New to forum, Kirby vacuum questions

[seanoliver77]

Hi everyone,
I am new to the forum and I have some Kirby vacuum cleaner questions. I will start with the most important. This fall I acquired a Kirby Tradition vacuum cleaner and I have been cleaning it up and using it. It is a later model unit so it has the plastic type fan, Classic III style speed switch etc. It has been converted to a shake out bag and is in decent shape. I had to replace the vis-a-belt window and the belt. I also polished it. It came with two mostly complete attachment sets. The question that I have about it is what year was it made and does anyone have a spare manual for it (funny, with two attachment sets no manual)? I called the company on the serial number and they were not helpful. Thank you in advance. My next questions are less important. I am sort of looking for a Kirby DS 80 because my grandma had one. It is the first one that my dad remembers as a young boy. It was traded in on the Heritage II that we have in the garage and use to vacuum out the car. I want to have one like it because they are the last of that style and are a unique color. I am not in any hurry with this search. My last questions are regarding my great-grandmas Kirby 508 that I found in the barn. It is in poor shape. It does not turn on and the bag has been chewed on by mice in spots. I want to make it run again at some point. I am thinking that the switch or brushes are bad for starters, but it could be something else within the motor. Another odd thing is that it has red trim instead of grey, and the bag does not match the original. It has been in the shed for a while and it is not pretty. Was it common practice for salesmen to replace the trim on older vacuum's with that of newer vacuums so they could sell the old one for a higher price? It also has a 10 blade metal fan. It does not have a factory rebuild tag so I am assuming all of the modifications were done in town. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas please let me know. Thank you in advance. Sorry for being so long winded.
- Sean

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

seanoliver77

Sean,

The Kirby Tradition 3CB was produced from 1979 to 1981. Since you say your machine has a plastic fan and the Classic Omega/III-type speed switch (134374), then I assume yours is a 1980 or early '81... or perhaps a '79 if the plastic fan replaced the metal fan, and if the speed switch you describe had replaced the one originally mounted to the headlight cap (on serial nos. F000001-F399999).

There were also versions of the Tradition with the speed switch you describe AND the metal fan. Those ran between serial nos. F400001-F499999 with the additional headlight cap lock button (also on the early Traditions with the speed switch inside the light cap), and serial nos. F500001-F999999 on those machines with the conventional headlight cap.

Thus, I ask: what is the serial number on your machine, please?

A link to the Tradition owner's manual here:
https://www.kirby.com/Manuals/Old-Manuals/Tradition_Manual.pdf

~Ben

 

[rivstg1]

also,

you can download the Kirby phone app and have access to all the owners' manuals

 

[seanoliver77]

Thank you for helping. The serial number on this machine is G374863. I do not know much about the actual machine because I just bought it a farm auction. There have been several things that have been modified. The belt that was in it I am sure is part of an inner tube from a car. I replaced that. I also had trouble with the belt lifter assembly, and did call the company about that as well, but they were not helpful. I did learn that you can buy a new floor nozzle if you want, however, those are about $115, which is considerably more than I paid for the unit. I fixed the belt lifter with J-B Weld and it is holding. I only did this as a last resort and would not recommend it, unless you are desperate for it to work within a day. Thank you for helping me.

-Sean

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

seanoliver77

Sean,

Your Tradition was built in the fall of 1980, so the plastic fan would be the correct one.

The belts you'll want will depend on the construction of the brush roll assembly:
1 - if your brush roll assembly is painted silver and has the transparent plastic sleeves on both ends, order the 159056 belt (159056G for 3 belts; 159056A for 25 belts)
2 - or, if the brush roll assembly has a bare wood finish and has the removable end caps, then it will have ball bearings inside. Order belt part no. 301291G.

