Comvac American Lincoln

[lesinutah]

Hey
So Chris was kind enough share pics of his comvac with me. I took super sweep apart again.
This is my theory I think the pics will prove it underneath there the exact same vacuum. They have larger carbon brushes. I believe a heritage motor single speed coil d80, cr1 bearing plate tradition wheel bracket and heritage wide wheels.
Comvac pics

 

[lesinutah]

Lincoln

Here is my American Lincoln super sweep.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

The few things I'd like to point out The nozzle trim you move it up.and it was 2 small screws keeping sole plate on. The twist on f&g is like ceramic I'm guessing. I have to use big @sz pipe wrench to grip and twist on. The screws are the tightest screws on any vacuum ever. I believe they tightened to specs with torque wrench. Getting the bearing plate off was a beotch. In pics I posted you can see item number of parts. I even opened up housing showing coil. Both vacuums have red and orange wires clipped to carbon brush. The power switch is similar. Notch were safety switch would go ala d80 and it's on both vacuums. My bag zips from top.down his I'm not sure of. I'm pretty sure all internal parts are the same except I added amodel fan. So now you have seen the beasts behind the masks and there twin brothers except skin color and brush roll. The vacuum is just solid it's all heavy duty and you can tell it's commercial. I've owned 1030z and this feels better put together than that. I have commercial sanitairre it's better than that. Kirby truly had a good thing this I believe would have been best commercial vacuum. If they kept standards they could have thrived. They would be smart to start another commercial line and have separate division. Royal/Hoover and sanitairre are commercial king's now but if Kirby built vacs to this standard they would be in class with royal. The royal has raw power brute strength this has power good design and the vacuum feels more solid. Do a commercial vacuum no tech drive or removesble nozzle. Start in on battery powered before everyone gets so far ahead they can't catch up. Idk if they ever will do commercial but this vacuum is any indicator they would flourish maybe buy back Hoover and royal bring American built vacuums back to America.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lesinutah

Les,

That really is cool he allowed you to share his COMVAC pix!

As to your Super-Sweep, according to the date stamps I see on the motor field and the armature, your cleaner is a 1984 model... making it one of the last ones built!

I would imagine his machine likely has the same field and armature (103977 on field, and 114967 on armature) as your machine.

The foot switch module (110566) is indeed exactly the same as on models 513 to Classic 1CR, except that I also see a brass ground plate (1110, in picture 17) on it to accommodate the 3-wire cord.

The bearing plate: I recognize the same screw that was used for the front axle clips. I have read these four screws are indeed a pain to remove without possibly using an impact driver.

I also want to ask: are the four flathead screws which connect the nozzle and fan case assemblies, as seen on the inside of the fan case (in picture 16), the same as the one flathead screw that connects the fan case to the motor housing on models Classic to Legend II (part number 135169)?

~Ben[this post was last edited: 1/13/2019-16:02]

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I'm not sure but the head is the same length. I can't verify as I learned to leave those screws in from taking apart royals. I had trouble with bearing plate screws which petrude this are level or slightly below. If there there anything like every other screw I'm afraid I'd strip the screw or crack housing. It's not going out on a limb to say they probably are I noticed most screw we're Phillips. Except for the two mini screws holding brush plate. The brush roll I put at lowest setting so it didn't hit against bottom plate. The cap I don't know but it's really close to the cap. Mine did indeed pop off. I'm not sure on design that happened but I'd guarantee that is why not many caps remain.
I think the bag and the exhaust nozzle are not suppose to come off by design. I don't know if the owner before had it off but it looks like there was a black seal on exhaust cap and in the bag it's like royal but it's like the size of half a belt or 3/4 wide. I believe they were sealed at factory.
I may have mentioned to Chris about the pics. I'm about to email in case I didn't.
I thought you might like to know the parts made for these machines. I haven't used a hose on it yet but am sure it's exactly like a royal would use a hose. If I get box built soon I can do air tests. I was polishing a few vacuums yesterday and holy cow with new pads or whatever they call them it worked nice. 2 buffers so four pads green white red rougue and a denim wheel for plastic. My sentria is dirty and it oxidizes fast but I'll clean it again.
Les

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I wasn't sure if Chris knew or would care but I emailed him letting him know. I may have I can't remember.
Enjoy
Les

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lesinutah

Les,

Right - on the Super-Sweep, Super-Vac 180 and the COMVAC 1300 and 1600, the nozzle is permanently attached, like with most Royal metal uprights.

The only commercial Kirby vacuum that actually had the head come off was the coppertoned Janitronic (1967-1968), but the nozzle lock mechanism on that one was different.

