Kirby 514 armature and field windings problems

[d-jones]

the best way to check is with a growler, but I don't hav

That's no excuse. As I mentioned above, shops that rebuild alternators and starter motors will all have one, and the test is so simple many will test it at no charge to you. From the description of the symptoms you're seeing it sounds like the armatures windings are shorted internally. That would severely degrade its performance as you've seen, cause the windings to heat up as you've witnessed, and burn the varnish on the wires, creating the burning smell you've mentioned. If it was me I'd take it to a shop and confirm that it's shorted, then I'd get a quote for a rebuild from that outfit I posted the link to, or one like it. If it turns out the rebuild is too expensive, then I'd go with kirbykids armature.

 

[d-jones]

By the way

What you're seeing on those ohm meters is perfectly normal.

 

[castrojoel]

I'm more than sure that the armature is bad, I was told that it is recommended to replace armature and fields in pairs, so just replacing the armature isn't a good idea, after all the pair is older than 50+ years, if the amature is new and the fields remain the same, the armature will fail if the fields degrade. can anybody comment?? I'm still debating on what step I should take

 

[kirbykid]

I guess I cant really comment because obviously I would recommend you go with my deal but because I'm human I would probably unknowingly try to make myself better

 

[castrojoel]

I was thinking of getting whole new motor from kirby...

 

[kirbykid]

How much do they sell for???

 

[castrojoel]

I can get them both for around $150 new, that is quite a bit of money, but they are new. That digs me more money in the hole for a vacuum I'm pretty much not going to use.

 

[castrojoel]

Found replacement locally

I found an armature here in town from a local repair shop, I could only go today because the shop closes the same time I leave work, good thing he had a replacement, saved me a ton of money

 

[castrojoel]

New replacement metal fan, replacement switch, and of coarse replacement armature,
Got all of this for $40.00+ tax

 

[kirbykid]

$40?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! wow. what about the feild winding? and the bag?

 

[castrojoel]

It's been running good with the original field windings, I'm sure the armature was the only problem with the motor, or at least I hope, I'm not sure on the bag, I would like it but the one it has now a kirby repair center put on it back in 1990, it is like part of its history, and the bag is in perfect condition, no holes blemishes, all i had to do was wash it with a little laundry detergent. I also have all repair receipts and original sales slip that I got with it from the original owner along with the original documentation, all in all I think I did good with the parts I found here in town.

 

[fairfax88]

How much

did it cost back in 1954

~David

 

[castrojoel]

192.35+tax
Here is a pic of sales slip

 

[eurekastar]

Very nice!  You did well!


 

 

[castrojoel]

It's all thanks to you guys on this forum, you guys helped me out a lot. It's nice to know that there is people out there that still can reach out and give a hand, even in the form of writing, I'm very happy now that it works, thanks everyone!!!!
And thanks kirbyboy for offering your parts,

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Evan (kirbykid),

Would you happen to know what the code number is that is stamped on the copper windings of the armatures from those pictures you submitted for Joel (castrojoel) regarding his armature? I know that the replacement armature, in one of Joel's own pics, is stamped "10530" on the copper winding, which would've meant that armature was for the first 4-amp motor used on the second-series 513 to 515.

Elsewhere on them, you might be able to find the part number (check fan blade).

Those armatures and fields (for the 3 amp motors that lasted between the 3C and the early 513) have been discontinued by Kirby in the '60s.

Thank you,



Ben (KirbyClassicIII)