~Ben

 

[seanoliver77]

Thanks. My brushroll is painted silver and has clear end caps. Should I replace it as well? I did order belts for it, however they are the ones from Amazon that are not OEM Kirby but do fit. I bought them in a pack of three. The belts have a number that is printed on them which is 9165 (I am assuming it is a part number) and they are non knurled. How do I tell if the brushroll needs to be replaced? The one that is in it seems to work, but I cannot get the adjustment screws to turn so maybe it needs to be fixed. The bristles do seem like they are in good shape though. Thanks again.
-Sean

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

seanoliver77

Sean,

I believe your brush roll will have to be replaced if the two adjustment screws are rusted out (that is usually the reason why you can't turn them). These adjustment screws will have to be turned gradually (and both must also be adjusted equally) to keep the bristles sticking out at least 1/8" beyond the rug plate opening, in order to ensure effective cleaning. It must also be replaced if the bristles are worn down so much you can no longer turn the two screws to get more bristles.

If indeed all else fails with your original brush roll, then buy a new brush roll no. 152575, which will have ball bearings and which will also allow you to use the knurled belts.

~Ben

 

[seanoliver77]

Thanks. I will order a new brushroll and install it when I get the chance. I think between the bristles being worn down and the screws being full of dirt the brushroll should be replaced. I also see that I need a new nozzle seal. Does it require glue to hold it in place? Thanks.
-Sean

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

seanoliver77

Sean,

You're referring to the O-ring that goes on the fan case. That seal ring is part no. 122068, and it is applied with a special glue called Pliobond.

~Ben

 

[seanoliver77]

Yep that is what I need. Where would I find Pliobond? Is that something I have to special order or would a hardware store carry it? Is it similar to gasket maker? Is the seal directional? Thanks.
-Sean

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

seanoliver77

Sean,

It (Pliobond) should be available at your local Ace Hardware store (if one exists near you).

~Ben

 

[huskyvacs]

If the Kirby will not turn on, check the safety switch and the connection where the lower power cord plugs into the vacuum. Spray the safety switch with electrical contact cleaner really well, and work it up and down with a screwdriver a dozen or so times. I have gotten 2 Kirbys for cheap advertised as having a dead motor only to find out the safety switches were rusty from sitting in basements and had frozen up.

But if you say it was in a barn and had mice get to it, be aware they might have crawled into the motor housing and chewed wires to make a nest inside it. Also when you are talking to Kirby about parts, they are going to quote you OEM prices. Look on eBay or in mom & pop vacuum shops, I am sure they will have a nozzle for under $50.

 

[seanoliver77]

I got the brushroll and seal ordered last night from USAVacuum.com and they should be in some time within the next week. I will have to try that with the 508 when I get the chance (I am currently at college so I will have to try it when I get home). The old 508 has been one of those things that I want to make run again. Grandpa did mention he thought something was wrong with the motor (30+ years ago, I do not know), but when I took the brushes out and tried to look in at the commutator I did not see or smell anything amiss, however I am also new to restoring vacuums and do not know as much about them. The brushes were not quite the same length when I took them out and inspected them. Would that be the problem? It acts like somewhere electricity is not even getting to the brushes. It does not buzz, whir or make any noise at all, just a click of the switch when you put the switch in the on position. I will have to clean it all up and see what is what. The 508 also seems to need the bearings packed but I cannot get the impeller off. I do not have the proper tools, and rust I assume. I figure if I get it to function, then I can work on making it run better and make it shiny. Thank you for the tip on the nozzle as well. I will have to call the stores and see what they say. The company was more interested in selling me a new floor nozzle, not helping me fix the old one which did not have much wrong with it. I was honestly more surprised that they would even have a part like that, seeing that the vacuum is almost 40 years old. How many other companies would have parts like that. Thanks again.
-Sean

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Hi Sean,
Welcome to the Kirby world! While restoring these may seem intimidating at first, they are very easy to work on if you are mechanically inclined.

I had made up some threads long ago that might help you in your projects and they are below:

Kirby resto tips and tricks:
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?34091_7

My 505 restoration (including fixing its broken 508 belt lifter and removing the fan)
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?34158_27

My Tradition restoration:
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?33957_31

Please create a resto thread for each model and post your progress. If you have questions we will be happy to help.

As for the nozzle seal, 3M car weatherstrip cement works great.
For the broken belt lifter, if you cannot fix yours, look on ebay for the floor polisher/miracle heads. They use the same lifter and those are cheaper (under $30) because very few people use or want them.
Kirbyfans on ebay has all the parts you need at great prices. The bearings should just be replaced at this point and he has them.

