1972 Kirby Vacuum Motor Service Manual

unimatic1140 · Sep 3, 2014

I seem to remember someone asking for a Kirby service manual a while back, and we recently uncovered one. I have now scanned it placed it into the Ephemera Library for anyone who wishes to have a copy.

Sections include:

<ul>
<ul>
<li>Illustrated parts list </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Checking motor unit </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Headlight (Models 505 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Foot switch test and replacement (Models 505 through 512) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Foot switch test and replacement (Models 513 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Safety switch (Models 505 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Motor brush inspection and replacement (Models 505 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Motor unit major overhaul (Models 505 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Disassembly (Models 505 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Inspection and repair </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Reassembly (Models 505 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Handle spring replacement (Models 505 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Handle lock replacement (Models 505 through 515) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Foot switch (Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Safety switch (Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Headlight (Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Motor brush inspection and replacement </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>(Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Motor unit major overhaul (Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Disassembly (Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Inspection and repair </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Reassembly (Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Handle spring replacement (Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Handle lock replacement (Models 516 through current models) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Field Coil Installation - Model 519 and newer </li>
</ul>
</ul>

http://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?showdoc~1107

kirbyclassiciii · Sep 3, 2014

Robert,

Was it me? If so, thank you!

~Ben

unimatic1140 · Sep 3, 2014

I have no idea Ben, but glad you can use it.

caligula · Sep 3, 2014

Hi Robert.

As I said to you on another post, I just downloaded this as my birthday present to me.

When we, the V.C.C.C., were at the Kirby factory they showed us a paper of the electrical system to an early Kirby from the 1930's. At first, I thought it was a hand-out for all of us, stupid me, but what you have is better as it covers repair of some great models.

And just so you know, I'm wearing the Kirby shirt I got at the convention. No doubt, I'll be reading that manual tonight.

Thanks for including it.
Alex Taber.

kirbyclassiciii · Sep 3, 2014

I wanted to say that despite being an incomplete manual -- i.e., missing pages for attachment parts, parts lists for Dual Sanitronic 50, 80 and Classic, Rug Renovator Group and whatnot, for those people here who wanted to obtain one here out of curiosity's sake -- thank you very much.

~Ben

unimatic1140 · Sep 3, 2014

Hi Ben, I don't believe there are any missing pages from the manual, that's why I gave the complete table of contents in the description. Nowhere in the table of contents does it say anything about attachment parts, parts lists for Dual Sanitronic 50, 80 and Classic, Rug Renovator Group, etc. That most likely is part of the parts listings which is different than the service manual. The illustrated parts list in the table of contents is for the motor assembly which is what this manual covers.

caligula · Sep 4, 2014

The Kirby Service manual, is complete.

After reading it last night, I knew I'd seen it before. This was one of the books our repair guy, Bill, turned to when servicing an older Kirby at the Kirby office in Oak Park, Illinois. I remember thumbing through it in 1976 when I was learning motor repair. If I recall correctly, there was a separate mamual for nozzle repair, that covered the Sani-em-tor/bag assembly, repair of hose ends, and other related topics. This is strictly motor, or what we in the business called 'the power plant.'

Thanks for offering this Robert, I printed it last night and love it.
Alex Taber.

unimatic1140 · Sep 4, 2014

Hi Everyone, I've received quite a bit of email today concerning this Kirby manual. First of all it apparently is reportedly from 1963, not 1972 like I had originally estimated. More importantly all we have is section 1, apparently there are 10 sections total...

Section 1 Motor Group
Section 2 Nozzle Group
Section 3 Handle Group
Section 4 Emtor and Bag Group
Section 5 Cord Group
Section 6 Attachment Group
Section 7 Power Polisher Group
Section 8 Handi-Butler Group
Section 9 Flexible Shaft Group
Section 10 Surface Nozzle Group, Special and Obsolete Parts, and Tools

Unfortunately we only have Section 1 in the binder we found, which is why I entitled this library entry as "Kirby Motor Service Manual" and included the table of contents for the section. It seems however that there has been some confusion about this and some are expecting the full 10 section manual.

Due to this confusion, I've decided for the first time ever, I'm permanently pulling this item out of the Ephemera Library. While there weren't many downloads, for anyone who did downloaded it but was expecting more please send me an email and I will give you a full refund. I apologize everyone about the confusion.

If we ever uncover the full 10 section manual I will repost it again into the Library.

Thanks everyone!

kirbyclassiciii · Sep 4, 2014

Robert,

Count me in, please. Every little bit of money helps.

~Ben

kirbyclassiciii · Sep 4, 2014

Robert,

Furthermore, as the Dual Sanitronic 50 (D50) introduced the Rug Renovator and Roll-O-Waxer, the polisher group parts section (#8) would be expanded to include them.

The Classic 1CR also inaugurated the "Swedish Massager" attachment for the Handi-Butler (to be used with the Flexible Shaft) as well as replacing the Roll-O-Waxer (in the Polisher/Rug Renovator Group section) with the Miracle Waxer. It was also at that time that the generic term "power polisher" was replaced by "Miracle Head."

The two pictures I attached below would be what would've been in the full version of the 1972 Kirby service manual. These include an updated parts list for the model 505-515 motor group, and the motor group parts for the two Dual Sanitronic models.

~Ben

caligula · Sep 5, 2014

Hi Ben.

As I mentioned in reply 3 and 6, I downloaded this and am so glad I did. But looking at these pages, made me think about James B. Kirby, the inventor. Maybe you can answer this one.

Did Jim design every part of his early vacuum cleaners, or just those he invented like the safty switch, sani-em-tor, toe touch control, and so on? That alone would be major work, but was the entire machine his concept?

That would be mindboggling!!

kirbyclassiciii · Sep 5, 2014

Alex,

I already ordered weeks ago a 505/Sanitronic VII service manual CD from Kent Oyler's store "Kirby Needs." It's all the same.

~Ben

caligula · Sep 5, 2014

Hi Ben.

Thanks for the info, I know kent and have gotten parts from him. Is this C/D available? tell us more?

Alex Taber.

caligula · Sep 5, 2014

Ben, or anybody who knows Kirby parts.

I still want to know if Jim Kirby designed the entire machine? My feeling is that he did, but need to know for sure.

Thanks guys.

kirbyclassiciii · Apr 20, 2019

I am sorry for being five years late in responding to this, but...

Never fear... because I have a 1972 Kirby Classic 1CR service manual in full (revised 1974 to include the Classic Omega 1CB)!

~Ben

1972 Kirby Vacuum Motor Service Manual

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