calling all late 1970's kenmore powermate collectors, belt/ brushroll question!

[bnsd60m9200]

hey all, within the next week thanks to chad cunningham and bill edstrom, im going to be getting a near complete sears best kenmore powermate model 2997 pictured below that bill sent me photos of. with these power nozzles (like in the photo below) obviously the belts and beater bar brushrolls have been NLA from sears for some time.

what do you use for new belts, and can the original power heads have other brand brush strips used when the originals wear down? i want to keep the beater bar, but want to know what suggestions would be for brush bristles would be when they wear down.

 

[super-sweeper]

hi person!

I love my older Sears Kenmore Duo-Power, I find dirt-devil broom vac belts run awesome in the powermate, try the hand-vac belts if you must. Have you tried locating replacement brush strips for the newer 1990s Kenmore canisters? The brush-rolls are very similar.if not, Jimmy Martin in Tennessee had some donor models in his gigantic warehouse.

 

[rainbowd4c]

Wow that's wild. It's taken about exactly two years for that bad boy to resurface.  Two years ago I bid on this vacuum on Ebay.  This is exactly the model I want and have been looking for.  Bill out bid me and I changed my mind because it's missing the crevice tool, and the hood does not stay latched.  It is a beautiful machine and I hope you are very happy with it!!!


 


This is an amazing model and hopefully some day I'll get one!!!

 

[bnsd60m9200]

andy i won one that was just the cannister on ebay and the hose, the exact model but the tank is in pretty crappy cosmetic shape compared to the one Bill is shipping me. im gonna strip the only i currently have for spare parts and toss the crappy plastic vac case in the recycle bin.

you maybe have any idea about brush strips or powermate belts for this vintage?

 

[super-sweeper]

Besides the belts I mentioned above,

Try carefully trimming a modern-day power belt, like those designed for the Rainbow, and older Kenmore powermates that still used the wide,flat belt style.

 

[rainbowd4c]

Hi Will. 


 


Sadly I don't know much about any of the parts.  I have just always liked the model and have always wanted that model.  I can't answer any questions about the brushes or belts.  I am pretty sure that you can still get the belts and bags yet.  I have seen the models numbers at Sears for bags.

 

[stricklybojack]

I have that nearly model...

.
I bought it at a thrift store right near a vac shop. I took it into the vac shop for the
belt it so obviously needed and the technician measured and grabbed a commonly sold belt
and gave it a good stretch and I installed it. He said originals are NLA. May have been a Hoover Concept belt but I would have to check.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Are you sure the belts aren't available? Try putting your model number into Sears Parts Direct and see if they have belts. I know the bags are still available as Type E at most Sears stores, or can be ordered online. DVC makes generic ones available online and Arm & Hammer may still offer an allergen version also.

 

[stricklybojack]

Perhaps...

.
he said they no longer stocked them due to lack of business for the item.
I also bought bags online but I forgot the exact type designation.
They are micro- lined aftermarket, probably Envirocare brand.
I'm currently in NYC and the vac is in California so I can't be more specific.

 

[invective56]

7yo Thread!

Gotta love it! Just registered, my first contribution. I, too, have a Powermate 2997 that came with the 2818 powerhead (no circuit breaker button). I bought it as new (floor demo) during the summer of 1980. Has been faithful for 41 years.

Before I took delivery, the store had the beater bars/brushes/belt replaced, along with a package of new filter bags. Since then, I've replaced the beater bars/brushes once, belt twice, hose connection at the power head once, dust attachment once, vac hose twice, cord/reel once. Currently, I need a piece of hose for the swivel connection at the powerhead.

I would hope to find a source for obsolete parts for the 2997/2818, including filter bags. Just replaced the door switch/lid switch on my 18 and 20yo Kenmore laundry team, along with new knobs for the dryer. This team replaced a 25 and 27yo Kenmore team - my very first new appliance purchase. 20yo Kenmore Microwave Oven still working fine.

Some may be interested in my 1954 Kenmore Steam Iron I purchased off of eBay a couple of years back, still in its original carton, along with tags, literature and packing material. It was earmarked to sell through Simpson Sears. I use it on a regular basis along with my mom's 1957(?) ironing board.

Thanks again for allowing me the priviledge of posting here - hoping to make many solid contributions.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Bags for these are still readily available. Later on Sears changed the notation from 5033 to Type E bags. I used to still see them at Sears before they closed here, but you can find them on eBay under the Sears or UltraCare brands.

You might be able to find other parts like the brushes and hoses on there also, but I haven't looked for them specifically.

 

[invective56]

Vintage Kenmore Powermate Canister Vacs

fan-of fans:

Thanks for the info. One local shop recommended to me didn't return my call - will drive over at some point to see if he's open and available. Another local shop invited me by tomorrow at around noon as I'll be in the area. I feel like someone, somewhere is sitting on NOS for these devices. Now, just have to find them!

 

[tylerhawkins84]

Brush Strips

I am pretty sure these brush strips were the same or very similar used in newer Kenmore Power Mates up to the early 2000's, Royal, and Panasonic power nozzles used up to the same time period. The Royal part number was 1460625000 and were made by Matsushita (Panasonic). I got a couple NOS sets for my Royal tank as well as the edge clean piece before they seemed to disappear a few years ago. If you can find a gently used brushroll I have refurbished several by cleaning the strips with liquid laundry detergent and you can easily paint the wood with satin black spray paint once the brush inserts and beater bar have been removed to make it look near new again. Makes you wonder why Kenmore went away from this design with the replacement part with integrated brushes that cannot be changed out.

 

[vacman1961]

The duct hose that is in the neck of the Power Mate can be replaced with a Hoover genuine part, part number 43431196, it is the same diameter and length, I have used these many times to fix the old Kenmore.

 

[invective56]

Powermate 2997

Today’s project: Replace duct hose at Powerhead, reinstall lamp assembly and a good cleaning! Bought the black flexible hose and bulb from a local vacuum shop in recent days. Another issue that has been prevalent since day one is the powerhead plug has never locked into place at the wand connection - always held it by hand when vacuuming with the powerhead. Contacts need cleaning and will survey the area to drill/attach a screw? A couple of plastic pieces were broken off of the Powerhead so I reattched them with gorilla glue.

 

[invective56]

Easter Miracle!

I reassembled the Powerhead with the new elbow hose. Remounted the bulb socket and installed the new bulb. As good as new! Well, almost. Light cleanup removed the worst of the dust and grime. I honestly don’t remember when the powerhead lamp last worked.