 

[seanoliver77]

Thank you for your help. I have been working on and using the Tradition and it is a good vacuum. It is a shakeout bag model, which I assume is modified because it has the full length zipper and no pocket. I fixed the belt lifter with J-B Weld. The 3 sections of it were coming apart when I would move the belt lifter up to put the belt on the spindle. It would get to that amount of tension and just snap right apart. I tried multiple times to make it right, including pushing it together tighter and spreading the tabs on the finger itself but to no avail. Then I J-B Welded the belt lifter pieces together and pressed the finger in. It works now. It was a fight, but I made it work. If I had it to do over again, I would not take the belt lifter out of the head to replace the vis-a-belt window. That is where my trouble started. I am happy with this machine. As for the 508, it is going to have to wait until I get home to work on it. Thank you for helping me out.
-Sean

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

seanoliver77

Sean,

It is possible to use the full-length zipper bag as shake out if you remove the fill tube assembly from the Sani Emtor.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

seanoliver77

Sean,

I forgot to show you some pictures of my Kirby Tradition: it is a 1979 model. Unlike yours, my Tradition has the metal fan.

The last 3 pictures show it with the shake out bag I got a month ago. That one is in better shape than the bag you see in the first 4 pictures.

~Ben

 

[seanoliver77]

Neat. Does your Tradition have the locking headlight cap and different speed switch? Do you like operating it? Are bags hard to change on these models? I am pretty sure that the previous owner(s) made the modification so it is a shake out bag. I was actually happy to see it in a way because bags are one less thing to replace. The bag was full to the top when I emptied it. It looked like dirt, dryer lint and hair. I cleaned it all out and put the em-tor back on the vacuum and tried it out in the hall. It started right up and didn't smoke or make bad noises so I turned it off and cleaned the dirt off of the outside of the machine. I like how the Tradition looks, the blue and shiny aluminum look good together. When I get the chance I will have to get some pictures of mine up here. Getting them from my flip phone to the computer may take time. I may just text them to my mother and have her email them to me. My parts shipped so they should be here no later than Monday. I will go to the store tomorrow to pick up Pliobond and go from there. I have liked working on this machine, I needed something to keep me busy. Polishing a vacuum cleaner and working on it did the trick. I also get to learn about the machine. That is one of my favorite things about working on any form of equipment is getting to learn about it. Thanks for sharing pictures with me.
-Sean

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

seanoliver77

Sean,

It still has the locking headlight cap, but no longer does it have the original speed switch (134379) that you mount to the cap... it was since converted to the one below the fan case, like many of these early Traditions had since 1980. The 134379 speed switch had two buttons (low and high speed; only the hose uses the latter).

While the cap lock mechanism seemed fine, it was the speed switch (134379) that seemed to be misunderstood among many Kirby owners when they first bought these in 1979-80. What the intent of the switch was, it was to ensure that the machine would not run until the cap was firmly down toward the accessory that was currently attached (rug nozzle, hose, Crystalator, power polisher, Handi-Butler or Rug Renovator) and then locked into place. Thus, if someone tried to unlock and then open the cap while the machine was running, it would shut off. It was also supposed to keep moisture out of the motor when the Rug Renovator was being used. Each of the front-mounted accessories had a metal pin attached to them to jibe with one of the two buttons of the speed switch.

The problem with the 134379 speed switch was so much that Kirby advised owners to bring in their affected units for conversion to the 134374 speed switch (the one that is mounted to the fan case). Some of the later units, with the older style speed switch so mentioned, also had a blue rubber cover placed over it... this was, again, to keep moisture out of the motor while the Rug Renovator was being used. The blue cover also caused problems (notably, the speed switch selector arm being stuck in the down or "high speed" position) and Kirby also told owners to remove it when affected.

I also have an NOS headlight lock button (162079S), which I intend to use when I get around to doing more work on my Tradition.

~Ben[this post was last edited: 11/2/2018-20:53]