Classic III & Heritage II getting new carbon brushes

[gj3476]

So I’m in the process of placing new carbon brushes on my Kirbys Classic III and Heritage II. I pulled out the old carbon brushes from my Classic III and I don’t know what do you think? Should I put the new ones on yet or leave the old ones back in?

 

[gj3476]

This was meant to be in the vintage page.

 

[rivstg1]

those

do not, need to be replaced, lots of life left

 

[gj3476]

Ok that’s good, thanx!

 

[bryan1980]

Yeah, those look brand-new!

 

[gj3476]

Bryan1980, the ones on the left are brand new and the old ones on the right are from my Classic III. Last night I checked the ones on my Heritage II and they still got lots of life left!

 

[broomvac]

I don’t worry about carbon brushes until the motor starts acting up. I haven’t had a vacuum motor ever quit on me, but I did have a grinder and a dremel tool each wear through a full set of carbon brushes. After brush replacement, both began working again, unaffected.

Brushes last a LONG time, thankfully!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

I keep thinking this is going to happen sometime soon to my Classic III, my Tradition, Heritage 84 or the [1987] Heritage II... so far, I was told not to bother with the carbon brushes yet.

~Ben

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Geez - cannot even tell the new from old; Certainly many years of life left.
I would replace them at 1/4" - 3/8".
Do inspect them in 2 years to start, just so you know how fast or slow they wear. Then you can change the interval as needed, probably much longer.
I would not wait until the motor gives trouble. My mom did that long ago with her D50 and a brush spring finally got pulled into the commutator. It ran, but intermittently and with a nasty smell. Luckily she shut it off fast. She replaced the brushes herself soon after.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

texaskirbyguy

Rob,

Thank you for the suggestions. Makes me feel a little better about them.

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

Texaskirbyguy

Hey
She replaced the brushes herself.
That is impressive. That is cool she knew what it was.
Les

 

[texaskirbyguy]

No problem, Ben - always happy to help when I can.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Les, impressive for a lady to know, yes. She also changed her car's oil too; painted the house, etc. Being a single parent made her independent and strong.
I do remember when she broke the wire off the D50's brush cap. She resoldered it to the cap with a late 60's clothes iron! Must have been the 'wool' setting.........
That held until about 2 years ago when it came loose again; I resoldered it with a real soldering iron.

 

[lesinutah]

Texaskirbyguy

Hey
Very impressive she used an iron to solder. She sounds very inovative by need. She still uses her d50 when it's 63 years old. It shows she knows quality. That's good to see.
Les