Kirby not shampooing, no suds coming out.

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.

To use the suds-o-gun you need to convert you Kirby to blower mode. First remove the carpet head.
If you have all of the standard kirby attachments there should be a plastic cover to go over the front of the kirby where the carpet head attaches. Its round with square holes in one end. If you don't have this no biggie. Just leave the carpet head on the machine and rotate the belt to the off position so the brush rool bush on rotate. Remove the bag for the machine attach the hose where the bag was use the same end that attaches to the front on the machine. There are notches on the inside of the hose connector the fit over the tabs on the bag port. Fill the suds gun tank with shampoo and water. Attach the suds gun to the kirby hose. The suds gun nozzle is funnel shaped with wire mesh on the end. This helps to make the suds finer. Also the suds gun should have a knob to set how much suds come out when you pull the trigger. Turn on you kirby and suds away.

I hope this helps.

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!!!

here is a site that has detailed instructions for using your kirby shampooer.

the screen that goes in the hose is different from the filter (round flat sponge) that goes between the exhaust side of the kirby and the shampooer tank. The screen is what makes the suds...if its not seated properly or missing (or damaged) then it won't make suds.

http://www.greatvacs.com/shampoo.shtml

this site shows a picture of the piece I'm describing...its the 3rd picture down, called the gauze filter...still its different from the sponge filter....

also...make sure you go slowly with the kirby (and lower it to its lowest setting) if your carpet is heavily soiled....the enzymes in the shampoo are what clean the carpet (oils, grime, etc) and if its heavily soiled the suds disappear almost immediately.


Hope this helps!!!

there is a little plastic round piece with a mesh screen that should go on the hose part of the shampooer that connects to the tank...make sure that its seated properly since it's this mesh screen that produces the suds

this site may be helpful
http://reviews.ebay.com/KIRBY-CARPET-SHAMPOOER-INSTRUCTIONS-MANUAL-DIRECTIONS_W0QQugidZ10000000004594992

make sure the brushes on the shampooer head are spinning and that you have the shampooer head lowered all the way down to its lowest setting. Also...shampoo at a slower pace than you would move when vacuuming...when both putting down the suds on heavily soiled areas and scooping them up. The more oils in the carpet, the less suds you'll see when the shampooer is working properly. one more thing that may be mentioned in the guide is the little round sud screen that attaches to one end of the shampooer hose...make sure that little mesh screen is there and seated properly. It is what produces the suds from the shampoo solution.