Kirby 1-CR

[ajc31980]

HI
So I've been busy this snowy weekend, working on this Kirby 1-CR. This is the model I've been trying to get my hands on for years..... every time I've seen one listed the price was way to high for a machine that looked like it had been to hell and back... I finally found one that looked decent, so I took a chance 

.   I have to say, this machine is so cool ! ( or at least in my eyes is is). from the outside, it looks so much like my Classic III. but the surprise is under the hood ! with the motor, speed/safety, even the power switch  being so much more like a DS50/DS80.  At First look, my Brain is like, huh?? What? lol...   However this is the main reason why I wanted this model. because it is unique. It even has what appears to be the original roll brush with the metal ends. this is the first time I've seen one of these in person. another reason why I wanted this particular machine. Also the Bag is in great shape !  I'm not one for shake out bags because of bad allergies, but this one was worth giving nice hand washing and lining it with a Kirby HEPA bag. Check out the attached pics. I can't take credit for the idea, I actually got this idea from another thread on here. I tried to find it again and can't seam to find it. so who ever you are, thank you for the idea! I think the person used the idea for a 500 series machine. 


For daily use I will install a Mini emptor and A full length zipper bag. but this idea gives me ability to use the original when I want too and helps preserve the shake out bag.  I have Few spare Zipper bags (see pics) not sure what I'll use for sure yet. 


 


 The only real issue I've had with machine is the bearings, both front and rear. after about an Hour of run time ( vacuuming the first and second floor) they started to get noisy, and as time went on they became louder. I had set of bearings that I actually bought last year for my DS50, that I never opened because I decided to re-pack the bearings in that machine.


 So I went trough the struggle of getting the bearing plate screws loose. Actually took the better part of the day soaking them in WD40 and Very much tested my patients ! even vented on FB abut it haha. finally broke them free with my drill. The rest was fairly easy and went as usual. typical bearing replacement.  Got the new bearings installed, put everything back together, fired it up and it sounded great! but that was not to last.... after maybe 10 min of run time,  they started squealing ! ugh!. so I take it all apart again... take the bearings out, and pop the seal on them to take a look and guess what ? very little grease inside...grrr ( see pics and none leaked out that I could see) so - re-packed packed them and they sound much better with some noise in the rear bearing. I'm afraid it may be damaged now from running on the dry side. The front one is quiet, but feels slitty rough when I turn the shaft by hand. does anyone know of a good source for these bearings other than eBay ? I use to mainly get parts from the EBay seller  "Kirby needs" But since Kents Passing the Ebay store is becoming slim pickings. He was always A good guy to get parts from.


 I'm tempted to get the updated front bearing plate for this machine. It would at least make finding the front bearing easer. 


 


  The other odd thing I noticed on this model is this sort of cardboard divider over the motor with foam padding taped together with masking tape. (see pics) kinda odd. the masking tape was coming loose so I re-tapped it with some black tape. I this really something that was done at the factory?  also did the machine have the plastic caps on the motor brushes ? 


Thanks 


AJ


 


 


 


 

 

[panasonicvac]

Nice Kirby Classic!

That's one of my favorite models. I have three Omegas, two brown and one blue. I've watched one YouTuber had his bag custom made where you can easily change disposable bags out of. I really like this set up if you're ever interested in attempting to do one yourself.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Ah, Kirby's odd-duck - the Classic 1CR...

This machine was the transitioning the D80 to a new wide nozzle vac (with resulting larger motor) right before the UL double insulated rule came into play and forced them to redesign the motor again into what would be the upcoming Omega.
Most of the motor unit parts are unique to this unit, including the motor and large castings. However the bare switches and lamp socket are shared with the D50 and D80. The power switch bracket is unique.

I had liquidated a pickup load of 1CRs back in 2019/2020 after the closing of my friend's Kirby service center.

The bag lining idea may have come from my 505 basketcase thread - the first time I attempted such a feat.
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?34158_27
It worked though, and glad it worked for you as well. Use this to demo the unit for others and use the mini emptor for daily use when "no one is watching", lol...

Noisy bearings are common when this old and original. Yes it uses the same bearings as the D50/D80 and many models before.
I always replace with new Kirby bearings when I restore a unit and have never had a problem.
I am quite surprised you had a new bearing bad so soon. Any chance you may have reinstalled the old one? I did this with a car window motor, so it is possible...
Or maybe it is very old stock or had been in a very hot warehouse for a long time?
Or maybe you got counterfeit parts?
If the shaft does not turn silky smooth by hand then something is wrong.

I used Kirby needs also but had not had to get bearings since Kent's passing.
I had bought many many bearings from him and they always were perfect.
However I need more so I need to find another reliable seller also.
I have a 1CR to restore as well as a D80.

The cardboard piece and the foam seal were factory, to direct the flow of motor cooling air from the motor cooling fan.
There was no tape - the foam seal was stamped and had an adhesive backing. It deteriorated with age, turning to dust if touched, if one is found intact today.
The brush caps were not in the exploded view in the manual.

