Kenmore Professional 15 (Sebo)

[gmerkt]

Here's one I hadn't run across before. It's a Kenmore Model 119.31015 790, obviously made by Sebo. It came to me missing the dust compartment cover and I almost passed on it but decided to take it anyway for $4.

I won't be doing anything with this one. When I got home and started checking the Kenmore website re. parts, I quickly found that they are handsomely priced. The cover for the dust compartment costs $92 bare (without the small attaching parts and the bag dock). That motor filter that looks like a sock costs $39.50.

The machine runs well but the longer of two separate brush rolls has one of four locking lugs sheared off making the roll a bit loose, and a replacement brush costs $43. The Kenmore schematic is poor; but I don't see a separate (replaceable) part that could be changed on the brush roll.

The data decal on the bottom says "Made in Germany - motor made in USA" which may result from the machine needing a 120v motor rather than 240v.

Very nicely made machine; too bad it needs so many expensive parts.

 

[gmerkt]

Close-up of top of floor nozzle.

 

[jmurray01]

Looks good, but... What the hell is that thing in the bag compartment ?

I've never seen anything like that before!

 

[tolivac]

The thing in the bag compartment is a sock style filter-made of a Filtrete like material-prevents fines passing from the bag from getting into the motor and fans.Sebo vacuums are designed so you can't close the bag door unless the sock filter and bag are in place.The interesting and weird thing on Sebo uprights-the bag sort of "side fills".the filter comes in the Sebo bag pack-you replace the filter after using one box of bags.

 

[sebo_fan]

Thank you for putting a photo on. As a fan I've never seen the U.S Kenmore version before. But, regarding the filter, it isn't strictly true about the filter having to be in - though I wouldn't recommend it. Once you get a bag locked into the bin door, you can slip your finger at the side to push the filter retainer lock upwards before closing the door and locking it down. I've never tried it on my X models, but know of a friend who did and bin area soon became dirty with the dust that couldn't be filtered.

Of course it may be cheaper for you to source the parts from other countries. I'd urge you to keep it, because you could sell it later on as it is a rare Sebo in terms of if being sold through Sears/as a Kenmore that took the "Sovereign" name. Don't forget though - if you need parts you could always go down the Windsor vacuum route as they sell the same model - so look out for the parts you need there or call up a repairer and see what parts they have.

 

[sebo_fan]

Also here's the link to the PDF that shows a break down of the similar model, the SEBO XP2.
http://www.sebo.de/res/docs/eng/SPARE_PARTS_LIST_SEBO_AUTOMATIC_XP2.pdf

 

[mieles7]

I like that machine. Did Kenmore rebadge any other Sebos?

 

[sebo_fan]

There were two models that Kenmore sold, both I think in royal blue with dark grey trim. Kenmore Professional 12 and 15 dependent on the size of floor head. But I think they also sold an X1 Automatic under the "Sovereign" tag but I'm not so sure about this.

Also check out a previous post on here: http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?6517
Shows full model with the bag door added.

 

[ryry_87]

While we're on the subject...

Heres my Ensign Sensor 300 and Ensign Stealth 1. Both rebadged X1's made by the UK cleaning equipment supplier Johnson Diversey. previously known as Diversey Lever, Lever Industrial, Jeyes Hygiene, Reckitt & Coleman. Depending on the age of the machine lol the companies undergone several name changes over years but they're essentially the same

 

[gmerkt]

I'll probably hang onto this machine; my chances of running across another like it for a donor are next to nil; but I might be able to gather the necessary parts over time, here and there.

 

[alexhoovers94]

Ahh sebos x's, probably the best upright vacuum on the market today hands down, except for kirbys of course, well, they are in a different leauge.
I love sebo's they are good deep cleaners considering they are clean air.
I love my X4.

 

[jmurray01]

I remember until about 2008 the Argos catalogue had a Sebo in it, which I always thought of as a really old looking machine, compared to the other ones they had.

Of course, that was before I started collecting Vacuum Cleaners.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well the Sebo X was relatively late to Argos having already been on sale at Comet and Currys. Argos weren't the last to get Sebo though - that prize goes to Tesco. However, for those interested - John Lewis were fed up of buyers doing the "knowingly never undersold," challenge, which meant JL would have to pay the differences of cost per buyer if said buyer found a cheaper Sebo X4 elsewhere. That is why the Sebo X4 EXCEL exists, as it is the same machine but exclusive to John Lewis to stop the price pay outs. Likewise with all the X ranges, it's a classic design, not designed to be flash or anything but as you can see, this one has a blue/light silver contrast compared to the blue/orange X4 original.

 

[ryry_87]

I'm Pretty much brand new to Sebo. It was one of the few vacuums I'd never owned. Then I got given the Ensign Stealth 1, it had been in a damp garage for about 5 years and was missing almost everything but the motor. I spent a small fortune buying parts for it and slowly building it up and now it works perfectly! Despite being in that garage for so long, the motor is lovely. It's a real testament to their durability. After that I became a Sebo convert lol Im so impressed with them that in the last month I've acquired a 350, 360 Electronic, 2 X1's including a very early brown and cream one and another Ensign. I love them all lol

 

[blackheart]

Sebo Durability

The owner of the vacuum shop i go to told me that he has a customer who owns a carpet cleaning business that would go through a top of the line simplicity on a yearly basis he sold him a Sebo and it's been going for 7 years. I know first hand that the rebadged versamatics can take a lot of carelessness and abuse.

 

[sebo_fan]

Ryan - as you know me from Hooverland and a lot of my older posts exist on there under "ukvacfan" - I was very much the Hoover fan and took me a few years to get used to other brands. I'd say that Hooverland taught me a great deal and one member on there did advise to check out SEBO. After I discovered that my parents themselves had inherited a family owned SEBO X1 Auto, I really liked that machine. I'd still consider buying another even though they can't use the mini turbo brush on the hose - the only reason for going for the "stepped" X1.1 or X4. I've only used an X5 once and was very impressed with it for cleaning in hotels but found the floor head too big to cope with.

 

[ryry_87]

yeh the standard 300mm floorhead is more than enough, even the 360 is a little big really but luckily i've got quite a large carpeted living room so its not too bad. Really looking forward to getting my brown & cream X1, should be arriving very soon!

 

[uksausage]

hey ryan

hi ryan its good to see you in here finally hope your well i have 4 sebo uprights in the shed the older ones they all need stuff doing to them but im just well enough to do it you may be able to use them for spares there is a breand new cable on one brush rolls etc yours if you want them otherwise they prob go in the bin lol dean keeps telling me to clear out the crap i dont go near lol text me and let me know
dave
x

 

[sebo_fan]

I thought about getting the brown and cream one - I know of someone local who actually has one for commercial use in a residential home and wanted to swap it for one of my X4's but I'm getting to the stage now that really, I've moved on from the X1 after having a few for so many years. It is a good upright vacuum - a much easier and better step up from the Hoover Turbopower 2 U2464 I had. But I find not all X1's are the same.

Last year I repaired their all white 850 watt upright model and didn't like the power from it - I find the white ones are a bit underpowered compared to the 1000 watt black/grey X1's and on EBay, they're the ones owners tend to hang onto, though there are a few grey/black refurbished ones on at the moment.