Kirby Amalgam needs identifying, I think?

[hexamoron]

A while ago, I was sold a Kirby unit listed as a Dual Sanitronic 80, up until recently I believed that (never having worked with a vacuum before).

I found that there is no such thing as a blue DS80, the only other match being a coloration for the DS50.

The bottom plate on the motor housing says that it's a Dual Sanitronic 80, and I continue to call it one for my sanity, but the facts just aren't adding up. I think it's a repair shop amalgam because I've seen another Kirby on here that looks like mine listed as such. (And the obvious repair shop sticker that was on the handle upon purchase.)

.

(Any pieces not present in the first photo were removed for replacement or cleaning, motor switch was not recieved with the unit, first photo was how it looked when I got it.)

 

[dysonman1]

My friend Adam, on the right, did kind of the same thing to his machine.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Hexamoron

Yes, only the Tradition 3CB produced from 1979-1981 was ever officially in blue.

And yes, I have seen Dual Sanitronic 80s re-trimmed in blue over the years. The weirdest one I saw had the headlight cap from a Dual Sanitronic 50 (like on the one you have) and the belt lifter from a 562 Sanitronic or Sanitronic VII, plus an original Tradition handle fork.

~Ben[this post was last edited: 8/8/2022-20:22]

 

[human]

Dealers were (in)famous for updating the color schemes of Kirby models to make them resemble the current model. Less scrupulous dealers even tried to pass such cosmetically updated units off to unsuspecting buyers as the current model. Such machines sometimes even had the model/serial number decal on the bottom defaced to hide the evidence. To the credit of whoever refurbished that one, they did leave the sticker intact. In the case of your machine, it appears to have been updated to cosmetically resemble a Kirby Tradition.

Such cosmetic updates were not just done to Kirbys. Factory rebuilt Electrolux canisters were repainted in the color scheme of the current model and paired with a matching hose and tools. But Electrolux wasn't trying to fool anyone, those units had a plate riveted to the side, indicating they were rebuilds and sporting a new serial number.

 

[huskyvacs]

What human said is correct.

And when you are a collector after specific models- beware of the clones. I got duped twice by clones.

What you have is a Dual Sanatronic 80 and it's been cloned into a Kirby Tradition.

It's best to just leave the clones as they are because getting each individual part can be difficult, and it will cost more than just buying another of the model that is all correct.

 

[electrolux137]

"Kirby Amalgam"

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

human

Edgar,

It is imperative that if you plan to have your Kirby be rebuilt by such mom-n-pop shops, that you write down your cleaner's model and serial numbers (as already written down in the instruction book's warranty page and related documentation by the person who initially delivered the cleaner to you) to go in your own records as such information will be removed or scratched over after the cleaner is rebuilt by such a service center.

~Ben

 

[repairman]

Now's my opportunity!

A Kirby D80 frankensteined with a Heritage II Legend. The thing that amazes me is the belt lifter decal which I'm assuming is custom. Found this on OfferUp a few months ago and now it's gone. Probably should have bought it.

 

[human]

Ben,

That's the point I was making to the original poster. It's also one of the reasons I do my own refurbishing work, that and I enjoy doing it.

 

[hexamoron]

KirbyClassicIII

not exactly sure if this is how to reply (haven't been here too long), but I have none of the original paperwork, all I have is the unit. The guy who sold it to me may or may not have it, but I think it's been too long to ask. And even if he did, going to get it is out of the question.

BUT on a better note, the unit is near-fully functional minus not having a belt or motor switch cover, just needs a polishing methinks.

 

[hexamoron]

repairman

I don't really see it? It looks to be mostly D80 with blue retrimming and a D50 headlight cap, I've had no choice but to stare at the unit for a VERY long time for cleaning and contemplating my life choices and I don't really see much resemblance to the Heritage II Legend.

And for the belt lifter decal, it may just be a repainted version of the one on the red D50? (The paint scuffed off very easily when I took off the plastic cover.) But I can't be too sure.
It also seems to be made of a very flimsy metal rather than expected decal-material, not sure if that's normal because I've never worked with a vacuum before this point.

(Image credits to Loveseat.com, in case of copyright or whatever.)

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

repairman

Mike,

I've seen that Frankensteined D80 before, on Facebook.

~Ben

 

[myvacsrock]

Repairman,

You’ll soon see that lovely little machine come into my shop for a full rebuild.
I didn’t buy it, but a friend did.

 

[huskyvacs]

I just now seen how they made the Kirby logo on that Heritage II unit. They just took a spare handle decal and cut it into the shape to fit the belt lifter hole.

 

[repairman]

Hexamoron

There are 2 possibilities of your machine.

One could be that the ledge out on the original back housing and it was replaced with one from a D80. I am referring to the ledge where the part in the first picture rests when the handle is in the upright position.

The other is that this was originally a D80 that had the headlight cap taken from a D50 as later D50's were the only model to have this feature.

I am banking on my first suggestion that this was originally a D50. Can you take a picture of the safety switch? Early D50's didn't have the nub that stuck out in between the two buttons.

Either way, this vacuum was clearly rebuilt by a vacuum shop using aftermarket parts to correspond with the Tradition's color scheme. For example: F&G Conversion bag, blue trim, unlabeled handle decal, etc. If you look under the lip of the headlight bumper, there will be a part number stamped into it. Genuine Kirby ones have a 6 digit part number and aftermarket ones have K-?? stamped. The question marks refer to numbers since these came in a wide array of colors. Example: K-50 or K-52 etc.

 

[repairman]

Here's what a D50 and D80 originally looked like. The D50 came in Sirocco Tan and the D80 was a green color.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

repairman

Mike,

I think I can also tell between the two going by the version of the handle fork spring.

The D50 and D80 used slightly different handle fork springs. The former used the same handle fork spring (part no. 137056) as models 516 to Sanitronic VII, while the latter's was a new design (part no. 137067) that carried over into the Classic 1-CR and would eventually supersede the older spring used for models 516 to D50 in later replacement. The D50's handle fork spring assembly will also have a spreader (137656) and screw (137756), two parts not used on the D80's handle fork spring assembly.

Another clue as to whether or not this machine is a D50 or D80 is to check the armature (13312 or 1959-1A) and field (13311 or 1332-1A) for a date code: if either one has a date code stamp anywhere from January 1965 to August 1967, it's a D50; but if since September 1967, then it's a true D80. However, these may be replaced during the rebuild.

~Ben