Kirby 500 series belt?

[funvacfan]

Can you use any old Kirby belt in the older 500 series machines?

Guy

 

[vacumaniac]

Yes, make sure you are using the belts without knurls though.

 

[pr-21]

kirby.com website

Hi,

You can find alot of info on Kirby's website. This is the belt recommended

PR-21

#159056G
(3-Pack)


Fits Models:

Tradition
Classic III
Classic Omega
Classic
Dual Sanitronic 80
Dual Sanitronic 50
516
510
505

 

[kirbylux77]

Yes, you can use ANY BELT....even the knurled belts....on the older models. The ONLY reason Kirby says to use the smooth belts on the pre-Generation models is that they didn't have ball-bearing brushrolls back then, they were still using sleeve bearing brushrolls. So the knurled belt is supposedly, according to them, harder on the brushroll bearings. However, if you have replaced your brushroll within the last 10 years, it will be a ball bearing brushroll, in which case you will be perfectly fine if you use the knurled belts.

Rob

 

[kirbylux77]

Nearly forgot to add....the Dirt Devil Style 8 belts, for the Power Pak & Jaguar canisters, as well as the Royal Procision & Royal Lexon S17, & the Royal Metal Uprights, are EXACTLY IDENTICAL to the Kirby knurled belt. Same length, width, everything....I suspect Kirby has outsourced production of the belts to China, same as they did with the bags. The Dirt Devil 2-pack belts is much easier to find at a dept store....I can get [email protected] at Canadian Tire....so perhaps you could see if you can find those belts.

Rob

 

[vacumaniac]

Rob is correct about those newer brushrolls. I had forgotten about that

 

[funvacfan]

Thanks guys!

I have one knurled one on hand.

Guy

 

[eurekastar]

Be careful, though

because I believe the new brush rolls made for the early 500 machines are still made with sleeve bearings.  But the others are correct about the ball bearings.  If your brush roll has ball bearings, then the knurled belt is acceptable.  However, be sure to use the older soft belt on brush rolls with sleeve bearings. 

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Also

I also believe that the want you to use the older style softer belts over the newer style knurled ones on he older 500 series as they stretch easier and are less likely to make the belt lifter snap!

That happened to me once;o( Oops!

James)

 

[truckerx]

The newer style knurled belts are much stronger and have less give. I can see where stretching a knurled belt on the older 500 series might cause the flimsy belt lifter to snap. It has happened to me as well. Otherwise, I believe the dimensions of both older and newer knurled belts might be about the same.

 

[kirbylux77]

Guy/Funvacfan....there is an easy way to find out whether your brushroll uses the sleeve bearings or is the newer-style ball bearing brushroll. Just simply pull off the brushroll's endcaps- the endcap sits on top of the ball bearing, so you will expose the ball bearing & see it. The older-style brushrolls with sleeve bearings you will NOT be able to remove the endcap- they are built-in into the brushroll. So that will tell you what you have & which belt is required.

Rob

 

[funvacfan]

OK

Great...I think I will pick up some "old style" belts.

Guy