Couple Traditions with Differences

[rodknock95]

I rescued a Tradition from the Plano store, which in pictures looked like a shelter animal begging for a home, with its aftermarket god awful bag. The other was on Marketplace for 1 dollar, yes, one dollar. Bought it from a lady who was getting rid of her mothers stuff cause she went into assisted living and she didn't want to post it was free because she wanted it to go to a good home. Im noticing the Plano one has a hole drilled in the nozzle and has the suction adjustment doo dad taped up. Both have headlight locks, but there is something missing from the one. Im uneducated on these headlight switches. Check out these pics and see what you think.

 

[jrdavis]

i have one

i have one like that with the locking headlight somewhere around here. i think i only have the floor polisher head that will fit that specific one

 

[texaskirbyguy]

The hole in the nozzle is where a pin was located that would engage the safety switch mounted in the headlight cap. That machine was converted to the lower mount safety switch so the pin was no longer needed.
The suction relief disc musta broke off so they just taped it.

I am sure glad someone adopted that bojack Tradition. I thought for sure it would be the last one there, but I was wrong. There was one Heritage that was the last one and unfortunately it followed me home, even though I already have one. However I am just fostering it for now...

 

[rivstg1]

Lol

‘Fostering it now’. Clever way to put it

 

[kloveland]

Thank you for sharing and the detailed pictures. I'm thinking some of them had the suction relief valve while others didn't.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

That Tradition you got from the Plano shop was a great find - never had the fan case mounted safety switch installed! Sure wish I got it now, but that bojack bag had scared me off...

The later year Traditions lost the suction relief vents - I have a couple here from the Plano shop haul that never had them. Kinda stinks as I do use the vent when vacuuming throw-rugs.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

texaskirbyguy

Hi Rob,

I hope all is well with you and your family -- and I hope you read my follow-up reply to your latest e-mail. I remain looking forward to that Heritage service manual!

Thank you,



Ben

 

[rodknock95]

Bojack

And this one has been officially named Bojack!!!

 

[texaskirbyguy]

You will need to change the name pretty soon, as I have a real Tradition emtor and bag trim in your boxes ready to ship out tomorrow. All you will need is a fabric bag for Tradition (James might have one), emtor adapter plate from a Heritage, and a fill tube and bag adapter from a Heritage II. Actually James might have all those parts. This setup will then take the nice G-series bags.

 

[jrdavis]

i remember

when i was about 4 or 5 the neighbors had a tradition. i wanted so bad to run it but they said they were out of bags- i think they just didnt want me running their vacuum

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

rodknock95

Blaze,

That is odd that on the bojacked Tradition, they never managed to finish the conversion from the top-mounted speed switch!

~Ben

 

[rodknock95]

Ben

It is. They hardwired it in the motor case I believe because it does run with the nozzle off. But it would be a easy one to try to convert back to the original set up

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

rodknock95

Blaze,

I wish you luck trying to do that.

On the other hand... if you find a good 134373 speed switch and wish to use that to finish what isn't finished, make sure you follow the directions as given in Kirby's customer service bulletin number 120 dated 11-1-79, about how to convert to a bottom-mount speed switch.

~Ben