Kirby shampooer The suds are not coming out of the shampooer. I made sure it was connected right. The sponge filter and the cap are attached.

There is a shampooer head with shampooer brushroll, water tank, small hose that hooks to the tank, collection tray

Need to use the Kirby shampoo. It goes down as wet suds but you pick up the suds with the vacuum when it drys. Fill tank adding 1 cap full of soap (kirby soap only) per level on the side, this attaches on the side where the bag is attached

After using the shampooer you need to reattach the vacuum bag and main brushroll nozzle as though you were just vacuuming up dirt.

Instructions:

Lift the front of your kirby up (front part with light) open the handle on the dail in the front (if epquipt), remove the power head, put on height adjustment on highest level, turn dial on front of power head until you see 2 red arrows facing each other, unlock by turning knob, power head should come right off, get shampooer out the power head for shampooer with collection tray, make sure dial is set red on red, put on front of Kirby and lock in, turn dial to green on green arrows, fill tank adding 1 cap full of soap (Kirby soap only) per level on the side, this attaches on the side where the bag is attached, line up arrow and notch and turn, to hook up hose put Kirby down to lowest level, notched end of hose hooks in on tray other end on the tank,on/off switch refers to the foam, Turn machine on to lay the foam & scrub carpet, take shampooer back off to extract the foam once it's dry.

Good luck.

Few things:
Make sure the sponge and the valve under the sponge (water tank) is clean.
Make sure you follow the instructions (f you do not have the manual you can find one HERE)
See if the straw inside the water tank is not clogged (happens when you use toilet tissue or some other paper to dry inside of the tank after you shampoo)

Noise - if it is noisy al the time - it may need new shampooer brush roll. Also check the tray - bar brush roll bearings overheat and melt the tray... Never submerse brush roll in water when cleaning it. Clean it simply by lifting the shampooer nozzle and letting it spin for 10-20 seconds. If you have tu put it under running water - put it back in the shampooer nozzle (with tray and shield) put on Kirby and turn it on for 20 seconds or so. If it stays soaken wet - moisture damages barings.

Good luck

There is a sponge right underneath the on/off knob on the shampooer tank. There is a small suds screen right beside it on the small hole that the hose fits onto. Both these things should be cleaned regularly. Here is a pic of the tank..the little black suds screen is visible to the upper right of the pic. The sponge is right behind the suds screen in the pic, so you can't see it very well. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310045439771&ih=021&category=42146&rd=1&ssPageName=mem_guide:1
Marci

In the cap where you fill the shampoo, make sure the filter and components are clean

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!!

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!!!

On the shampooer tank, remove the screen cap from the little hole that the shampooer hose plugs onto. Clean the screen and make sure that it is not plugged up with debris. Make sure that the screen is securely glued to the cap all the way around the edge. (they sometimes come loose and this will cause the absence of foam) That little (approx. 1 inch diameter) screen is the main ingredient for the foam. The screened cap should fit firmly onto the outside of the little hole in the bottom of the edge of the tank.
If none of this helps, remove the round sponge and look at the holes in the white plastic circle. Turn the on/off foam valve and make sure that the holes open up when the valve is turned to "on". You can purchase and replace the on/off valve if it turns out to be the problem. You can also buy a replacement tank if you're not inclined to mess with it.

If you need another shampooer manual, check out my guide....

http://reviews.ebay.com/KIRBY-CARPET-SHAMPOOER-INSTRUCTIONS-MANUAL-DIRECTIONS_W0QQugidZ10000000004594992

Hope this helps...
Marci

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.

It goes on the small hole on the tank where the hose attaches to it. The sponge goes in the hole directly under the on/off valve. Here is a link to my online shampooer instructions.

http://reviews.ebay.com/KIRBY-CARPET-SHAMPOOER-INSTRUCTIONS-MANUAL-DIRECTIONS_W0QQugidZ10000000004594992

Marci

Here's my online guide for using the Kirby shampooer....

 

http://reviews.ebay.com/KIRBY-CARPET-SHAMPOOER-INSTRUCTIONS-MANUAL-DIRECTIONS_W0QQugidZ10000000004594992

 

HOPE IT HELPS!!

Marci