injury Hazard
DO NOT place hands or feet under-

neath the unit when changing from

the bare floor to the carpet pile

height setting,The agitator begins

to revolve rapidly when the vacuum

is turned on and is in the carpet set-

ting,

! CAUTION

Do not allow vacuum cleaner to
remain in one spot for any length of

time when the agitator Is turning.

Damage to carpet may occur,

Note: For longer belt life, turn vacuum off
before moving selector, otherwise make sure

the selector is pushed fully and quickly as
possible to the desired position. Failure to

do so can cause the belt to rub on the
selector shaft and may result in the belt

becoming hot and creating a burning rubber
smell.

Carpet/Bat_

Floor Selector

To Carpet
Position

To Bare Floor

Position

\

Release the handle by pressing down on
the handle release pedal with your foot and
pulling back and down on the handle with

your hand.

HANDLE MOUNTED

SOME MODELS

To start the vacuum cleaner, slide the
On/Off switch trorn the OFF positiof'L to the

ON position. To stop the vacuum cleaner,
slide (he OnOff switch 1o Illo OFF position.

Crevice

Dusting • Stretch

Combination

Identify each of the attachments shown

above.

Hose

Hose

TO USE ATI'ACHMENTS:

Place the carpet/bare floor selector in the
bare floor setting by rotating the selector
back and down to the bare floor setting.

See CARPET/BARE FLOOR SELECTOR
seclion.

When returning the bare lioor selector to
the carpet setting, use caution as the selec-

tor can move quickly to that setting due to
tension created by the belt.

Remove the lower end of the stretch hose
from the cleaner by grasping the hose co1-

lar, twisting and pulling straight out. The
attachments can now be added to the hose.

NOTE: The motor protector may open when
using attachments or when cleaning new
carpet, due to reduced airflow by the attach-
ments themselves or by new carpet fuzz fill-
ing the dust bin quickly. See the

TROUBLESHOOTING section.

! WARNING

Electrical Shock And Personal Injury
Hazard

Disconnect electrical supply before
servicing or cleaning the unit.

Failure to do so could result in elec-
trical shock or personal injury from

cleaner suddenly starting.