Garage Sale Kirby G4

[methodistbill]

A friend called me from a garage sale the other day and told me she found a Kirby G4 that was being sold for $20. She wanted to know if I wanted it. I said, "Offer them $15 and they've got a deal." Well, she just brought it over to me. Not much wrong with it either that a little spit shine won't take care of. The inside of the bag was filled with gunk. I'm wondering if it was from a burst bag, use without the disposable bag, or a leak in the fill tube. The fill tube is held on by what appears to be electrical tape instead of the nylon straps like my Diamond G. Was that typical for a G4?

 

[jdinstl]

Just checked my G4...

....it has a white reinforced nylon strap with a triangular button. This loops through a slot on the fill tube and is then buttoned.

 

[methodistbill]

Emptor

I was talking about where the fill tube attaches to the emptor and also to the assembly that connects to the paper bag. Sorry about not being clear!

 

[jdinstl]

Back to the G4....

...standby!

 

[jdinstl]

Nope...

...fill tube on my G4 goes straight into the emtor. No tape job anywhere.

 

[aeoliandave]

Checkin my G4 too.

My guess is if you peel back that electrical tape it'll be sealing a crack split in the flexible hose that runs from the emptor up to the bag, a not uncommon mishap. If you don't have a local Kirby dealer who charges little I have had great success ordering parts at reasonable prices from Vacuum Needs in Utah. Of course there are probably many such Ebay vendors and VCCC folks to choose from. I just liked this feller's prices and included install instructions.



http://stores.shop.ebay.ca/Vacuum-needs/Welcome-to-Vacuum-Needs.html

 

[methodistbill]

zip tie

It's definitely missing the zip tie straps. I'll examine the fill tube more closely tomorrow. Does anyone know if the crush proof style fill tube from later G models will fit this assembly? Are they the same diameter? If this one needs replacing, I think I'll upgrade if it fits. Dave, thanks for the link too!

 

[methodistbill]

Question answered

Well, I think I just answered my own question. A look at Ebay sellers seems to indicate that the tubes are not interchangeable. But for a mere $50 bucks, I can upgrade the entire assembly (including emptor) to one that breaths more freely. I guess its like my Diamond G. Not sure $50 is worth that!

 

[aeoliandave]

Ah, now I see what you mean...

my G3, G4 and G5 have the exact same fill tube parts right up to the bag support (the G3 doesn't seem to have the lock tabs) and all have the black hose secured at each end with one or two white zip ties.
Maybe there is nothing wrong with your fill tube - the previous owner simply snipped the zip to check for cloggage and didn't replace it and used electrical tape. The G5 I recentely rescued from the curb had a burst bag and yet the lady kept using it, blowing the stuffed bojack paper bag off the fill tube, filling the bag with schmutz as well.

In any event, it's a cheap quick fix. Enjoy!

http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/THREADS/MODERN/5647x40.htm

 

[methodistbill]

Oh Dave!

I remember that thread! Makes ya wonder why people don't use common sense. My garage sale find is in MUCH better shape. I'm still going to need to do some disassembling to get it good and clean.

 

[a007kirbyman]

Tape ???

If there's tape, it's a good chance there is a leak in the tube. The G3/4/5's had a section of "shrink tubing" over the cable ties, if they are still original tubes.

Also, new style fill tubes are NOT compatable with the old Mini-Emtors.

Hope this helps. hagd

Bill