Kirby 2C Restoration and Repairs

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If he did indeed throw away the Kirby stuff 3 weeks ago it is for sure in the landfill now. A 505 motor *could* possibly work in place of a 2c one.
 
dysonman1

That is why eBay exists. You put them up for sale and leave up until sold. It's not that hard. It shocks me you have a vacuum store and don't know how to run retail operations and outsource and branch out your market.

The reason why antique vacuums are $600 and up now is because of the fact people threw them all away. There is none left. The reason why it takes people 15 years to find parts is because there are none left.

I just paid $30 for screws and $90 for a baseplate for a Miele Salsa that only came out less than a decade ago because nobody had any and the original owner I got my vac from kept those parts for himself.
 
Also there are shops that rebuild electric motors, you can find one near you and take it there and have them rebuild and rewind it. I have 2 in my city.
 
An armature from a 505-512 with a 3 amp motor could possibly. A 513 - 515 armature would be 4 amps and not work correctly
 
The

4 amp armature would work and does. My 505 was rebuilt with the 4 amp motor and stock coil. The same thing with my 511. The 4 amp coil will work on a 3 amp motor that I guarantee.
 
quick question

Can Kirby armatures get shot, get bad windings, if they are disturbed. Are they more likely to get shot than field coils. I've dealt with this situation before on my Health mor Sanitation system, now again with my Kirby 2C. For example, if you were to take a Kirby motor completely apart and then put everything back together, could the armatures electrical clearance be disturbed? Could even the armatures windings be disturbed if its taken out of a motor and it has been in there for over 50+ years.
From Liam
 
The

Older 1 speed fields wear out. They used the same motor and field from 1929s to 1953. That makes it 70 years since they stopped producing them. They wear out. Replacements aren't what tge machine came with but it is what kirby repairs with oem standard parts.
 
reply

Are you saying that field coils tend to wear out, get bad windings more often than armatures? The thing is, since I replaced the armature in my Health Mor Sanitation System vacuum, with a similar but slightly newer one, my vacuum has been working perfectly since then. That was over a year and a half to around 2 years ago. I do believe that the same thing is happening with my Kirby 2C. The problem very well could be that the armature is shot, or just plain worn out and needs replacement. I would like an honest answer please, can armatures get shot, bad windings if the electrical clearance is disturbed, or if they are taken out of a motor that has not been taken apart before? Can the armature get shot if taken out of a motor at all, is there a risk of damaging the electrical clearance in an old vacuum motor, if everything is disassembled and then reassembled? I believe that when I took apart my 2C, the electrical clearance or even the windings in the armature were damaged or something happened. Even though the armatures copper wiring to the commutator did not seem damaged, they did appear to be worn out and definitely blackened, meaning it was burning. So most likely, if it is the armature than the electrical clearance was damaged, causing the windings to get shot and the burning smell to occur.
From Liam
 
side note

I think I will go ahead and replace the armature, in my Kirby 2C and see if that works. I have proven my theory before and I was successful with solving the issue before with my Health Mor Sanitation System vacuum. I can prove it again with my Kirby 2C. Why Not. As they say, Go for It, or Do the Honors.
From Liam
 
note

I used to have both a Kirby tradition and a heritage 1, but about 2 years ago, I traded them out for other vintage antique vacuums, that I wanted more so. As a side note, I do wish to have good luck with my 2C restoration and hope that a 505-512 armature will fit and do the job, I think it will. I did find a Kirby 510 motor unit on eBay and will get it soon, so I can salvage the armature out of that and put it in my Kirby 2C. Hope and pray that all goes well, I was successful once, but I think it can happen again:)
From Liam
 
trim question

Good morning, I have a question that is not related to my Kirby 2C motor. Does anyone have spare factory original headlight hood trim and bumper for a Kirby model 505. If so, Is anyone willing to sell their parts or trade them out with me. I have 2 vintage antique vacuums, that both work, that I'm willing to trade out for factory original Kirby 505 trim, if need be. If anyone is interested into giving me spare original 505 headlight trim and a bumper, please let me know soon. If I get an opportunity from someone to get them, I will use them to trim my Kirby 2C and finish its restoration. I don't know if the VacMadMan is still interested into this, but I did look at a post recently and found out that electrolux137 might have some really old, pre war Kirby vacuums, Scott Fetzer machines. I saw in another post that he was trying to sell them. Is this true and does he still have any 505's or pre war machines left that maybe he wants to sell? I am very interested and would love to know.
Thanks From Liam
 
trim question

Hello to electrolux137, this is Liam. I want to know if you have any prewar early Kirby vacuums or Scott Fetzer machines, even a Kirby model 505. I saw in a post recently, that was posted in the past, that you sold an early Scott Fetzer Sanitation System with the foot switch. You also mentioned that you may consider selling other early Kirby, Scott Fetzer machines. Is that true and do you have any of them left in your collection, the ones you said you may consider selling. I am looking for a Kirby 505 Motor unit with factory original headlight hood trim and bumper. Do you have any 505 motor unit, with original trim, that you may consider selling or even trading with me, by any chance. I do have 2 antique vintage vacuums that I'm willing to trade out to get the trim, if need be. I am looking to get factory original headlight hood trim and a bumper to finish the restoration of my Kirby 2C. Any answers, please post soon, thanks very much, I am very interested.
From Liam
 
reply

Thanks electrolux137, that's fine. Does anyone else have a spare Kirby 505 motor unit, with a factory original headlight hood trim and a bumper to a 505, or just have the parts that I mentioned individually? I would really like to get some trim to finish restoration of my Kirby 2C. I hope to completely finish restoration by this summer. If so, please let me know some time soon.
Thanks From Liam
 

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