This is the Kirby 505 motor I just completed with a 2C nozzle, belt cap, handle, and emptor. nice old Kirby Frankenstein that fit together nicely.
Kirby 505 or 2C? Kirby Frankenstein.
- Thread starter vacmadman
- Start date
VacMadMan
Jim,
The 2C was the first Kirby to have the streamlined nozzle and headlight cap, but was also the last to have the smaller Emtor as well as the design for the top part of the handle and the painted handle tube.
~Ben
Jim,
The 2C was the first Kirby to have the streamlined nozzle and headlight cap, but was also the last to have the smaller Emtor as well as the design for the top part of the handle and the painted handle tube.
~Ben
Yep the 2C was the first to have that classic Kirby 500 series look with the new styling of the nozzle. That continued until 1970, when they came out with the Kirby classic, which I never cared for.
A few changes
I went ahead and painted the wheel washers red, and also replaced the rear 505 wheels with the narrower Kirby 2C wheels. This also has the 2C front wheel axle with the original red numbers on the height adjuster.
I went ahead and painted the wheel washers red, and also replaced the rear 505 wheels with the narrower Kirby 2C wheels. This also has the 2C front wheel axle with the original red numbers on the height adjuster.
human
Well-known member
Nice attention to detail. The machine looks lovely.
Thanks
Edgar,
Thank you so much. I'm glad you like it.
Jim
Edgar,
Thank you so much. I'm glad you like it.
Jim
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
very nice
I have an original 2C not in bad shape but thinking about gettin' down and dirty cleaning it up like I did my 1C
I have an original 2C not in bad shape but thinking about gettin' down and dirty cleaning it up like I did my 1C
Thanks
Jason,
You should indeed. Please share the pictures of your 1C, I would love to see it. Take some before and after pictures of your 2C as well.
Jim
Jason,
You should indeed. Please share the pictures of your 1C, I would love to see it. Take some before and after pictures of your 2C as well.
Jim
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
I have a few pics of before and after
like, 150 of them! (of the 1C) it was a dirty job. the first pic is of one I got about 20 years ago(parts) second pic is it and another 1C I already had. the second pic was taken 10 years ago. I will post some more pics in the morning
like, 150 of them! (of the 1C) it was a dirty job. the first pic is of one I got about 20 years ago(parts) second pic is it and another 1C I already had. the second pic was taken 10 years ago. I will post some more pics in the morning
Very nice
Jason,
You did a wonderful job, it looks fantastic. I hope to find a 1C someday for my collection...nice work, and thank you for sharing, I would love to see more.
Jim
Jason,
You did a wonderful job, it looks fantastic. I hope to find a 1C someday for my collection...nice work, and thank you for sharing, I would love to see more.
Jim
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
thats an old pic
I had done a quick buffing on one in 2003 right before I took it to the state fair for the "ABC" (all brand cleaner) booth/display for the "guess the age within 5 years and win a prize" (he sold new Kirbys so I guess the "ABC" was the trade ins he was selling)these pics are from the fair and 1C, 2C, and 510 from 2003. I have better original 1C and 2C now. I will post them tomorrow-and some before and after pics of the 1C I did in 2017. I'd had one on the buffing wheel years ago, but never gave one the full treatment- rewiring, internal cleaning and buffing til 2017. I should have replaced the bearings because even after a good cleaning and regreasing they're still kinda rough. I just need to figure out what size
I had done a quick buffing on one in 2003 right before I took it to the state fair for the "ABC" (all brand cleaner) booth/display for the "guess the age within 5 years and win a prize" (he sold new Kirbys so I guess the "ABC" was the trade ins he was selling)these pics are from the fair and 1C, 2C, and 510 from 2003. I have better original 1C and 2C now. I will post them tomorrow-and some before and after pics of the 1C I did in 2017. I'd had one on the buffing wheel years ago, but never gave one the full treatment- rewiring, internal cleaning and buffing til 2017. I should have replaced the bearings because even after a good cleaning and regreasing they're still kinda rough. I just need to figure out what size
Very nice indeed.
Jason,
Thank you for sharing these pictures. You did a wonderful job. I love to see these old Kirby's brought back to their original glory...."No Kirby left behind".