Here is good 1CR thread with useful information:
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?42399

Also here I proved that the 1CR motor can actually work in a D50/80...
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?39754_24

 

[lesinutah]

The

Cardboard piece ypu have looks like a mod made by someone after it left the factory.
Kirby changed motor manufacturers mid to late run of the ds80.
The motor is a replacemenfrom new manufacturer and then modified for the new 16 inch kirby lines.
The bearings in ds50-cr1 I can see spinning quick because there rated for ds80 and they upped the power smashed it in a solid plate instead of a attached bearing plate. It would put more tension and more power with no room for movement.
It's a great model. Robs restoration threads I'd suggest you atleast read them. They're very entailed and shows you how to do things without specialty tools.
Ya just read his threads.

 

[ajc31980]

Panasonicvac.  hey thanks! it's becoming one of my favorites too!  thanks for the video. I've thought about having a full zipper installed on the original bag. not sure if I wan to do that or not. it's defiantly tempting though.


 


Texaskirbyguy. yes that is the thread I was looking for !  great idea with the Hepa and shake out bag I always like give credit for a good idea. I actually did this with my 519 and DS50as well.  I haven't been able to use the shake out bags for about 4 years now. so it was definitely fun trying it out on different models.


 


 the bearings, I'm 100% sure that those are the new bearings I installed.  kinda hard to mix up the original bearings with newer style sealed bearings. but do unstained why you asked, I once made similar mistake on non vacuum project in the past. I just placed an order for more bearings from another seller. maybe ill better luck this time around.


 Ive bought many, many things( including bearings) from Kent over the years and everything was always perfect.  this set of bearings were the last available. so maybe they were old left over stock. I read on a FB post that basically his family is just selling off the remainder of stock, so who knows, Maybe they were sitting around for long time.


 good to know that the cardboard/foam is supposed to be there. I'm guessing that the cardboard is original and someone taped on new foam.


 


Lesinutah.  Thanks for the motor info ! I'm find this model to be very interesting  for sure. I'm going to defiantly read through the threads. 

 

[ajc31980]

Update

Just wanted to post a quick update on the CR1 bearings. I ordered new ones for both front and back. And it’s been running/sounding great for the last week or so. Thinking This machine should be good to go for another life time . Guess the first set was just my bad luck lol. Ah the sound.. of a happy Kirby !

AJ

 

[evolutionclean1]

Someone catch me up?

First of all, I love the classic line, and definitely need to add another classic three to my lineup.

Second, and I hate to hijack the thread, but when did Kent pass away?? I ordered so much stuff from him and plan to order some stuff for my Legend II soon ish... I can see that the eBay store is still open, who's running it now?

 

[ajc31980]

Evolution

Yes the classic line is definitely nice. I also have a classic III

Kent was the fist eBay seller I ever bought Kirby stuff from back in 2007 . Always very helpful and friendly! He always seemed to have what I needed for older models where others didn’t. I
Remember, reading on a Facebook post for the Kirby, USA worldwide group I believe. That he passed away in early 2022 ? I could be wrong though. And I believe that it’s either his son or other family that is still running the eBay store and possibly just selling off the remainder of the stock. I could be wrong on some of the details, though as it was a little while back.

I’m sure someone els in here knows better/more accurate details than I do.

AJ

 

[evolutionclean1]

At any rate

I appreciate you humoring me and catching me up a little bit. Hopefully whoever took over will do right by him, as old Kirby parts are getting very uncommon. I guess I'll have to jump on it and get the parts I need soon!

 

[lesinutah]

Kent

Oyler passed away sep 23 2022. I met him in person and considered him a great friend. His wife Yolanda is running the store. The last few years of Kent's life she helped him run his ebay store quite a bit. I actually been to Kent's house before and a couple times since.
She signed his business cards the last few years he was alive. The eBay store is now items kirby still sells. I'd love his metal polisher. I actually used it and polished a 500 series nozzle in about 2 minutes. His store is operating and I'm sure he is helping her.
I really like the cr1. It's the last kirby Jim Kirby helped developed before he passed. It has an aggressive look to it.

 

[ajc31980]

Less.

Thank you commenting and letting us know what happened and is going on with his store. I tried looking back through posts on the FB Kirby group and couldn’t find the one about Kent and his store.

And agreed. The CR1 does have that aggressive look to it . It’s definitely a beast !
This ones definitely a keeper !

 

[huskyvacs]

Funny how everyone that collects Kirbys always has a different Kirby model that eludes them. For me I only keep finding nothing but 1CR's when I want to look for vintage Kirbys lol I have a factory refurbished one, a run into the ground one, and one that's been dressed up as a Classic III. The one I can never seem to find is a DS80.

Yours looks like one of the nicer condition ones I have seen, it was taken care of more than most have been. The commutator looks good too, must have been a low hours machine.

