Did I do good/bad? Haha!

[warcake]

I saw a Kirby diamond edition on ebay in what I considered rough shape and put in a joke bid of $.99. That bid reigned supreme until 7 hours before the auction ended when someone bid $10. My phone went off and I put in a max bid of $11 just to mess with the other bidder, still joking. Earlier I checked back on my purchase history and noticed that other bidder didn't outbid me! I've wanted a newer Kirby, but I'm wondering how rough it looks to other people. I've already paid for it and even if it comes almost destroyed, I'll still be pretty happy with my purchase due to the low price, but I wanted to get some second opinions on how good/bad I did by buying this one. I don't know a lot about Kirby vacuums, especially not the ones after the G3! :0


 


From the pictures I just see a machine that is in need of a desperate cleaning and a light polishing, but the description says it may need a new bag. I'm unsure on why they're saying that and didn't ask if they meant an outer bag or a disposable bag because it's only a $40 replacement if it's something like holes in the outer bag and I already had bought some disposable ones, but if it's just a dirty bag I do know how to launder one thanks to some helpful guides.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/KIRBY-G-SER...GBSRxxzBFNx1U4cfOJdG0%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[kirbysthebest]

Hopefully they didn't suck up any water, or dog ________.


It looks like you may need a new cord as well, as it looks like it's been chewed upon. 


 


Still even if using for parts, I don't think you did bad.  Sometimes a little TLC can do an abused child a world of good.

 

[charleskirby66]

You done good!

I own that model and I absolutely adore it!  I paid a hell of a lot more for it, used, than you did, but it looked brand new and came with a 5 year warranty, 12 belts, 15 bags, scent tabs, 2 bottles of shampoo, and ALL standard accessories and shampooer.


 


I'd say you got the deal of the century!  Enjoy the speed switch!

 

[warcake]

You've got the same concerns I have! I'm hopeful it'll just need a new cord, but when I get it I'm breaking it down completely and giving it a thorough cleaning and parts inspection.


 


I wrote it off as a parts machine at worst. I'm not super worried about the cord or the brush roll at this moment, as I've had plastic junk machines with significantly worse condition cords and brush rolls in the past that lasted fine. Mostly concerned with any damage they might have inflicted on this poor thing in the past and if I'll need to replace the outer bag or not. We'll all know on Nov 10th when I get it home and start complaining about what I find! I really appreciate you guys reading through all my gibberish and questions. This place has been an invaluable resource for me and I get to look at all the pretty collections that I don't have room for.


 


I have everything but the shampooer that would be compatible with this Kirby, but I don't have enough room for more attachments in my tiny apartment, so I was looking for machines that were specifically just the vacuum or a vacuum/shampooer I'll never use. Believe it or not but Kirby's aren't the best machine for me to have in my apartment so I'm thankful I'm the designated floor cleaner for two apartments and a house so my one Kirby gets quite a bit of use since I bought it.


 


I made this post mostly to make sure that I wasn't oblivious to some obvious sign that this Kirby had had a rougher life than shown on the surface. I know some people have told me that my poor Classic III has had a fairly hard life when they've looked at where it's scratched and how it leaks dust around the emptor/ring. I bought a new felt gasket with my hinges though to hopefully fix that, though! I hate when parts are on back order.


 


 Edit: I've thought about looking into some of those refurbished models that pop up online! I'm really interested in some of the G4s I've seen as that's the last Kirby I remember my great great grandmother having bought when I think of her house. She kept hers fairly pristine as she was older and couldn't do much cleaning then, so I want one that looks new. Where did you get your refurb?

 

[charleskirby66]

Refurbished Kirbys

I got my refurbished, used Kirby at a dealership who stocked used Kirbys in his showroom. He has relocated to Utah.

There is a Kirby restoring service on eBay. Check out the link below…

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/181212860958

 

[sptyks]

warcake: Not that it will matter much since you plan to tear it down, but in the listing pictures I noticed that the brush roll is installed improperly. It is set at 3 on the left side and a 1 on the right side.


 


Charleskirby66: Your link does not work. Unless it's just my computer, but I don.t think so.

 

[warcake]

My town isn't so great and we don't have Kirby dealers even close enough for the Kirby website to pull one up. LOL



Thanks for the link! I may pick up a decent shape G4 and send it off to someone to restore it all purdy.


 


Very keen eyes sptyks! I'll be sure to fix that first so I don't overlook it. I wonder how someone could get it so unevenly installed...

 

[charleskirby66]

sptyks:  The link works for warcake and I.  The problem must be your computer.


 


warcake:  It's pretty easy to unevenly install it.  All you do is turn the end cap to another number and push the brush roll into the nozzle.  It must wobble like crazy when it is run.  Could be one reason you got it so cheap!  Seller's mistake!  