Jim
Jason,
Thank you for sharing these pictures. You did a wonderful job. I love to see these old Kirby's brought back to their original glory...."No Kirby left behind".
Jim
bikerray
Well-known member
The 1C and 2C both take ND 8008 which converts to an 87008 bearing.
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
more pics
as I said, I have over 100 pics from the rebuild-here are 18 still in pieces and before shots. I need to get the model tag fixed somehow. I wonder how it got that way? its a shame. I will add some after pics tomorrow. Will be my favorite pics! had to use the original bag but I wish I could find the exact herringbone patterned fabric. I had a friend of mine make me some new real narrow type wheels. He used some solid tubing and turned them on his lathe. they turned out ok. The bearing- is that the rear or the front bearing?
as I said, I have over 100 pics from the rebuild-here are 18 still in pieces and before shots. I need to get the model tag fixed somehow. I wonder how it got that way? its a shame. I will add some after pics tomorrow. Will be my favorite pics! had to use the original bag but I wish I could find the exact herringbone patterned fabric. I had a friend of mine make me some new real narrow type wheels. He used some solid tubing and turned them on his lathe. they turned out ok. The bearing- is that the rear or the front bearing?
johnnyb59c
Jason,
Just as I suspected: the bearing plate and motor housing assembly for models C and 2C are so much different than the respective equivalents for the 3C to 515!
This really makes me wish I had a service manual covering models C, 2C, 3C, 4C and the Scott & Fetzer Sanitation System!
~Ben
Jason,
Just as I suspected: the bearing plate and motor housing assembly for models C and 2C are so much different than the respective equivalents for the 3C to 515!
This really makes me wish I had a service manual covering models C, 2C, 3C, 4C and the Scott & Fetzer Sanitation System!
~Ben
Tulsa state fair
I remember that booth at the Tulsa state fair. I tried to guess the age. This was way back before I knew anything.
I remember also seeing the Heritage II at the booth. My mother signed up for a demo and I tried to hide it in the front closet so the salesman wouldn’t take it.
I haven’t seen any vacuum booths within the last 10 years or more at the fair.
I remember that booth at the Tulsa state fair. I tried to guess the age. This was way back before I knew anything.
I remember also seeing the Heritage II at the booth. My mother signed up for a demo and I tried to hide it in the front closet so the salesman wouldn’t take it.
I haven’t seen any vacuum booths within the last 10 years or more at the fair.
kirbyklekter
Well-known member
On these older vacuums
the fan pulleys are understandably worn thin.Some look like they'd snap or bend under a new tight belt. Do you have any problems with belts sliding off or any difference with the way they run? Some model vacuums do have a noticeable difference in performance when their pulley head has worn to half it's width! Hoover and Eureka are two that do. Billy
the fan pulleys are understandably worn thin.Some look like they'd snap or bend under a new tight belt. Do you have any problems with belts sliding off or any difference with the way they run? Some model vacuums do have a noticeable difference in performance when their pulley head has worn to half it's width! Hoover and Eureka are two that do. Billy
bikerray
Well-known member
Uh when you cleaned and repacked the bearings did you notice that the front and rear bearings are the same?
New Departure 8008 which is now a 87008 bearing.
New Departure 8008 which is now a 87008 bearing.
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
some after pics
I'm glad I had an extra fan. I would like to have the straight suction nozzle so I could try it out on my new tile floor. I would like the owners manual to go with it. I have the one that goes with my 2C it was sold in Tulsa!
I'm glad I had an extra fan. I would like to have the straight suction nozzle so I could try it out on my new tile floor. I would like the owners manual to go with it. I have the one that goes with my 2C it was sold in Tulsa!
WOW!!
Jason,
Again thank you for sharing, those are great pictures. You did a wonderful job restoring those Kirby's. It's obvious you take a lot of pride in your work. I think James Kirby himself would be very impressed.
Jim
Jason,
Again thank you for sharing, those are great pictures. You did a wonderful job restoring those Kirby's. It's obvious you take a lot of pride in your work. I think James Kirby himself would be very impressed.
