Belt for Kirby 519

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ned_flanders

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2012
Messages
129
I need a belt for a Kirby 519, which one do I get and where can I get it? I'm assuming I need a gray belt and the generation black belts won't work on it.
 
You are correct

You will want to get the older gray Kirby belt.  The newer Knurled belt will be too tight for the bearings on the brush roll if you have the older sleeve type bearing.   It will probably be easier on the older machines motor bearings as well.  
 
Grey belts...

Grey belts are no longer made. They have been re-engineered and are now called soft black. They are readily available at vac shops or least should be!
 
Gray Belts

Thank you for the information.  I still have a drawer full of them, so not aware they had been changed.


 


What about the Royal Metal machines.   They used to use the Kirby gray belt, and when Kirby went to the black belt they still used the softer belt material.  
 
Do Not...

Do not use a Kirby belt on a Royal. Use Kirby belts on Kirbys only. Use Royal belts on Royals only. The wrong tension caused by the wrong belt will damage that front bearing on many Royals and of which some of those bearings are now discontinued.

Royal also makes a knurled belt for their higher amp machines but do not use them on the lower amp machine. I had been told by a Royal guru who is also a member of the vac club that machines under 5 amps should use the regular belt. The one I always use is # 1044260001. It's more pliable than what was or had always been prescribed. There is a belt with number 17398 which is used on the old Cadillac, GE, PD, and Westinghouse machines, as well as the older Royals. But, I am not comfortable using them because they are thicker and feel too hard.

If there is another Royal guru reading this perhaps you can shed some light on this subject.
 
Ben you are correct...

but the old belt is still available the last time I checked with my vendor.
 

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