 

[human]

As Kirbysthebest said, your purchase was more than worth it for parts alone. But it's probably in plenty good shape to restore to its former glory. I bought my G5 with the idea of it being a parts donor for my Gsix but ended up renovating it. That was a fun project, but now I have more money tied up in that machine than in my two Gsixes combined. Two potential internal points of concern would be the Tech Drive and the fan. Both are easy to replace but the Tech Drive will be a little spendy. Still, you're into it for so little right now, you can afford to put a little more into it if necessary.

 

[warcake]

Just got it into my house yesterday and this thing is mostly just filthy. It looks like the outer bag may have been used without a disposable bag, but not badly enough to not be laundered back to health. I'm going to have to disassemble everything and give it a good cleaning over the upcoming days. Gonna assemble it as is though tomorrow when some disposable bags come into the mail and see how it sounds and how well the tech drive engages before I decide on it's use. Whoever had it before the person that wrecked it had replaced the brush roll. It's almost like new bristle wise! I'll post some pictures tomorrow of how disgusting it is and how much of it I'm able to clean up in my free time tomorrow.

 

[hooverman2121]

Yeah, for parts alone you did well with it!  Could be a filthy mess but what's that stopping you from pulling it apart and cleaning it up, that's just part of the fun haha!


 


If your town has any vacuum stores around you can check there as well.  I got my Diamond Edition from my local store (the one I am an on-call tech for) and it was completely refurbished.  The owner even let me pull some parts that were in better cosmetic shape off another Diamond, just because he knew I loved vacuums so much and as a thank you for helping him and his store team.


 


Let us know how things work out with your new machine!

 

[warcake]

Unfortunately I don't have a vacuum store near me at all! It'd be fun if we did, though...I don't know how safe my paycheck would be if the option to buy a new Kirby even presented itself.


 


This thing is a total mess, but I managed to get most of it taken apart before realizing I was missing a 9mm wrench to dismantle the fan. Gotta find the rest of my tools and a tube of silicon and I'll finish the tear down and then immediately follow up with the rebuild! Here are some crappy pictures that show it's filthyness. Excuse the bit of filth on the floor, most of it fell out of this machine, but some of the dust has to be from me lacking a functioning vacuum right now. Other than it being a mess, I think one of the parts was broken and I'll have to order a replacement. It was a tiny black plastic piece that came apart into three chunks of plastic when I was taking apart the handle assembly. I'm 95% sure that it was broken before me, though. I'll take a picture of the pieces when I get home and hopefully someone can tell me what it's supposed to be.

 

[hooverman2121]

Yeah, she could use some love but that's why you're working on it! Fan looks good, from what I can see at least. You could try pushing back on the fan and turning the spindle, I've done that in emergencies and 95% of the time it worked.

How does everything else sound? Love these machines because they're tanks.

Let us know!

 

[charleskirby66]

I concur with hooverman2121

Yup yup and yup!  Looks like it's in great shape over all.  Cleaning is what we all do, right?  


 


I'm dying to find out what that plastic piece is that fell apart into 3 pieces.  Where abouts in the handle assembly did this fall from?  Just doesn't sound like something I've seen on my Kirby Ultimate G Diamond...

 

[warcake]

Here's a picture of the mystery pieces!


 


Also, a picture with another question...I accidentally hit my Kirby and the handle assembly came off from where I'd had the screws taken out already. That's no big deal <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">other than my slightly cut up foot</span>, but I'd like to know if anything looks damaged to anyone else.


 


I may have to buy a new wrench set at work to finish the tear down. Not been able to locate mine...eugh!

 

[hooverman2121]

I'll pull my handle apart today and see if there's anything like that. It says Kirby on it so it's gotta be from somewhere. Any part number stamped on it? I see "W8" but searching for that didn't give me any parts. Maybe a phantom vacuum, who knows... Yeahh, I'm tired, too tired to do it now but not tired enough to go to sleep, ugh I hate it nights/mornings like this.

I was gonna suggest a standard size wrench but with 9mm there is no substitute.

 

[sptyks]

No need for a wrench...

to remove the fan. All that is needed is a small screwdriver or allen wrench that is inserted into the hole on the belt pulley shaft. Then grip and hold firmly one of the fins of the fan with pliers or small vise grips while you firmly tap the screwdriver or whatever object you inserted into the hole of the shaft with a small hammer or something else such as an adjustable wrench. Just a few firm taps should free up the shaft so you can unscrew it by hand. No need for a 9mm wrench.


 


Keep in mind that the belt pulley shaft IS REVERSE THREADED! Turn CLOCKWISE to loosen and COUNTER CLOCKWISE to tighten.


 


Hope this simple procedure helps.


 

 

[charleskirby66]

Mystery plastic piece

It looks like the piece from headlight hood mounting area.  This piece is what allows the headlight hood to stay propped up when it is opened.  See Number 8 on this schematic.  If I am correct, you will need a new one, as that should be one piece with two "wings".

 

[warcake]

Does this look like the right part? On my phone so things are a bit hard to see. If its not and anyone knows the correct part number, please chime in!

http://thevacuumcenter.com/genuine-kirby-bushing-headlight-pivot.html