Jim
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
I wish
I wish mine would stay pretty and shiny like that forever. I did lots of sanding on the scratches. and don't get me started on buffing- it gets my face a little itchy. I think I have an odd blood type- "gc"(grease and carbon) I think maybe from working on old fans, lawnmowers, and vacuums(or anything to do with motors)
and sometimes, I don't know if it's grease from the mechanicin' or the bryll cream I use in my hair mixed with sweat and dirt!
I wish mine would stay pretty and shiny like that forever. I did lots of sanding on the scratches. and don't get me started on buffing- it gets my face a little itchy. I think I have an odd blood type- "gc"(grease and carbon) I think maybe from working on old fans, lawnmowers, and vacuums(or anything to do with motors)
and sometimes, I don't know if it's grease from the mechanicin' or the bryll cream I use in my hair mixed with sweat and dirt!
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
?
mush polish?
mush polish?
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
I'm still amateur
I do use a buffing wheel rake between types of compound. after 25 years I am still experimenting with buffing. have trouble with the swirls- when I move the part around curvs- especially fan housings the part where it curves where the housing connects with the emtor and the emtor itself
I do use a buffing wheel rake between types of compound. after 25 years I am still experimenting with buffing. have trouble with the swirls- when I move the part around curvs- especially fan housings the part where it curves where the housing connects with the emtor and the emtor itself
Ya
I get just as dirty too. If you have a dremmel bit or handi butler flex shaft it makes those tight places easier.
The metal your working on is over 80 years old.
It looks good just joking with you. Proof is in the pics.
I get just as dirty too. If you have a dremmel bit or handi butler flex shaft it makes those tight places easier.
The metal your working on is over 80 years old.
It looks good just joking with you. Proof is in the pics.
johnnyb59c
Well-known member
?
what kind of buff wheel and compound you use? what were you joking about?
what kind of buff wheel and compound you use? what were you joking about?
Joking
Everyone gets dirty when polishing vacuums.
I use mother's mag, red rouge,green rouge white and blue rouge's.
I have 3 6-8" harbor freight/amazon bench polishers. I have the gator drill attachment. The big boy is my dewalt 18lb variable speed buffer/polisher. It goes from 800 rpms to 36000 rpms. It fits 7-9 inch pads. It has a head that uses Velcro and covers the 9 inch pads. I also have a corded and cordless dremmell tool for small areas.
The dewalt is the top of the line commercial buffer for automobiles. I have to clamp everything down as it's sent the nozzle of a tradition 50 feet. It is variable speed so if something is caught it keeps the same speed. It's very dangerous so I use sparingly.
I use wheels on my bench buffer off Amazon that are a couple dollars a piece. I set up 2 polishers with 4 wheels. I put green rouge on one wheel, red on another, white on the third. The last wheel I don't put anything on it it's a flannel multi ply wheel I paid $12 for.
I use each wheel then the flannel to clean off and get mirror shine.
I also have a few sanders I put different grit on each one if something is scratched. There actually Kirby's turbo sanders.
I find it alot harder to buff older vacuums. I also don't want to scratch them because a 90 year old vacuum your not finding parts for.
Everyone gets dirty when polishing vacuums.
I use mother's mag, red rouge,green rouge white and blue rouge's.
I have 3 6-8" harbor freight/amazon bench polishers. I have the gator drill attachment. The big boy is my dewalt 18lb variable speed buffer/polisher. It goes from 800 rpms to 36000 rpms. It fits 7-9 inch pads. It has a head that uses Velcro and covers the 9 inch pads. I also have a corded and cordless dremmell tool for small areas.
The dewalt is the top of the line commercial buffer for automobiles. I have to clamp everything down as it's sent the nozzle of a tradition 50 feet. It is variable speed so if something is caught it keeps the same speed. It's very dangerous so I use sparingly.
I use wheels on my bench buffer off Amazon that are a couple dollars a piece. I set up 2 polishers with 4 wheels. I put green rouge on one wheel, red on another, white on the third. The last wheel I don't put anything on it it's a flannel multi ply wheel I paid $12 for.
I use each wheel then the flannel to clean off and get mirror shine.
I also have a few sanders I put different grit on each one if something is scratched. There actually Kirby's turbo sanders.
I find it alot harder to buff older vacuums. I also don't want to scratch them because a 90 year old vacuum your not finding parts for.
