toddk13
Well-known member
There are two classic 111 models near me. $30 with tools. What's good and bad about them.
Kirby classic 111
- Thread starter toddk13
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dysonman1
Well-known member
Kirby Classic 3 vacuums are well made, but heavy. They tend to tip on the backstroke toward the bag side. The cloth bag leaks fine dust and is very messy to empty. The original 2 row brush roll was meant for shag carpets, a new 4 row brush as well as belt would be needed for modern carpets. The suction, for an upright, is very good. For $30 you really can't go wrong if this is your first Kirby.
sptyks
Well-known member
Todd,
I bought a Classic III a while back and I am enjoying using it very much. It is a beautifully designed machine. It cleans very well with the new style brushroll and I find it's no messier to empty than a modern bagless vacuum. I have uploaded some photos of my fully restored Classic III.
[this post was last edited: 4/8/2017-14:38]
I bought a Classic III a while back and I am enjoying using it very much. It is a beautifully designed machine. It cleans very well with the new style brushroll and I find it's no messier to empty than a modern bagless vacuum. I have uploaded some photos of my fully restored Classic III.
[this post was last edited: 4/8/2017-14:38]
toddk13
Well-known member
Here are the CL Pics.
This is a "one owner" Kirby. Small rip in upper part of the bag. Mother of the person selling it used it until very recently when she moved to a hard floor home. Time to sell, they said. Supposed to have a new belt. No idea what those tools are. I'll check it out Sunday. Would there be a better shake out bag available or worth converting to a disposable? I'm terribly clueless but interested in Kirbys. Can I connect the older handy butler tools to this?
This is a "one owner" Kirby. Small rip in upper part of the bag. Mother of the person selling it used it until very recently when she moved to a hard floor home. Time to sell, they said. Supposed to have a new belt. No idea what those tools are. I'll check it out Sunday. Would there be a better shake out bag available or worth converting to a disposable? I'm terribly clueless but interested in Kirbys. Can I connect the older handy butler tools to this?
texaskirbyguy
Well-known member
A great deal!
This is a super deal since it comes with the rug shampooer, hose, most likely all the hose attachments in the box in the big box. In fact the hard floor wands and brush nozzle should be in that box, too. Plus a shag king and suds o gun spray gun as bonuses! Not sure why she thinks that it can't do hard floors, because it can very well!
Since the bag has a small tear in it, it will need to be fixed before using.
If you want to use the hepa bags, all you need is a mini-emptor and twist-on disposable bag setup from a later model - Heritage II to Legend II. Just remove your bag and em-tor and attach the new one - easy!
Kirbys are very well built and perform very well, even with the stock brush roll when properly adjusted. Every part is still available if you need anything.
So go get that Classic III!
This is a super deal since it comes with the rug shampooer, hose, most likely all the hose attachments in the box in the big box. In fact the hard floor wands and brush nozzle should be in that box, too. Plus a shag king and suds o gun spray gun as bonuses! Not sure why she thinks that it can't do hard floors, because it can very well!
Since the bag has a small tear in it, it will need to be fixed before using.
If you want to use the hepa bags, all you need is a mini-emptor and twist-on disposable bag setup from a later model - Heritage II to Legend II. Just remove your bag and em-tor and attach the new one - easy!
Kirbys are very well built and perform very well, even with the stock brush roll when properly adjusted. Every part is still available if you need anything.
So go get that Classic III!
texaskirbyguy
Well-known member
BTW
Yes, you can use a Handi Butler on this as well. I see sets on ebay all the time, even red ones to match the Classic III!
Yes, you can use a Handi Butler on this as well. I see sets on ebay all the time, even red ones to match the Classic III!
kirbysthebest
Well-known member
Though an all aluminum machine, it is not that heavy, approximately 19lbs. By comparison a Riccar Radiance is 22.5lbs according to their website. A Hoover anniversary bagged is 20.2lbs. A Dyson ball animal is 17.35.
The Kirby is already 40 years old, and will still be running when the others mentioned have made their way to the landfill--get it! Its a good price the renovator alone sells for $30 on eBay.
The Kirby is already 40 years old, and will still be running when the others mentioned have made their way to the landfill--get it! Its a good price the renovator alone sells for $30 on eBay.
kenkart
Hans,
The ball-bearing version currently being made is even better!
~Ben
Hans,
The ball-bearing version currently being made is even better!
~Ben
toddk13
Well-known member
I'm a Kirby owner!
Owner had a $35 offer before me. I ran it on their plush carpet. Pushed a little hard, and there was a little side to side play in the pivot point of the handle. Motor sounded good - no funny noises, and not loud. Rug renovator, floor tools, and manual were in good shape. Offered $40 and took it home.
Bought a "classic 3" handy butler on eBay for $22.20. Nice red housing seems to match my vacuum.
There is a local guy that has a bunch of Kirby parts for the classic, heritage 2, and legend 2. He used to collect them, but lost interest. I have some pictures of his stuff - which includes a turbo sander / polisher, turbo brush, a big pile of attachments, a classic bag with emptor attached, and heritage bag with emptor. Hmmmm. He'd like to sell all. I'll stop by late this week to check it out.
Owner had a $35 offer before me. I ran it on their plush carpet. Pushed a little hard, and there was a little side to side play in the pivot point of the handle. Motor sounded good - no funny noises, and not loud. Rug renovator, floor tools, and manual were in good shape. Offered $40 and took it home.
