Hey! Nice pair.

[DesertTortoise]

Remember a few weeks back I made a sojourn south, first to my favorite vacuum shop in Lancaster where I rescued a Kenmore 4.5 canister from the junk pile for $25 and then traveled further south to buy a weird-Harold Kemore suction only canister that I had never seen before which was advertised on Craigslist? Dirt poured out on the table when I opened each of these for the first time. The blue one I had to shake out in the front yard of the seller before I would even put it in my car it was so full of dirt. The white one blew a huge cloud of dust out the back when we fired it up outside behind the vacuum shop that sold it to me.

Here are some before and after shots.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

Nice!

 

[suckolux]

Nice work

 

[DesertTortoise]

Looks like this weekend I am buying the another vac like the blue one, only this one is rated at 12 amps and is red. I found it in LA on Craigslist for $30. Until a few weeks ago I had never saw that particular model, didn't know it existed and now I know of two different versions. I'm interested to see what motor is in the 12 amp version.

It is suction only like the blue one, which is surprising for Sears to sell, but I have the parts to convert it to use a Powermate and the conversion is simple to do. It's two parts, the wire with the plug for the powered hose and a different piece called a "strike" to mount the bag carrier on that has a notch for the plug to slot into. You drill one small hole for the wire to pass from the vacuum compartment to the motor compartment (the hole is already scribed into the plastic), install the strike and plug, and twist two wires. Very easy and very tempting. I can do it while it's apart for cleaning. It does not alter the external appearance one bit unless you have a very sharp eye for these vacs and notice the two prong plug down in the recess for the hose.

Stay tuned kids!

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

All this Kenmore talk has got me interested... .like I need another brand to collect.

 

[DesertTortoise]

The 4.1 I bought from an eBay vendor that was her mom in law's vac showed up on my porch today. Same series as my gray 4.1 and white 4.5, but this one has a two speed motor. I thought I was getting her beat up old hose with it. That didn't materialize but she threw in the matching Powermate and wands, plus what has to be a fifty year old Sears (not Kenmore) carpet brush that has to predate the earliest Powermate. Ok, I'd call it even.

The canister is missing both rear wheels (did the mom drag it around or carry it by the handle?) It is probably supposed to have brown wheels, which will be very tough to find, so I may have to settle for tan ones for the time being. I can get those from Sweetsweep. This one is tan with brown trim and brown tools and very disco brown and orange graphics. It's grimy. The photos really don't show how much scrubbing this thing will require. I think the Powermate is cleaner than the rest of the vac. I put a hose on it and it has excellent suction. This one doesn't stink either.

Here's what $70 gets you.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

Sweet! Get the tan wheels and paint them with Kylon Fusion. I've had great success with it on all things plastic and it wears very well. The trick is a very good clean, light sanding for a good key and very light coats 15-20 minutes apart and a full 24 hours dry/cure time before installation and use. I've got correct color wheels on my Electrolux Automatic E thanks to Krylon and no sign of it wearing off after almost a year of moderate use.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Krylon paint. That one never crossed my mind. Great tip. Thanks.

Funny thing but this model vac, 116.2441081 is not shown in Sears Parts Direct. But, 116.2441084 is. Same vac? Someone at Sears fat fingered the model number? I dunno. Looks the same in the parts diagram but who knows?

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

Never underestimate Sears ability to market the same product with only minor changes as multiple products.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Kinda like Harley Davidson

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

and a few others....got to get us to by somehow.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Painting the wheels brown. What a great idea. This board is a wonderful thing!