Can anyone suggest a repair for a Kirby Avalir? There is a clicking sound that seems to come from the transmission when it's in neutral, turned off, and pushed. It seems to be ok if we're sure that the N button is pressed completely, but my other machines in the G series that I've owned never did this. What to do?
Kirby Avalir Clicking
- Thread starter jeschbac
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human
Well-known member
It sounds like the bracket cam, which engages and disengages the Tech Drive transmission is either worn (surprising on a machine that new) or out of adjustment (more likely). I had the same problem on my G5 and replacing the bracket cam lever mitigated, but did not completely solve, the problem. If it is worn out, the lobe where the cam lever contacts the gears will have a flat spot and there will eventually be a corresponding groove worn in the gear teeth where it makes contact. Here's what the Goodvacs Web site has to say about the problem you're experiencing (I cleaned up the grammar slightly for easier reading):
"If in NEUTRAL, the Kirby vacuum is making a crackling noise, it is usually because the bracket cam lever is worn too much and does not completely disengage the gears. Operating the Kirby in neutral while it is making this unpleasant sound may eventually wear out the gears (Kirby part number 559892S)."
My understanding of the paragraph above suggests to me that the main threat of damage to the gears would come if you are making extensive use of the machine as a canister or with other attachments that require it to run in neutral. While the sound is somewhat unpleasant, I don't believe you'll do much damage running it in its normal, upright configuration with the Tech Drive engaged or moving it around in neutral with the motor turned off.
That said, if you bought the machine new through normal channels--and thus have the full warranty--I'd have it serviced under warranty. Otherwise, if you're handy with a screwdriver, you might want to use the the instructions at the link below to try and fix it yourself. The link below describes the process for replacing the bracket cam lever on a G series machine. I imagine it would be pretty much the same on an Avalir. I had no real trouble replacing the bracket cam lever on my G5 using these instructions:
http://www.goodvac.com/kb_results.asp?ID=16
"If in NEUTRAL, the Kirby vacuum is making a crackling noise, it is usually because the bracket cam lever is worn too much and does not completely disengage the gears. Operating the Kirby in neutral while it is making this unpleasant sound may eventually wear out the gears (Kirby part number 559892S)."
My understanding of the paragraph above suggests to me that the main threat of damage to the gears would come if you are making extensive use of the machine as a canister or with other attachments that require it to run in neutral. While the sound is somewhat unpleasant, I don't believe you'll do much damage running it in its normal, upright configuration with the Tech Drive engaged or moving it around in neutral with the motor turned off.
That said, if you bought the machine new through normal channels--and thus have the full warranty--I'd have it serviced under warranty. Otherwise, if you're handy with a screwdriver, you might want to use the the instructions at the link below to try and fix it yourself. The link below describes the process for replacing the bracket cam lever on a G series machine. I imagine it would be pretty much the same on an Avalir. I had no real trouble replacing the bracket cam lever on my G5 using these instructions:
http://www.goodvac.com/kb_results.asp?ID=16
ralph123
Well-known member
Were you able to get the machine repaired under warranty?
bikerray
Well-known member
It could be that the cam on the neutral / drive lever has slipped and is not moving the cam lever far enough to disengage the gear.
