Kirby broken front wheel axle!

[scudo]

Latest repair.
I have been trying to buy a couple of Kirby`s on ebay to renovate/sell on and fund getting a newer version for my wife.

So got this Sentria delivered, not sure if the guy who sold it knew or it was damaged in transit, but the front wheel axle was broken. The choice being buy a front axle or try for a repair. So off to the local weld shop.

Later that day: On a low setting the part just melted so he gave me a piece of metal as I want to try and make a new part and fix it back on to the shaft. This is going to be fun.

I will keep you updated.

 

[vexorgtr]

I actually got to go to the Cleveland area factory that chrome plated Kirby parts. Chrome plating is nasty business.

 

[madman]

I applaud you for trying to improvise something! If I may offer a piece of advice, it looks like the original part was pot metal. The serrated shaft ends will prefer a soft metal to be driven into, so they get create grooves and get stuck. Aluminum would probably be your best bet. Steel is doable, but it would take more force to drive in the shafts, and/or more precise holes. I suppose you could just make the holes too big and add set screws.

Does one end have a set screw in the original?

 

[huskyvacs]

It's only $18.95 for a front axle. Throw it out and buy a new part.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kirby-Fron...7:g:zucAAOSw5E5avTxo:rk:4:pf:1&frcectupt=true

You will spend more money and time to fix that and have a poor repair than it would be to just replace the part. It's not rare or hard to find. It is cast aluminum so it cannot be repaired by welding, and it is a high stress part so it would just end up breaking again at its weakest point, which would be the weld. I would not endorse homemade botch job repairs on vacuums to be resold to others. Imagine if the official Kirby Refurb Center did that to people!

The only time it makes sense to make parts from scratch is in the case of my Hoover Z700 when all parts are not in stock anywhere either online or in the real world and haven't been for decades and no private owners have parts for sale.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

Please buy a new one. Your weld or whatever you build will have a weak point and the flexing of toe touch will shear your weld probably the first use. So instead of being an innovator save yourself the huge letdown that will come and just put new part in it's place. Smarter not harder.
Les

 

[scudo]

..."Does one end have a set screw in the original? "...

No there are no set screws.

..."Please buy a new one."....

I have ordered one on ebay but still trying to go for a repair on the broken one as I like the challenge, the experience never goes wrong.