kirby 514 repair advice

[liddykitty]

hi, i have a kirby 514 that i’ve used as my only vacuum for several years. every few years i disassemble it and give it a through cleaning. shortly after the last such servicing, the vacuum suddenly started running slower and roughly followed by smoke from the motor.

i disassembled the motor to check for any obvious problems but unfortunately i don’t know much about armatures and fields. i couldn’t find anything obvious so i lightly sanded the armature and field to remove some corrosion, and ofcouse checked the brushes and checked and repacked the bearings, however after reassembly there was no improvement.

i’d really hate to have to replace my 514, as i’ve become very fond of it. i’ve come to this site for all sorts of information on my machine in the past, but couldn’t find anything like this, so i recently created an account in hopes of getting some advice. i would appreciate any help.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

First I thought was carbon brushes, but you said you checked those. Make sure they are 1/4" long or longer and move freely in the holders.
Check the wiring, particularly at the switches and brush holders. If loose, current will arc and burn the wiring.
If you have a kill-a-watt type meter to plug it into, do so and check current draw - should be between 3-5A depending on motor actually used
Regardless of problem, it IS fixable. Lots of good used motors and parts in the hands of members here, including myself. Kirbys are easy to fix.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

liddykitty

Lydia,

Here's the official diagnosis info related to your 514. Since you had said your motor is both running slow and smoking, I believe the cause of your problem is the armature.

The last known replacement armature was 114960 (1962-1), to be used with field 103960 (1335-1).

If you ever take apart your 514 again, here is a thread from Rob that might better help you:
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?34158

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

liddykitty

Lydia,

Rob also has this thread you might wish to check out, to help you get to the bottom of what's wrong.
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?34158

~Ben

 

[liddykitty]

Thank you!

thanks guys! i’ll check the switch and brush holder wiring when i get home, i had all that apart so there is a chance. that thread by rob is very helpful, i wish i could have read that the first time i took it apart instead of just looking at the parts diagram.

it seems weird to me that the armature would suddenly go bad after 70 years, then again, maybe 70 years isn’t so sudden lol

 

[lesinutah]

Bad

Its not bad. Its very likely the bearing has got dirt in around it and kind of forms a seal at bottom of the motor housing.
The pre ds50 motor housing is super tight and it allows more dirt in and a tighter space.
I'll just warn you now don't take out the field. The screws strip and that super tight makes it hard to get everything out.
I'd say I have opened 20-30 Kirby motor housings I had a ds50 flooded and rusted on I had to clean and polish it as I went and I got everything apart. The only one I failed was the classic cr1. The armature came out but the field got stripped screws. I don't want to cut up the motor housing to get it out because it's an a original one owner machine.
I had a 515 field stuck but I got it out.
Les

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Please keep us posted at what you find.
I see your in Texas also... If you are around the DFW area, I would be happy to take a look at it for you (and fix if I can). That is too nice a machine to retire. I know I have at least one used motor for that series.

 

[liddykitty]

i’ll keep that information about the field in mind. and yeah, i’ll keep you posted, i’m not close to dallas parse, but not terribly far either, worst case scenario i could come out that way if your serious. it’s about 2 hours drive.

 

[vacuser]

lady with the kirby 514

if you can't fix it i will donate one to you that works.you can put your parts from yours that you like to the one i will send.let me know. i live in ohio.you can't be without your kirby.

 

[liddykitty]

i took the motor assembly apart again today, to my eyes the field looks less healthy than it did the first time.

 

[liddykitty]

vacuser

i may very well take you up on that offer, cleaning up after my kid is far harder without my kirby to help me.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Ouch - that field does look like it has been running very hot...
It is possible the winding insulation broke down at one point and caused a short.

Please post a picture of the armature also, laying on its side. If you find any part numbers on it, post them too. I will look at my parts units on Friday to see if I have a suitable replacement motor set.

 

[liddykitty]

here you are, the armature seems happier. i found the numbers 11320 and 115 601 54.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

liddykitty

Lydia,

Your 514's armature appears to be the original one, since the date stamp says "1-54" for January 1954.

~Ben

 

[texaskirbyguy]

From first glance, it looks like the 4A motor. The 3A motor in my 505 had longer and skinnier windings and a smaller cooling fan. I will see what my parts unit has either this afternoon or tomorrow. Hardest part will locating it in a pile of Kirby boxes in restricted spaces...

By any chance when you were cleaning it did you spray any solvents into the motor that could have dissolved the varnish on the windings?
Did the motor turn freely before you disassembled it?

How did the carbon brushes and other wiring look?

 

[liddykitty]

it should be a 4A motor, i believe the 3A were phased out on the 513s, i just clean it with soap and water, nothing strong. it was running fine before disassembly, and for about 5 minutes after reassembly, and the motor turned as freely as i expect for a brushed AC motor. the brushes have lots of life left, about 1/2 an inch long. the other wiring seems good, though it is the original cloth insulated stuff. my power switch has always been hit and miss, i think the spring is weak, but it’s never been a problem for me.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

liddykitty

Lydia,

Yes, the 513 changed from a 3 amp motor used in the first batch of machines, to a 4 amp motor starting with the second batch of machines.

If you ever need a new power switch, it would be part no. 110563.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ge...534667?hash=item289753aacb:g:hSAAAOSwhMxe~-bz

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

texaskirbyguy

Rob,

Yes, the 513 changed from a 3 amp motor to a 4 amp motor with the second batch.

~Ben

 

[liddykitty]

i found some numbers on the field too if that helps anything. 11321 winco 9-53, and 115/60.