Kenmore 116.38512 User manual

Owner's Manual
Vacuum Cleaner
Model 116.38512
116.38613
116.38812
116.38912
116.39512
116.39612
116.39712
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.
www.sears.com
Part No. COIZAMA3_UO{D-437_827 Printed in tlSA.

Before Using Your New Vacuum ....... 2
Kenmore Vacuum Cleaner Warranty ,,o 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 ............. 1t .12
Vacuum Cleaner Care ................. 13
Vacuum Storage .......................... 13
Cleaning Exterior and Attachments ..... 13
Dust Bag Changing ................... 14
Fitter Changing ................... I5
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 will help you assemble and operate your new Kenmore vacuum in
the safest and most effective way.
For more information about vacuum cleaner care and operation, call your nearest Sears store°
You will need the complete model and serial numbers when requesting information. Your vacu-
um's model and serial numbers are located on the Model and Serial Number Plate.
Use the space be!ow 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..
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
2

n
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-
ging.
Do not unplug by pulling on cord. To
unptug, 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, left outdoors, or
dropped into water, return it to a Sears
Service Center.
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 children.
Do not handle plug or cleaner withwet
hands,
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 dust. 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_r),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-
Do not put any objects into openings, one unable to operate it properly.
SAVE THESE NSTRUCTIONS
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_
i i i i ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , ...........................
3

It is important to know your vacuum cleaner's 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 20-50690 20-50690C
, ,,, ,
Headlight Bulb 20-5240 20-40600
Belt 20-5275 2040096
Exhaust Filter 20-86881 .............20-86881C
Motor Safety Filter 20-86884 20-86884C
On/Off
Switch
Sensor
I(Some Models)
Performance
Indicator
(Some Models)
Quick Release
Powe
Lower
Cord Hooks
Carry
Crevice
Tool --_
Telescoping
Dusting
Brush
Combination
Brush
Handle
Release
Pedal
Model/Serial
Numbers
ll li Swivel Hose
Stretch Hose
Motor
Protector
Agitator
(Underneath)
Floor Selector
Nozzle
Cover
Latch
Base
Headlight (Underneath)
Spare Belt
(Underneath Nozzle Cover,
Behind Height Adjust Assembly)
EXTENSION HOSE KITS
SOME MODELS
Extension Hose
._SOME MODELS
_T_ Adaptor
toor BrUShan d
4

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°
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_
Remove the tape located below the dust
cover/filter cover on the motor case.
Tape
Attach
stretch hose
end to nozzle
as shown_
HANDLE ASSEMBLY
Remove the screw located just below the
top edge of the back of the vacuum°
Position the handle as shown in the illustra-
tionbelow_
Slide the handle into the opening at the top
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.

Usinga
screwdriver,
tightenthe
screw.
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 the 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
agitator.
Lock#
Power
Wrap the power cord around the upper
and lower cord hooks and lock the power
cord plug onto the power cord.
Uppe_Cord
Hook
Power
Cord
Lower
Cord
HOW TO START
]F_Qulck Release
"_ Upper Cord
1. Turn the
quick
release
upper 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 upper cord hook. Check to be
sure the power cord is still locked into the
lock in the quick release upper 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
I20 Volt outlet located near the floor.
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 coun-
ters. Damage from cord to items in
surrounding area could occur.

Toselect apile 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
illustratedo
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,
SOME MODELS
Bare floor setting: Slide the carpet/bare
floor selector alI the way back and down
toward the bottom of the nozzle until it
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 will
turn. When carpets are being cleaned the
selector 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.
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 creat-
ing a burning rubber smell.
Carpet/Bare
Floor Selector
To Bare Floor
Position \
To Carpet
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,
Release
Pedal
HANDLE MOUNTED
SOME MODELS
To start the vacuum cleaner, slide the
On/Off switch from the OFF position to
the ON position. To stop the vacuum
cleaner, slide the On/Off switch to the
OFF position.
Tool,.._
Telescoping
Dusting
Combination Hose
Collar
Identify each of the attachments shown
above,
TO USE ATTACHMENTS
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
section.
When returning the bare floor selector to
the carpet setting, use caution as the
selector can move quickly to that setting
due to tension created by the belto
Remove the lower end of the stretch hose
from the cleaner by grasping the hose
collar, 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
attachments themselves or by new carpet
fuzz filling the bag 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
electrical shock or personal injury
from cleaner suddenly starting,
,l,,,H,,,i ,
8