 

[ajc31980]

Huskyvacs

I know what you mean. The classic 1CR and the Tradition where the ones that where tough finds for me. A Close friend of mine when I was a kid, his parents had a tradition. that was the only one I had ever seen. And I always liked it because it was blue. Locally, I typically see, Heritage 1’s heritage II’s legends, and the G series.
I would always see traditions and 1- CR’s on eBay, but they looked like they were pretty beat up and the price was way too high for the condition. I sort of had a stroke of good luck with eBay over the last couple of months.

Back when I was 19 and moving in onto my first apartment I found a DS50 on the curb for trash day. All it needed was belt and brush. A week later I found a DS80 out for trash that just needed a belt . I gave the DS80 to a buddy of mine and he didn’t take very good care of it, and eventually tossed it out, with out telling me. I’ve never seen another one in my area. makes me regret giving it away.
Thankfully, I hung onto the DS 50.

AJ

 

[paul]

AJ,

Congrats on finally getting your 1-CR! Looking forward to reading about and seeing your resto projects on it.

While my favorite Kirby is the Model DS50; the Model 560, the Classic 1-CR and Classic Omega 1-CB are also at the top. Regarding the last two, I really like the "wing-tipped" nozzles, color schemes, and bag patterns.

Charles H. MacFarland designed not only Kirby's Classic series but also the 500 and Sanitronic Series (or at least contributed to—I haven't looked at every patent) along with many other Scott & Fetzer products beginning in the 1940s. In the 1930s he designed for The Hoover Company including elements of refrigeration and a suction cleaner in 1939 with Howard A. Shumaker. His last patents were filed in 1976.

Here is a list of some of his patents for The S & F (filed/granted).

belt lifter 1945/1951
hard floor brush nozzle 1947/1952
brush roll 1949/1950
nozzle w/removable brush means 1949/1954
canister vacuum cleaner 1957/1961
crevice tool with removable brush means 1957/1959
Handi-Butler 1958/1960
triangular belt lifter 1960/1962
liquid sprayer 1960/1963
hassock-type vacuum cleaner 1962/1964
hose coupling 1963/1966
Rug Renovator 1965/1968
indicating means for a belt lifter 1970/1972
transparent belt lifter 1976/1978
filter bag assembly 1976/1978


Here's the diagram of his 1970/1971 Classic 1-CR patent (surname misspelled):

 

[ajc31980]

Paul

thank you !   defiantly fun reading reading trough the patent info you shared.  


 I also Have a 519, DS50, Classic III, Tradition, and a Heritage1.  They are all my favorites for different reasons.  


The Heritage 1 is probably the last model made that I really have any true interest in. ( not saying I'd Pass up decent Kirby of any model if one would cross my path)


The "Winged tipped " Nozzles are also a favorite for me too.   The heritage II models always looks odd to me with out the wings on the nozzles.

 

[paul]

You bet, AJ! Glad you enjoyed it.

Keen Kirbying!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

ajc31980

A.J.,

You should try and look for one of the very first 1970 Kirby Classic 1-CRs that use the complete motor assembly (fan case, height adjuster, armature, field coil and motor housing w/ the small carbon brushes) from the Dual Sanitronic 80, with only the motor shell housing, headlight cap, foot switch button and wheels being all-new.

These first ones are extremely rare because the D80's motor assembly combined with the new 16" wide nozzle tended to have frequent motor burnouts as a result and were consequently replaced by the new-style 6 amp motor group with an all-new fan case, height adjuster, armature, field coil and housing. In addition, the new style nozzle and front wheels also caused the old-style motor to stop running if the height adjuster was set too low, which led Kirby to redesign the fan case to have a protrusion at the suction intake opening (and thus a groove in the rug nozzle connection to go with it).

~Ben[this post was last edited: 10/18/2024-19:51]

 

[human]

The first Kirby I ever saw was a Classic Omega that was demonstrated in our living room when I was about ten years old. I was mightily impressed and quite disappointed when we didn't get one. Interestingly, my elementary school had one parked in the corner of the library, which was the only carpeted space in the whole school.

I saw one in beautiful shape at a Goodwill store a few years ago, but somebody else was already looking at it, so instead of being an A-hole, I showed him some of the features and helped him make up his mind to buy it. If he took care of the thing, it was probably the best $10 he ever spent.

A few years later, I ended up getting a Classic III on shopgoodwill.com with a hose and an incomplete assortment of tools. Oddly enough, a couple of weeks later, I found a cardboard tool caddy eBay with a partial set of tools, consisting of every one that I was missing.

I love the Classic III's red color scheme. The bag makes the machine look like it should come with an optional bagpipe accessory. But since I can't abide by shakeout bags, I replaced it with a bag assembly for a Legend II, using the original Classic III bag topper. If I ever had another chance to get a Classic Omega, I think I would put an orange Heritage 1HD bag on it.