How does one install a Sani-Emtor on a Kirby Heritage 84?

[human]

So I'm trying to reassemble my newly acquired Heritage 84 after laundering the bag. It was easy enough to take apart but the Sani-Emtor isn't wanting to go back onto the bag. The spring sewn into the bottom of the bag just won't stretch enough. I've tried putting the bag onto the lip at the top of the Sani-Emptor and I've tried sliding the whole assembly in from inside the bag, which is how I put a Heritage II mini-emtor into place, but the Sani-Emtor is just too big. At the moment, I have the Sani-emtor taken completely apart to small enough to slide just the shoe part into place but that isn't working, either.

Anybody have any suggestions? I know there's bound to be a trick to it that I'm just not seeing. I know I can always put it back together with a Heritage II fill tube assembly but I'd prefer to reassemble this one in its original configuration.

Note that I've made a separate thread for this question instead of tacking it on to my main Heritage 84 thread because I wanted to give it better visibility.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

human

Edgar,

You are correct that the spring at the edge of the cloth bag is quite strong and therefore requires some getting used to when you try to remount it to the upper lip of the Sani Emtor casting.

~Ben

 

[human]

Frustrating...

I'm really surprised that out of all the YouTube videos about repairing Kirbys, there doesn't seem to be one to address this issue, which is that I can't seem to stretch the bag opening enough to get the bag even halfway onto the emtor's lip before it slips off. I've tried slipping a flat blade screwdriver between the bag and emtor to slide it on that way, but that doesn't seem to work, either. I just feel like there's something I'm overlooking. I'm kind of regretting having even taken it apart in the first place rather than just leaving the whole thing intact and hand washing the bag as I did with my G3 last summer. My initial plan was to eventually replace just the fill tube topper and perhaps the fill tube itself but leave the Sani-Emtor in place. It's looking more and more like I may have to give it a full Heritage II conversion, including the mini-emtor, if I can't get it back together using the original one.

 

[human]

Defeated...

...at least for now.

Well, I've admitted defeat for the present and put the machine back together using a Heritage II fill tube assembly I had on hand. I may revisit the issue sometime in the future but for now at least, the machine is usable.

Please consider this thread to still be open with additional suggestions and insights welcome as they may help me or someone else.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

human

Edgar,

At the beginning of the final part of Bill Yaple's (wyaple) Kirby Dual Sanitronic 80 video, you can see him re-attach the cloth bag to the Sani Emtor (this segment starts at 0:25). You might want to watch this part of it in slow-motion (0.5x speed) the first few times, to get the hang of it for yourself.



~Ben[this post was last edited: 10/30/2021-20:00]

 

[blackheart]

There doesn't seem to be any good tricks to it unfortunately it's a hard and tedious process. Just keep working at it and you'll get it eventually.

It's been a while since i've done it but from what I remember I try to hook both the front and back ends and then keep my grip on the back while using my other hand to work at the sides.

 

[human]

Thanks for that video. If nothing else, it makes me feel better that I'm not the only one that has struggled with that particular operation. I'm sure I'll revisit it at some point in the not-too-distant future but for now, that Sani-Emtor assembly is safely stored in my barn while I enjoy the H84 in its somewhat modified configuration. I'm actually thankful I had the parts on hand to do that as it's greatly reduced my stress level in the short term.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

human

Edgar,

You are welcome... and happy Halloween!

~Ben

 

[kirbyklekter]

"You are not alone"

I wish I had recorded any one of the times I wrestled the bag back on to the emptor. If I posted to you tube I'd for sure have to leave the voice audio out, too many expletives! The spring was gritty from rust and I was expecting it to snap any second. So next time I think I'll enlist the help of a friend. I have no doubt Kirby has a special tool that is strong enough to hold the bag and spring open while mounting on to the emptor.

Removing the bag was no bargain either. The possibility of the tool you're using to get under the spring could slip and tare or punch a hole in your bag or you exists. So the last two times I resorted to hand washing. You can wrap the whole thing in a towel and utilize your washing machine to do a spin rinse and final spin without filling the tub with water. I wrap and tie a damp towel around the emptor to hold it in place while the washer spins up to speed. Top Loading machine only! Some dryers have a rack you put in to dry tennis shoes or other items, that might speed up the drying time other wise it's out on the line or a pistol grip hair dryer, at least around the spring to minimize rust while drying.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

To get the bag spring onto the emtor housing, ROLL it on with your fingers, rather than trying to stretch it.

See reply 2 of this thread with explanation and pictures...
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?34091_7

I have a short video but not sure if there is a way to upload it here.

 

[vacuser]

bag on to emptor

i took a piece of heating & air pipe just big enough to slip over emptor & slide the bag down onto pipe & onto the emptor.i got an elbow piece & turned it till it was almost straight.

 

[human]

@vacuser: That's an interesting idea. I just might have to try that. I'm assuming this is about the diameter of a dryer vent tube? What I'm visualizing is fitting the metal tube through the opening in the bottom of the bag and the slipping it over the lip of the Sani-emtor and sliding the bag onto the lip, then withdrawing the tube.

 

[kirbyklekter]

Just curious

Have you had a chance to try @vacuser's method of sleaving the bag on? Sounds like a winner to me.

 

[human]

I haven't yet had time to give that a try but I'm looking forward to doing so and I'll let you know how it works.