No Suds! It just Spills the water

SYSTEM:
Will work with:

• Kirby G3 vacuum cleaner
• Kirby G4 vacuum cleaner
• Kirby G5 vacuum cleaner
• Kirby Gsix vacuum cleaner
• Kirby Ultimate G vacuum cleaner
• Kirby Ultimate G Diamond vacuum cleaner
• Kirby Sentria vacuum cleaner
• Sentria II (Sentria2)

This is unused shampoo attachment. We buy new parts and assemble this shampoo attachment so you will be the first one to use it.
Set includes:

1. Tray with shield
2. Nozzle
3. Brush roll
4. Belt
5. Container with cap
6. Hose
7. 12 oz. shampoo

NOTE - pictured Kirby Sentria shampooer box may not be included.
If you have never used this shampoo, we highly recommend reading our ONLINE MANUAL. This is a simple but very effective unit but you have to learn how to use it and "common sense" will not be enough! HOW TO - V I D E O S

Tank with soapy solution is attached in place of the bag. It utilizes the air coming out of the exhaust to blow soapy water on a small screen that turns it into thick foam. The foam is simply laid over the carpet (you must vacuum before you shampoo). Foam allows the spread of a small amount of water over the area so carpet is not soaked all the way through. Foam is left on the carpet for a few minutes so it has just enough time to moisten the fibers of the carpet and loosen the dirt (not too long otherwise foam may dry). Then foam maker is set to "OFF" and you slowly pull Kirby vacuum over the area where you laid the foam. The rotating brush in the shampooer nozzle rubs the moisture off carpet fibers and and throws it into the tray in front of the unit. You will not see gallons of dirty water but that is because you did not put it on the rug in the first place. Carpet should dry within 1-4 hours (depends how many times you laid the foam and what is humidity in the room). After it dries it has to be vacuumed. Solution that did not get picked up with the shampooer brush dries and shampoo additives do not let the dirt stick back to the fibers of the carpet. It is loose when it dries so in order to pick up what is left, you must vacuum again.
Shampoo:
You can use any carpet shampoo sold in your local store but make sure that this is carpet shampoo that makes foam and pay attention how much you have to dilute it with water as various shampoo products come in different concentration. Avoid using "just anything" that makes foam. Some household chemicals (such as dishwasher fluid) will do great job but it will leave carpet unprotected so dirt will stick to it so well that you will have a filthy rug in no time. Kirby Vacuum Shampooer


800-775-6586
GoodVac com

I would ensure the brush roll is rotating, this should distribute the suds evenly, check the belt is on and engaged and rotating.

make sure u put the exact/right instructed amount of soap in the tank.....after each room, wash & clean tank filter. open tank all the way.....pull back slowly. if too much foam...adjust tank knob.

Make sure the tray is all the way down. Step on the toe petal to adjust. Turn on power assist.Turn sud control valve right to increase suds.

I found this on a website. Hope it helps others...

by Mainelyvacs in: Kirby

• First a short explanation of how the Kirby shampoo system works: Kirby uses a “Dry Foam” type of shampoo. Basically, it spreads a shampoo foam solution on the surface of your carpet. This foam needs to stay on the surface of the carpet until it is completely dry (usually 1 to 2 hours depending on temperature and humidity) As the foam dries, it soaks up grease and dirt. You then vacuum the carpet and up comes the shampoo residue along with the absorbed dirt and grease. It does a very good job on the surface but will not extract stains from the bottom of the carpet or carpet pad. Several other brands such as Electrolux, Hoover and Koblenz make Carpet Cleaning machines that use the same system.
  So, you’ve read your manual, you’ve removed the carpet cleaning nozzle and the bag assembly from your Kirby, you’ve installed your shampoo tank and carpet shampooing nozzle tray and you start to shampoo but all you get on your carpet is a puddle of soapy water and no foam. Here’s a few things to look for:
• Make sure you are using a Dry Foam Shampoo(preferably Kirby) and NOT an extraction shampoo, the Rug Doctor shampoo you had left over from your last rental will not work.
• Make sure you have the correct mixture. If you are using Kirby Dry foam shampoo you simply fill the tank with water and put a tank cap full of shampoo in with the water. You can use other brands of “Dry Foam” shampoo, but the mixture ratio may be different, so read the label first.
• Don’t reuse last year’s leftover mixture, it’s probably no good.
• Make sure a family member didn’t pour any leftover mixture back into the empty shampoo bottle - further diluting a mixture will not produce any foam.
• Don’t use shampoo that’s seen extreme temperatures.
• Check the tank and make sure that the sponge filter is in place and if it is in place that it is not deteriorated. The sponge filter is located under the tank at the point where you attach the tank to the hole that you removed the bag assembly from.
• Check the hose that runs from the tank to the nozzle. It should have a screen in the end that attaches to the tank (older models had a cloth screen with a metal retainer, models after 1989 have a 1 piece metal and plastic screen.

