Did I do good/bad? Haha!

[delaneymeegan]

I think you got a good deal.

I know the fun you're having, though I don't really do uprights.

At one point I tried out at selling new Kirbys. They were asking $2000+. I asked them "can I go on line and buy one on Ebay or other sites for a couple hundred? Is that our competition?". The guy was evasive and I don't really think he liked me after that. lol. Then I found out that they sometimes sell new ones for like $800.
Needless to say, I and a few others didn't come back for further training.

As far as clean up goes: If you're breaking it all down, remove the motor and put most of the rest in the dishwasher. You may need to run it a few times. Avoid putting items with graphic materials or paint, that might be damaged by such heat and water. About 15 minutes into the wash, remove parts and simply go over them with a vinegar soak sponge. This helps remove certain surface materials the DW won't.

I just took delivery of two Hoover electric hoses from the early 80s. They weren't the worst, but I put them in the DW, with the ends facing down toward the spray arm and ran it through 2 times. After the first wash, I took each hose and put one end at the faucet while holding the other end at the same height. I filled the hose with hot water and then sloshed the water back and forth and then dumped it. The water was filthy.

have fun.

 

[jeschbac]

DWashing

Hey, I've had some friends tell me to also put the field and armature through the DW with the rest of it. I was dubious, but I've done it 3 times now and gotten excellent results. I will try the vinegar wash as well, although I'm wondering about adding vinegar to the DW during the rinse cycle. Ideas?

 

[warcake]

Putting parts in the dw sounds wild! I'd be too scared of something going wrong to try it on a kirby, but I may pick up a rando vac at a thrift store or yard sale and give it a go!


 


Edit: Anyone know the part number for the black plastic part? I posted something that looked similar in my last reply, but wasn't sure if it was the right thing.


 


Edit 2: What does the vinegar do? Have you tried 91% alcohol on one of those silicon scrubber sponges? I've heard of some people using that to lightly clean grime off their machines and it may be less smelly than vinegar if it works as well.

 

[delaneymeegan]

Alcohol can damage, by discoloring, and cause eventual warping of plastic parts, and should only be used sparingly.

Vinegar is like an all natural bleach, that is safe, isn't toxic, and for that matter is digestible.
I have spray bottle filled with vinegar at each sink.
It can be used in combination with baking soda to remove stains and gunk from any number of surfaces. When spray over a surface and allowed to set and dry, it sanitizes, like bleach.
Using Vinegar in the laundry or dishwashing as a rinse aid, helps prevent spots and helps clean away and neutralize soap residue.
Vinegar (Apple) for ones hair, as a final rinse helps to again, remove soap residue and helps hair dry soft.
I even use vinegar for my teeth sometimes, as a rinse after brushing, followed by a thorough rinse with water.
Vinegar can also be used in cooking and as salad dressing.
When cleaning the car, to remove tough stain, stuck on bugs, and tree sap spots, The night before wash, I'll spray the areas with vinegar, then apply a heavy covering of baking soda, then spray the baking soda, creating a paste. Let that set over night. Next morning most stain, bugs, and sap will wash right off.

I keep baking soda in an easy to dispense container at each sink as well.
Vinegar and baking soda are my primary cleaning agents. All natural, affordable, and non-toxic.

 

[warcake]

Thanks for all the uses! I'd seen 'cleaning vinegar' sold at stores, but never tried it in my tiny apartment for fear of an awful stench.

 

[delaneymeegan]

"awful stench"


No, you're thinking of bleach, or other petroleum based cleaning products. Bleach IS toxic. The label on the side warns you of that and you also don't want to get it on your hands.

Here's how bad bleach is. I tried putting bleach into spray bottles. What always would happen is the sprayer would literally disintegrate and when you'd go to spray the bleach, the sprayer would start leaking all over, including one's hands. That means it's so toxic, its eating away the components in the sprayer. You end up just throwing it away after only a month or less. Bleach will literally eat through cloth and other materials if allowed to stay in direct contact.
That doesn't happen with water or vinegar.

If you can handle opening a jar of pickles, you can handle vinegar. At about $3 a gallon, it does a lot for the money, too. And you get used to it. Any 'smell' does not linger.

 

[charleskirby66]

warcake

YUP!  That looks like the right part in reply #18.  Good job!

 

[warcake]

Thanks, darlin'! I'll get it ordered and put this thing back together over this upcoming week. If I hadn't been working so much due to holiday hours, I'd have already gotten impatient and put it together without that part. Guess things happen for a reason.

 

[charleskirby66]

Oh wait!

Hmmm I keep looking at that pic in the link... the more I look at it, the more it doesn't look just right.  It's very similar, but not exactly the same.  It should be one part that flaps like wings and comes together.  This piece looks too round.  Ugh I hope I didn't mess you up!  I just installed one on a G4 I'm fixing for my sister.  


 


Check this link out.  This is the correct one.  I'm so sorry if I messed you up!  

http://www.goodvac.com/Headlight_assembly_pivot_bushing_K_p/k-prt-hlcp-161689s.htm

 

[warcake]

You did *not* mess me up! I've been too busy at work to continue cleaning this machine, but I have a few days off this week. I'm gonna get it good and tidy and reassemble it without the broken piece for the time being. Order it and wait until it comes in and when I get the parts I'm still waiting on for my Classic III, I can take them both apart and fix them both.

 

[charleskirby66]

Cool idea

So, if your headlight hood does not stay up and vibrates when being used, you'll know for sure that it's the right piece to get!