I finally succumbed to temptation...

[human]

About six months ago, I bought a Kirby G4 that 'needed a little work' (we've all been there, right?) and then went back to the thrift store the next day to buy the Gsix that had been sitting next to it as an economical source for the needed parts. I left the Gsix disassembled in my barn to help me see it as a collection of replacement parts and not a proper vacuum cleaner. But every time I'd go down there, I'd look at in its forlorn condition and think that mainly with the parts I have on hand, I could easily put it back to rights. All I'd really need is an outer bag and a headlight bulb.

For half a year, I've successfully let the cost of an outer bag dissuade me from doing the deed--until a couple of days ago. Vacuholic that I am, I found a second hand outer bag in reasonably nice shape for a fairly attractive price and bought it. Ironically, it's for a G4, but its graphite gray color scheme shouldn't look bad, especially with the black Gsix mini-emtor and bag topper in place. I'll get the fun of working the strap off of the bottom of the damaged Gsix bag so I can transfer its mini-emtor and fill tube assembly over to the new bag.

I never returned the G4 handle back panel (see previous thread at the link below), so that will finally go onto the G4, so the Gsix can have its original panel back. The Gsix will also, at least for now, receive the repaired cord that came off of the G4. I'm trying not to turn this into any more of a money pit production than it already is, so I'm reusing as many on-hand parts as possible, but I'll eventually have to spring for a headlight bulb, just maybe not right away.

For your convenience, I have included a link to the earlier thread connected to this saga:

https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?44603#reply_start

 

[justjunque]

I get it. I would have done the same thing.
I could be wrong, but I don't think I've ever used anything as a parts donor; vacuum or other.
I know I'd feel bad/guilty, and just end up having to buy the parts anyway.
Good luck with both of them!

 

[human]

Parts donors...

The idea of parts donors is pretty common in my experience, from cars to electronics to household appliances. Usually the donor is beyond reasonable repair, and thus better used for replacement parts. This particular Gsix, really only needed a new outer bag, but was otherwise in good shape, so I always felt a little guilty for stripping it down to complete another one.

I'll probably do the preliminary work on that Gsix this weekend, installing the parts I have on hand for it, and then I can put the bag on when it arrives early next week, to complete the project.

 

[fantomfan57]

Me too!

Mine was a Eureka canister in navy. Cord reel, all the tools, smokey tool cover straight suction hose, wands etc... On closer inspection, found that someone had "engineered" the part between the step pedal and the handle. Horrible fit. I may have posted on here looking for the correct part. It has an electrical port.

Later, found a navy-blue canister on Goodwill Online with a starting bid of $9.99. I won! On further inspection, it does not have a cord reel and the white plastic has yellowed.

I have a golden straight suction machine; I had planned to part out. All that is on hold as I need to do some swapping using the newly acquired vacuum.

"We are the Borg, resistance is futile". I get it, I truly do.

 

[human]

I spent the morning and the early part of the afternoon grading papers, and decided after a late lunch that since it's sunny and fairly temperate outside, some fresh air and sunshine was in order, so I went down to the barn and pulled the two Kirbys I'd bought last summer out and swapped and installed the parts I had on hand.

The G4 now has the brand new handle back panel I'd bought last summer and never returned, and the Gsix now has its original handle back panel once again in place. I also put the original G4 cord onto the Gsix. It'll serve its purpose, at least for now.

I also pulled the emtor and fill tube assembly off of the damaged Gsix bag, so it's ready to go onto the replacement bag when it arrives. I found an easy method for dealing with that 'zip strap' at the foot of the bag. Just grip it with a pair of needle nose pliers, immediately behind the 'buckle' and twist the pliers to back the strap end out of the buckle. The guy on the YouTube video had obviously had a lot of practice and was able to do it in one move, but I had to repeat the 'grip-and-twist' three times to free the strap.

It's possible the replacement bag will arrive today, but USPS is sending mixed signals. Tracking shows today as the projected delivery date, but the status is showing as "Moving through the network" instead of "Out for delivery". Even if it does come today, the mail tends to be delivered pretty late, and I've got other things I need to do this evening, so I likely won't be able to wrap things up until tomorrow or Sunday at the earliest.

Interestingly, I happened across a picture of a Gsix with a G4 bag on eBay last night (see link below) and I actually had to look twice to see that the bag wasn't original, so I'm optimistic mine won't look too much like a frankenkirby when I'm done with it, especially since I'll be using the Gsix plastics at the top and bottom.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1159545836...rkt=4&sd=115954583682&itm=115954583682&pmt=1%

 

[fantomfan57]

Human,

"grading papers"? Am I to understand you are an educator? If so, the two top professions I admire the most are Educators and Nurses. Why Nurses and not Doctors? because I believe Doctors diagnose, but Nurses heal.

Hats off, Human.

 

[human]

@fantomfan57:
Thank you. Yes, I am an associate professor of Humanities at the local community college.

 

[human]

Job done...

The bag arrived in today's mail, and I really needed something slightly fun after a day of grading. I brought the fill tube, strap and bag topper up to the house and put it all together, while sitting in my recliner. The new bag is now on the Gsix, and it looks quite nice. But for the lack of yellow flecks, one could easily mistake it for the 'right' bag. Now that the project is more or less complete, I'll post a photo tomorrow.

I'm glad I can now include replacing a G-series bag on my list of Kirby skills. It's a little more challenging than replacing a bag on a Heritage II/Legend II machine, but definitely easier than doing the same on a Heritage 1HD with its square, metal sani-emtor. Sometime when I'm really bored, I may have to put my new skills to further use by pulling the burgundy emtor and fill tube off of my trashed G5 bag and putting it on the gray G7 bag that has resided on my G5 for several years now, just to complete the look.

 

[human]

The (mostly) finished product...

As promised, here are a couple of photos of the Gsix, fitted out with its G4 bag. It was raining, so I didn't want to take it outside; thus, you get to look at my messy barn as a backdrop. I haven't polished it or anything, other than just to go over it with a Tub-O-Towels wipe. I say it's mostly finished because it still needs a headlight bulb and it's missing the little cover where the cord fits into the motor body. Those will come over time. Another thing it's missing that I had not noticed before is the little bag release button at the top of the handle. It still works without it, so I'm putting it very low on my list of things to worry about.

Given that my goal was to return the machine to operational status while spending the least possible amount of money, I feel like it turned out well. The best part is I don't have to feel guilty about seeing it sitting in pieces.