Kenmore 116.31189, 116.38199, 116.38413, 116.39189 Owner's Manual

Owner's Manual

Vacuum Cleaner

Model 116.31189

116.38199

116.38413

116.39189

CAUTION:

Read and follow all

safety and operating
instructions before first

use of this product°

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

Part No_CO1ZASX00U00-4370818 Printed in U.S.A.

Before Using Your New Vacuum ...... 2

KenmoreVacuum CleanerWarranty , 2

Important Safety Instructions .......... 3

Parts and Features ........................ 4

Assembly Instructions ..................... 5-6

Operating Instructions .................. 6

Pile HeightSelection and Setting ......... 7

Carpet/Bare Floor Selector ............... 7

Reteasing the Handle ................... 8

On/Off Switch .... .......................... 8

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

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

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

Performance Features .................... 11

Vacuum Cleaner Care ............. 12

Vacuum Storage .......................... 12

Cleaning Exterior and Attachments ...... 12

Dust Bag Chang}ng ............... 13

Motor Safety Filter Cleaning .......... 14-I 5

Exhaust Filter Cleaning .................. 15

Belt Changing and Agitator Cleaning .16-18

Clog Removal ............. ........... 19

Light Bulb Changing ................. 20

Agitator Servicing ........................ 21

Agitator Assembly ..................... 21

Troubleshooting ......................... 22

Requesting Assistance Or Service .... 23

Please read this guide. It wilt 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 Piate.
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,

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

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 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-

gingo
Do not unplug by pulling on cord. To

unplug, grasp the plug, not the cord.
Do not use with damaged cord or plugo If

cleaner is not working as it should, has
been dropped, damaged, left outdoors, or
dropped into water, return it to a Sears
Service CentedDepartmenL

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 chitdren_

Do not handle plug or cleaner with ,,vet

hands.

Do not put any objects into openings°

SAVE

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 bag

and/or filters in place.
Always change the dust bag after vacu-

uming carpet cleaners or freshener, pow-
ders and fine dusL These products clog
the bag, reduce airflow and can cause
the bag to burst° Failure to change bag

could cause permanent damage to the
cleaner._

Do not use the cleaner to pick up sharp

hard objects, small toys, pins, paper, 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,1
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.

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 specia! 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 iiiiiiiiiiiiii i iiii ii]11]1 i iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii i IIIIIIIHIIIIIII

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

Dust Bag 20-50688 20-50680

Ueadiight Bulb 20-52'40 20-40600 ........

20-5275 20-40096

Belt J__

Quick Release
Cord Hook _

Power Cord

Handlj-----*

On/Off Switch
Handle Mounted

(Some Models)

On/Off Swftch
Body Mounted
(Some Models)

Bag Cowr_

Release

Performance /_I._

Indicator
(Some Models)

Bag Cover _ -_

Exhaust Panel

Lower

Lever

Carry Hai

Telescoping
Wand

Clean-Out
Port Cover

Dusting
Brush

Upholstery /

Tool

Furniture

Nozzle

Headlight

Ready-to.Use
Swivel Hose

Stretch Hose

Belt

Carpet/Bare

Floor Selector
(Some Models)

Base
Plate

Handle
Release
Pedal

Model/Serial
Numbers

Agitator

4

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.

WARNING

Electrical Shock Hazard
Do not plug into the electrical sup-

ply until the assembly is complete°
Failure to do so could result in

electrical shock or injury.

i i ,1111

HANDLE ASSEMBLY

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

Handle

!

Cord

Hooks

Hole

for Handle

Screw
Hole

Back of
Vacuum
Cleaner

'Handle

Remove the screw located just below the
carry handle on the back side of the
vacuum,,

Position the handle so the cord hooks are
toward the back of the cleaner.

Insert the handle into the opening at the
top of the vacuum,

Align the screw
hole in the handle

\\

with the screw hole
in the vacuum. Cord

Insert the screw so ... It/Hooks
it passes through

!,y

the back of the
vacuum into the
handle_

Begin to tighten
the screw with your
fingers, It may be
necessary to
adjust the handle
slightly

Handle
Screw
Hole

Carry Handle

Using a _kk,,_O_
screwdriver, _ -_//
tighten ...[J. X]J_

tshceew., f "

CAUTION

Do not overtighten.

Overtightening could strip the
screw holes,

Do not operate the cleaner without

the screw in place,

IIIHtlJI

CORD ASSEMBLY

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

upper cord hook
as shown° This

helps keep the

power cord out
from under the
vacuum cleaner

agitator..

/

Power

Cord i

Quick
Release Cord
Hook

Power

Lower Cord
Hook

Wrap the
power cord
around the

quick release
and lower
cord hooks

and tock the
power cord

plug onto the
power cord°

HOW TO START

1. Turn the

quick
release cord
hook to

either side
and down to
release the

power cord°

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 lock in

the quick release cord hook.

3. Check to see if the cleaner has bag
installed,, See DUST BAG CHANGING°

NOTE: To reduce the risk of electric
shock, this vacuum cleaner has a polar-

ized 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 plugo If it still
does not fit, contact a qualified technician
to install the proper outlet,. Do not change
the plug in any way,,

4. Plug the polarized power cord into a
120 Volt outlet located near the fioor.,

WARNING

Personal Injury and Product Damage
Hazard

• DO NOT plug in if switch is in the ON
position. Personal injury or damage

could result.
° DO NOT use outlets above counters.
Damage to items in surrounding area

could occur.

To select a pile height setting:

Turn off cleaner. Select a pile height set-
ting by tilting the cleaner back until front
wheels are lifted slightly off the floor as

illustrated.
Slide the adjustment lever to the correct

setting..

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 set-
tings are:

HIGH: shag carpet, long pile, plush, scat-

ter rugs..

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

WARNING

Personal Injury Hazard
DO NOT place hands or feet

underneath the unit when chang-
ing from the bare floor to the car-
pet pile height setting. The agitator
begins to revolve rapidly when the

vacuum is turned on and is in the
carpet setting.

i , i,i

SOME MODELS

Bare floor setting: Rotate the
carpet!bare floor selector all the way back
and down toward the bottom of the nozzle

until it locks into place.
In this position the agitator 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 agitator will turn_

When carpets are being cleaned the

selector should be in this position°

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 posi-

tion. 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/Bare

Floor Selector

To Bare

Position

\

To Carpet

Position