Theattached
hoseswivelsto
makecleaning Swivel-.
easier in every
direction.
Remove the
hose from the
hose clip by
pulling straight
out.
TELESCOPING WAND WITH
SUCTION CONTROL SLIDE
SOME MODELS
Crevice
Tool
Telescoping
Wand
Remove the
telescoping
wand from
its storage
position,
Remove the crevice tool from its storage
position in the wan& Turn the locking ring to
the UNLOCK position.
Extend the wand to its full length_ Turn the
locking ring to the LOCK position, Attach
the extension wand onto the open end of
the hose.
Suction
Wand -'-'_ "_ Control Slide
Upper
Wand
Align the tabs on the extension wand with
the "J" slots in the hose. Push the wand into
the hose and twist to the right to lock.
To achieve maximum reach
with the attachments, add
the crevice tool to the end Hose.
of the wand by inserting
and twisting slightly suction
Control
Telescoping
Wand,
Crevice
Tool
When using the
dusting brush or
the combination
brush, they may
be attached
directly to the
wand or placed
on the end of
the crevice tool.,
TO OPERATE SUCTION
CONTROL SLIDE
Telescoping Wand
When using
attachments for
cleaning
draperies, small
rugs with low pile
and other
delicate items,
twist the suction
control slide to the open position. This lever
is located on the telescoping wand, close to
the hose.
\Suction
Control
Slide
This will reduce suction for ease of cleaning.
NOTE: Return suction control slide to the
closed position for normal cleaning..
CAUTION
When using attachments, be careful
not to overextend the stretch hose
when reaching. Trying to reach
beyond the hose stretch capability
could cause the cleaner to tip over.
Make sure the carpet/bare floor
selector is in the bare floor position,
Damage to the floor surface may
occur if the carpet setting is used,
7-' _' _ • _ .........

TO STORE ATTACHMENTS
Remove dusting brush or combination
brush_ Snap into appropriate storage loca-
tion,
Remove crevice toot from the wand by twist-
ing, Lay aside.
Remove the extension wand from the hose,
Twist the wand to the left and pull from the
hose end,
Unlock the wand by turning the wand lock-
ing ring to the UNLOCK position.
Slide the lower wand into the upper wand,
Turn the wand locking ring to the LOCK
position,
Place the crevice tool down into the com-
pressed wand, Snap into the appropriate
storage location.
Reinsert the hose fully into the opening on
the lower body from which it was removed,
Press firmly to assure connection
EXTENSION HOSE
SOME MODELS
Some models include an extra hose which
connects to the stretch hose on the vacuum
for a longer cleaning reach°
Unit Hose _Extension Hose
Insert the two tabs on the end of the
extension hose into the two "J" shaped slots
on the unit hose and twist to connect.
All attachments and the telescoping wand
can be attached to the open end of the
hose,
FLOOR BRUSH AND WAND
SOME MODELS
Some models have an extra brush and wand
for cleaning bare floors. Twist one end of the
adaptor into the floor brush and the other
end into the straight wand, Connect the
straight wand to the terescopic wand and
then to the vacuum hose or extension hose,
Floor Brush ----_
Wand JAdaptor 0_ L_
CAUTION
When using the regular hose or with
the extension hose attached, the
cleaner should be on a solid surface
on the same level or below the level
of the user's feet. DO NOT use the
hoses when the cleaner is above the
level of the user's feet.
CLEANING AREA
ATTACHMENT
DUSTING BRUSH
CREVICETOOL _ X
COMBINATION BRUSH _I X
*Always cleanattachmentsbefore using on fabrics.
Furniture*
X
Between
Cushions* Drapes*
X
Stairs Walls
X
X
X
X
X
10