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

Chris didn't Care.
Ben if I used a royal single speed coil on a similar amp vacuum would it work.
Example a d80 using 880 coil.
I'm not a fan of safety switches. There isn't much difference in speeds and higher speeds wear motor out.
Les

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lesinutah

Les,

You could try, but you may risk damaging other parts of the motor. Good luck!

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I don't dare. My success rate on trying is zero for 2. The too many risks. I'd have to research and ask someone but I don't think that process is worth while.
Food for thought. When in doubt don't do it.
Les

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lesinutah

Les,

I would agree... better to be safe than sorry!

~Ben

 

[rivstg1]

as a side note on the higher speed....

since we are collectors on this site, the vast majority don't use a vintage machine as our sole vacuum. So, I don't think anyone would need to concern themselves with the extra wear the motor might experience if its kept on the high speed position. You just aren't gonna go through enough wear to be concerned.....brushes are cheap to replace too (for those of us willing to take the Kirby apart.

I have a Tradition motor hooked up on only high speed on my work bench solely for Hand Butler duty ( polishing mostly), I seriously doubt I"ll wear out the motor in my lifetime.

Kelton

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

The d80 and tradition are going into daily use. I use compact but 2 traditions and 2 d80s I plan to use one of each daily. That's only reason I mention it and the fact I hate the safety switch we don't have good experience.
But yes most people don't. I know how to modify if I want single speed I know how . The useage of hoses on various models restricts some. That's kind of hang up on switched for me.
Les

 

[rivstg1]

les, I"m confused,

I want to understand.....you wrote , "we don't have good experience. " , from using your traditions or ds80's? b/c of the safety switch?

"I know how to modify if I want single speed I know how" why would you need/want to modify the motor to run at the speed it already is at??? lower speed for nozzle use.

"The useage of hoses on various models restricts some" what????

"That's kind of hang up on switched for me." I ....don't understand. help

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I'll explain my d80 story at the end of post.
515 to sanatronic 7 are all single speed. They have a safety switch. D50 to cr1 have 2 speed and a different switch. Omega to early tradition flip safety switch. The heritage have a safety switch.
I don't like safety switches because sanatronic 7 hose won't work on any other safety switches.

If you wire the vacuum without safety switch when you push the power button the vacuum turns on. That means you can use sanatronic 7 hose in a tradition.
You wire the power switch and it's single speed. It's either high or low depending on how the power switch.

So main thing is safety switch restricts what vacuum hose or nozzles you can use. That is why I don't like safety switches.


The d80 tradition story. Last year I built 2 d80s not knowing coils we're not made for armature I was using. I burned both vacuums up. So I'm not going to use a coil Im not positive will work with armature. I don't want to ruin vacuum. I learned from d80 if your not sure don't. I don't know if a royal single speed would work in d80 so I won't because I don't want to burn up another vacuum..

I know how to wire the motors to power switch and only hook up one speed on an coil I know is comparable and work with armature. I just don't use second speed and the vacuum will work.
I hope that makes sense.
Les

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lesinutah

Les,

The other reason I inquired about the four screws that hold the fan case and nozzle assemblies together: I would like to ask - may I have you check if there is a part number on the back of the nozzle casting, too (I do know 120065 is what it says on the fan case)?

I might think it says 334667.

~Ben[this post was last edited: 1/25/2019-22:18]

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I will check it's just those screws I'm not touching the torqued in and past experience there not being removed I will strip a screw and it would be bad. I'll check backside for part number. I will check.
I've inquiried about janitronic and heritage I don't think either person is going to respond. I'm not going to be rude if they get back to me great if not all is well. I just want to give heads up I have been nice but if future contact is made it's going to be them contacting me. Persistence is not used when giving or buyying is involved. I hope they do but I'm not pressing the button to annoy they are busy with life and hopefully they contact me. But ya just updating everyone. There busy people with busy life's if the vacuums are meant for me to have they will reach out to me.
Thanks
Les

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lesinutah

Les,

If nothing changes in the next couple of weeks about the Heritage II you're trying to get, you might be able to look at this one for $175.

As this seller prefers local pickup, you will have to provide extra money on top of the $175 to cover for shipping to where you are.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kirby-Vacu...233870?hash=item2ab17aaf0e:g:9HAAAOSwUqJbafLa

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Les,

That green Super-Sweep you were (and hopefully still are) trying to get: in one of the pictures I see, it looks like it has a two-wire cord. The cord receptacle is similar to the Kirby 516 to D80.

So this is one of the very first ones from around 1968-69. The serial number also suggests this... thus, the army green ones (bearing remnants of the D80 trim) were from around 1973-78.

~Ben[this post was last edited: 1/29/2019-20:01]