The suds screen is not there or is somewhere in hose elbow. Click HERE and read the tip about installing the suds screen.

If you want to see where the screen is supposed to be installed - see out Kirby shampooer manual HERE.

Good Luck
Rocky
:-)

MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT BRAND OF SHAMPOO ARE YOU USING??? KIRBY IS NOTED FOR REQUIRING ONLY, KIRBY SHAMPOO. PART OF THE REASON IS THAT THEY HAVE A UNIQUE FORMULA THAT WORKS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE KIRBY.
THE OTHER POSSIBILITY IS THE DISPENSER IS PLUGGED AND NEEDS A REAL GOOD CLEANING. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE FOAM TO THE CARPET, YOU NEED TO GO REALLY, REALLY SLOW.
THE NARROW BAND OF SUDS DOES INDICATE YOU MAY BE MOVING THE DISPENSER TOO FAST. GOOD LUCK.

There is a portable shampooer/sprayer that attaches to the hose ( the long one that makes the kirby a canister vacuum). It should have come with your attachments. Looks a bit like a gun without the tank attached to the bottom...the tank screws on.

To use it you would put the fingerguard attachment on the front of the kirby where the powerhead would normally go and the hose with the portable shampooer where the bag would go.

The tank on the portable sprayer/shampooer has lines to indicate how much water and shampoo are needed.

Be sure to put the mesh nozzle (sort of a triangular shaped thing with a piece of mesh along the front that attaches to the front of the portable sprayer) on the front of the portable sprayer if you want to shampoo..otherwise it will just spray a mist. The triangular piece with the mesh screen is what produces suds.

Vacuum the furniture/stairs thoroughly before shampooing. Cover the stairs/furniture with a thick coat of suds. Once covered with suds, pop the suds into the fabric/carpet using your hands...working the bubbles into any heavily soiled areas with a soft brush. No need to vacuum after shampooing. There is only about 10 percent water to 90 percent air in the suds.

Then let it dry. 15 minutes to and hour depending on the amount of solution used. Hope this helps!!!

The sponge filter is in the large opening on the underside of the kirby shampoo tank. It is where the shampoo tank connects to the kirby. The cap the manual is referring to is the shampooer tank cap. It looks like a cup.

If the mesh screen in the hose is in place (try pulling it out of the hose and seating it in the tank where the hose connects.) and you're still having very little suds...(I'm assuming you're using Kirby shampoo as well)...I would suggest going slower when yours "laying down suds". And lower the shampooer head all the way to its lowest setting. I have found if there are a lot of oils in the carpet, the emulsifiers in the shampoo break down quickly and make the suds "disappear".

Be sure to go back over the carpet with the tank in the off position to scoop up any excess moisture. If excessive oil (from cooking, barefeet, and pets are main causes) is the cause of the lack of suds, numerous shampooings will rectify that situation.

Hope this helps!!

There is a portable shampooer/sprayer that attaches to the hose ( the long one that makes the kirby a canister vacuum). It should have come with your attachments. Looks a bit like a gun without the tank attached to the bottom...the tank screws on.

To use it you would put the fingerguard attachment on the front of the kirby where the powerhead would normally go and the hose with the portable shampooer where the bag would go.

The tank on the portable sprayer/shampooer has lines to indicate how much water and shampoo are needed.

Be sure to put the mesh nozzle (sort of a triangular shaped thing with a piece of mesh along the front that attaches to the front of the portable sprayer) on the front of the portable sprayer if you want to shampoo..otherwise it will just spray a mist. The triangular piece with the mesh screen is what produces suds.

Vacuum the furniture/stairs thoroughly before shampooing. Cover the stairs/furniture with a thick coat of suds. Once covered with suds, pop the suds into the fabric/carpet using your hands...working the bubbles into any heavily soiled areas with a soft brush. No need to vacuum after shampooing. There is only about 10 percent water to 90 percent air in the suds.

Then let it dry. 15 minutes to and hour depending on the amount of solution used.

Hope this helps!!!