How to change belt on Kenmore Vacuum cleaner Model 116 57612690?

This is how I did it on my Model 116:

1. Unplug the electric cord from the AC outlet.

2. Unhook the vacuum's motor-brush housing (my own terminology for it) from the wand.

3. Set aside the wand (and its handle and canister vacuum).

4. Work on the motor-brush housing as follows:

5. Turn the housing upside down down and set it on a worktable.

6. Unscrew the 2 screws (one near each wheel well).

7. Unlatch 4 latches on the plastic housing: 2 of them on the side, near the wheels) and another 2 near the step-on riser at the rear of the housing. To unlatch, gently pry the lip of each of the 4 latches from their perch (again, my own word for it). Try not to ruin the plastic, they are not too sturdy. After this step, the top of the housing will separate completely from the bottom housing (which contains the electronic stuff, motor, wires, brush, etc.).

8. Set aside the top housing, and work on the lower housing as follows:

9. Remove the brush cylinder from the housing by pushing the square knobs at its ends. When you've come this far successfully, you'd know how to figure things out, and replace the belt, clean any jams, and remove other debris there!!!

(Sorry, but to be able to give more detailed instructions than the above, I would have to open my own vacuum cleaner --- and I can't do that right now. OK?)

jayfern
February 2009