Kirby 514 armature and field windings problems

[castrojoel]

Does anybody have any knowledge on how to test or find faults on armature or windings on a kirby 514, was running good until yesterday.... Now it spins at an alarming slow speed, it has freshly oiled bearings, brushes are recent, armature spins freely,

 

[vacu-finder]

Armature

That armature is toast, not only is it worn out (grooved) but chunks are broken off. Look for another armature or a complete motor.

 

[castrojoel]

Any idea of where to find one..... Could it also be the field windings?? ... I ask becouse wen it would be on, it would smell like burn plastic.... It would spin fast for ten min. Then it got slow.... That's how it's been now, here is a pic of windings

 

[castrojoel]

Does enybody know the manufactures part number for the armature on my 514 kirby?

 

[kirbykid63]

I agree the copper bars are chewed up.The armature is no longer made however there are still many of those machines around with good armatures.You may want to replace the bearing plate it is still available to my knowledge as well as the motor brushes.

Richard groski
new2youvacuums
520-260-1364

 

[castrojoel]

Is there a possibility that the windings need replacement ?

 

[kirbykid]

Yes there is. Depends on how it was treated

 

[eurekastar]

I'd just replace the whole motor.  Kirby upgraded that motor and the replacement has a shorter motor field and therefore a completely different armature.  However, I believe the armature even for the updated motor is no longer available (if bought new), so I'd just buy a donor machine and use that motor.  Any motor up to the S7 (Sanitronic) will fit.  But you might check with Bill Edstrom first to make sure.  He will know for sure about what's available. 

 

[castrojoel]

Is there any way on testing it with like a multimeter or an ohm meter? Is there any way of ruling out the bad part... I'm hoping its just the armature. Would another vacuum's model armature fit the 514 that I can buy new???

 

[eurekastar]

Ohm Meter

You can test it with an Ohm or multimeter.  If you use a multimeter, just set it to Ω (ohms) and touch each lead to the different field wires.  If the needle goes all the way to the right, then you have good continuity.  But if your armature is bad, chances are that the field won't be far behind. 

 

[castrojoel]

I did test it with two meters... First was a fluke digital and it read 0 ohms all the way around, second I used a tempo analog meter and it went all the way to the right to 0 ohms.... So can something else be wrong??

 

[castrojoel]

Is there a way to test field windings???

 

[kirbykid]

Try using a battery, some wire and a light bulb. And it should be the same way with thefeild windings

 

[kirbykid]

Try using a battery, some wire and a light bulb. And it should be the same way with thefeild windings

 

[castrojoel]

Ok... But that won't tell me if the power is bottlenecked... It would just test continuity,
I can test that with the meter as well....

My question to you guys out there that have rebuilt many more vacs is what would cause the motor to spin at an 1/8 the speed that it would normally?? It also gives off a smell of burnt plastic... I think I'm going to test whether it is shorting to the metal chassis? I haven't checked that yet.... But I guess it is possible

 

[kirbykid]

you would feel it if it was shorting on the metal motor holding device. almost like touching the prongs in an outlet. it could also be the cord or switch.

 

[castrojoel]

I'm going to override the safety switch and eniminate the switch and go directly to the motor to see if that will help... Process of elimination

 

[kirbykid]

oh I didn't think of that. I thought it could be the regular on off switch

 

[castrojoel]

Override update

Ok... I overrode the safety and overwired it strait to the motor... It spun faster than it has for 30 seconds then it went back to super slow and again with burning smell... So I hurried up and took out the brushes that were really hot, then I took out the armature, it was really hot too... The fields were hot as well but not as hot as the armature was, I'm thinking the armature is the only part bad.... But why hasn't it had any faults found with any of my meters??... It is really bothering me not having this beautyfull vacuum running... Nothing but a headache