Kirby 512 for sale. Working vacuum / will sell complete or for parts

[theboss]

Hey guys

I don’t know much about vacuums but it looks like this belongs here. I was hoping that this vacuum I picked up at a real estate sale could find a loving home. I don’t have the time.
She runs but needs some love in the accessories dept.
I don’t want to canabalize this thing but it seems I can make a lot more for parts.

Either way. Make an offer.
[email protected]

 

[hoover300]

Got pics of the rest of the vac?

 

[theboss]

Standby. I’ll take some.
L let me know if you want to see anything specific

 

[theboss]

[No message]

 

[hoover300]

Everything brown is not original. There is a chance the bag is original, do you have a picture of the front of the bag? Does it sound like one of the restored 512s on YouTube?

 

[theboss]

I’ll take a recording of the working vacuum and post a link when I get home. Been working out of town

 

[theboss]

Here’s a little YouTube clip of this beast of a vacuum.
Wow

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

theboss

Sounds like it has a replacement fan...

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

If

The headlight trim is black it's original. The bag, cord, wheels, belt liter, handle isn't original. The headlight trim may be the only original external part that is original.
I'm not going to watch the video but usually the old toggle switch usually means coil and motor are original.
If I were you wipe it down with a rag so it doesn't look like it's been sitting for 20 years. Take the bag off and the plastic collar. Turn the bag inside out shake the he'll out of it. Keep the bag topper on it won't hurt anything. Throw the bag into the washing washing and let it air dry. Turn the bag to its original state. Install the bag on the emtor hold the bag spring on with your left hand use your right hand and with a flat head slowly wrap spring around the emtor.
If you do what I just said you may get upwards $50.
If you leave it as is maybe $10. It's up to you.

 

[theboss]

Thanks guys.
I’m lost when it comes to this stuff.
And I took a loss on this estate sale.
Oh well. I’ll keep this thing for my garage
It’ll probably outlast me.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

theboss

Sounds like a plan...this will help you buy time to get all the right trim pieces for it.

~Ben

 

[huskyvacs]

If I had a Kirby like that (which I do), but if I could only have one vacuum ever, I'd personally get it fixed up and keep it for myself and use it daily. I've seen Kirbys literally outlast the entire homes they have dutifully cleaned for decades - sometimes even their owners, sadly.

Kirbys clean up well but when gotten in that condition they take some elbow grease (and store bought grease) to get them back up to spiffy clean again.

If you don't mind the colors, it's fine to leave it that way, but if you want it fully restored to as it left the assembly line, the directions from the commentators above are how to do it.

If you want to use it in the garage I'd suggest putting some rubber tread on the wheels, or a rubberized coating. The concrete will tear the wheels to pieces over time. You might want a toolkit for it if you want to use it with the hose for above the floor cleaning on workbenches and shelves, cleaning out the car, etc.