Bought a "classic 3" handy butler on eBay for $22.20. Nice red housing seems to match my vacuum.
There is a local guy that has a bunch of Kirby parts for the classic, heritage 2, and legend 2. He used to collect them, but lost interest. I have some pictures of his stuff - which includes a turbo sander / polisher, turbo brush, a big pile of attachments, a classic bag with emptor attached, and heritage bag with emptor. Hmmmm. He'd like to sell all. I'll stop by late this week to check it out.
texaskirbyguy
Well-known member
Congratulations!
Glad to hear you are a proud new Kirby owner!
Even at 40 it was a steal of what was included. And the handi butler seemed to be a steal too!
When you check out all those other parts, look for a bag assy with a fill tube that will take a disposible bag with a 2" or so ROUND opening. The disposible bags with oval openings are not the desirable ones.
Glad to hear you are a proud new Kirby owner!
Even at 40 it was a steal of what was included. And the handi butler seemed to be a steal too!
When you check out all those other parts, look for a bag assy with a fill tube that will take a disposible bag with a 2" or so ROUND opening. The disposible bags with oval openings are not the desirable ones.
toddk13
Well-known member
At first blush
I can tell the belt is slipping. Looks like I gotta replace. What's the wisdom for the best fit? The brushroll appears okay. Is there an adjustment to bring the brushroll higher or lower in the frame?
The best part of today was that my wife came along when I looked at the Kirby. She was impressed with all the accessory options. She was also impressed that I filled her gas tank with $38.00 in fuel as an offset to my spending $40 on a vacuum. Happy wife. Happy life.
I can tell the belt is slipping. Looks like I gotta replace. What's the wisdom for the best fit? The brushroll appears okay. Is there an adjustment to bring the brushroll higher or lower in the frame?
The best part of today was that my wife came along when I looked at the Kirby. She was impressed with all the accessory options. She was also impressed that I filled her gas tank with $38.00 in fuel as an offset to my spending $40 on a vacuum. Happy wife. Happy life.
Toddk13
Todd,
Brush roll bristle adjustment is by two screws, one at each end of the roll. Brush bristles should protrude to at least 1/16" outside the rug plate openings.
For belts, Kirby makes two - dependent on brush roll bearing construction:
Use the old style 159056 belt if the brush roll you have installed has the non-removable end caps.
Use the new style 301291 belt if the brush roll has ball bearings and removable end caps.
~Ben
Todd,
Brush roll bristle adjustment is by two screws, one at each end of the roll. Brush bristles should protrude to at least 1/16" outside the rug plate openings.
For belts, Kirby makes two - dependent on brush roll bearing construction:
Use the old style 159056 belt if the brush roll you have installed has the non-removable end caps.
Use the new style 301291 belt if the brush roll has ball bearings and removable end caps.
~Ben
kirbykleankarpet
Well-known member
Congratulations!
Congrats on becoming A Kirby owner! The Classic III is a beautiful machine, one of the best Kirby made. With some tender loving care, it can easily outlast you! And what a price! For $40, you definitely made a steal of a deal. Keep an ear open for change in the sound of the machine over time. Fans and bearings are common replacement items on Kirbys of age.
Nevertheless, congrats, and enjoy your new Kirby!
Regards,
~Tim
Congrats on becoming A Kirby owner! The Classic III is a beautiful machine, one of the best Kirby made. With some tender loving care, it can easily outlast you! And what a price! For $40, you definitely made a steal of a deal. Keep an ear open for change in the sound of the machine over time. Fans and bearings are common replacement items on Kirbys of age.
Nevertheless, congrats, and enjoy your new Kirby!
Regards,
~Tim
toddk13
Well-known member
Found a Kirby bag with a vacuum attached
I thought that it would be nice to change out my classic III tired bag with a newer style bag that takes disposables. The conversion is not cheap for eBay offerings. I browsed Craigslist and found the perfect conversion with an entire vacuum attached! $15. Came with a new belt and three new Kirby bags. Quiet motor. I guess that I'm a two Kirby vac owner. I'll leave the classic III as is.
I thought that it would be nice to change out my classic III tired bag with a newer style bag that takes disposables. The conversion is not cheap for eBay offerings. I browsed Craigslist and found the perfect conversion with an entire vacuum attached! $15. Came with a new belt and three new Kirby bags. Quiet motor. I guess that I'm a two Kirby vac owner. I'll leave the classic III as is.
Toddk13
Todd,
A Kirby Tradition!
~Ben
Todd,
A Kirby Tradition!
~Ben
texaskirbyguy
Well-known member
Nice score!
Check out my Tradion restoration thread in case you want to rebuild it from the ground up and make it look and run like new.
Despite the inefficiencies of the style 1 bag system, they still work quite well = I really like mine!
Check to see what color and material the fan impeller is. If grey plasic, it will need replacement very soon as they deteriorate and blow apart from age. Metal or ivory plastic are both good.
Check out my Tradion restoration thread in case you want to rebuild it from the ground up and make it look and run like new.
Despite the inefficiencies of the style 1 bag system, they still work quite well = I really like mine!
Check to see what color and material the fan impeller is. If grey plasic, it will need replacement very soon as they deteriorate and blow apart from age. Metal or ivory plastic are both good.
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