Shampoo system just bought the vaccum last night and could not get the shampoo system to pick up the water and could not get the system back on and both belts snapped so im pretty frustrated

does your shampooer have a cap on the shampoo tank. Usually you take the cap off to let the shampoo out while shampooing and to pick up the water you put the cap back on to create a vacuum to suck the water off the floor..

The one's I've used the sprayer is on the back of the suction (suction hood which is kind of clear plastic), you watch that clear part to see if it is picking up dirty water. Recall it's easier to pull it and if caught just push down on handles and that raises front of machine to clear carpet snag. I would walk backward as it sprayed and then picked up the water with dirt. If different machine you could spray moving backward, go back to same starting point go again and don't spray but just hold it near carpet so it picks up 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

When you coupled the unit the system might not have been tight that's why the unit is refusing to draw up the water and the shampoo. The unit is meant to be airtight and when the unit is not airtight then the power to draw up the shampoo and water will not be sufficient. Try to get the system tightened and it should be able to draw up the water and shampoo.
Hope this solution has been helpful?

Vacuuming a wet carpet with your Kirby or any other vacuum not designed for wet pickup could do serious damage to your machine and there is a real danger of electrical shock to the operator.
Your Kirby Diamond and every other Kirby for that matter is NOT designed to pick up water!! Even with the shampoo system attached it will NOT pick up water or the shampoo foam. Your Kirby spreads the shampoo foam around on the carpet to clean it. You then only vacuum a shampooed carpet after it has completely dried.
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make sure the belt on the carpet shampoo aggitator is good, (could be stretched or broken) recommend replacing that belt. also make sure your fan in the front of the machine doesnt have any chips or cracks around the center. (this will cause lower suction) a new belt should cure the problem for you.

I had the same problem at first but figured it out. Make sure before you put it on the vacuum itself, that the shampooing unit is completely together. The belt needs to be taunt like it would be when the brush is turning. Once you put it on and turn the dial to the green arrow, it should be on the vacuum cleaner and will turn the brushes . That was my problem is I didn't have it completely together right. Hope this helps.

there is a belt inside that runs the pump to spray the water. I would take it in a have it replaced. Mine did the same exact thing.

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.

Vacuum thoroughly before shampooing for maximum cleaning. Then, remove the bag and the Power Nozzle to prepare for shampooing. Turn the Carpet Shampoo System Nozzle Belt Lifter to the right of the center position (fully clockwise) until the green arrows line up. Slide the slots on the side of the Carpet shampoo system over the outer shoulders of the Carpet Shampoo System Tray. While pushing up on the Belt with your finger, turn the Belt Lifter left (counter- clockwise looking at it from the front) until the red arrows line up. (The Belt Lifter Hook will catch and stretch the belt.)

Press the bottom Toe Touch Pedal all the way down to raise the front of the Kirby.


While sliding the carpet shampoo system Nozzle/Tray Assembly toward the Kirby and over the Motor shaft, connect the hooks on the bottom rear of the nozzle to the Attaching Bar.



Push the nozzle up against the Kirby and turn the Accessory Lock to the
right (clockwise) to lock the nozzle in place. To engage the belt, turn the Belt Lifter
all the way to the right (clockwise) until the green arrows line up. Then lower the Headlight Hood