kirby classic omega bag and the blowing dust question

[bnsd60m9200]

i need to wash my classic omega bag i think... if i havent used it for a few days the first start up, dust shoots out of the bag on all sides. but what is weird is, after that, during use, its fine. ideas? wash? or do i need to get my friend to sew a new inner filter fabric in it?

Will

 

[briankirbyclass]

Yep, time for a bag wash or replacement. If its original to the machine, id recommend replacement with a new bag, and save the old one for show.
First tho,before washing, after a thorough shaking out, vacuum the inside of the bag with another vacuum and crevice tool. I like to use an Electrolux or TriStar for this, as all of the dirt will then be easy to dispose of. I like to quickly turn on and then turn off the Kirby, just long enough to inflate the bag, shake the bag with the Emptor tray closed, then vacuum out the Emptor, close again, and repeat, until the dust stops falling into the Emptor.(you know you've gotten most of it by now)
Then entirely remove the Emtor and bag from the Kirby, and go over the inside of the bag thoroughly with the crevice tool,,then remove from the Emptor and take the top off, turn inside out, and wash by hand in cold water and Woolite, and let air dry. If the bag is extremely dirty, you may need to change the wash water once or twice,,and be sure to rinse thoroughly under running water. Also be sure to wash and rinse the Emptor itself, the bag guard, and make sure the seal around the Emptor tray and neck are present and tight.
Yes, you could have a new liner sewn in, but if its an original, i wouldnt.

 

[vac_whisperer]

Bag blowing dust, eh?


If I were you I would check for any leaks.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

i shouldve noted, the bag spring is very tight and not the problem. and the bag itself doesn't "leak" i tested that when i got it. it holds the dust well and doesn't spray it everywhere when in use. this only happens after period of days of non use and only on the first fire up. and it shoots out of the fabric itself, not air leaks holes. after that during use it doesn't do it.

Will

 

[broomvac]

Well

From my experience, they all do that to an extent. All 3 of my shakeout Kirbys (2 of which are from the Classic line) do that even though they have bags in good condition. They just don't have terrific filtration. Its just a part of using a shakeout Kirby as a daily driver, which is why I avoid them except for show, and use my Kirby G3 every day instead.

You will also notice that your vacuum will not only puff dust at startup but also if you lightly hit or punch the bag while the vacuum is running.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

brian, i washed the bag, and the problem disappeared. it was probably the first time in the 36 years of the vacuum's existance the bag was ever washed. i vacuumed the upstairs and dusted my room with the omega for a prooving test for the bag. it passed with flying colors. now to tackle the next thing, restoring my classic III...

Will

 

[briankirbyclass]

Yay! good job Will!

 

[normvac]

An Orginal Problem !

Will
With being one of the senior members of the Club. I will to attest to the fact that your dust leaking problem on you Kirby Omega is not due so much to age !
Coming from a family of Kirby owners over the decades, not years ! LOL! There
was a Family member that had and loved a Kirby 513, bought brand new. Then bought
an new Omega (keeping the first Kirby). Had the very same problem of the Omega shotting the dust from the bag. It must have had something to do with the rubber
coating (if that's what it was, correct me if I am wrong). As the Royal Hand vac bags
from the early 80's had the same type of coating. I still have one, and they tend to do the same thing. So I am glad you were able to solve the problem, but it is
only for now. As it is not cureable, if used on any regular basis.
Someone correct me if I am mistaken, but believe Kirby changed the bag style on the later Omega's. just before the Classic III came out.
Norm

 

[broomvac]

Omega Bag

I believe they did change, for I have seen bags that are pinstriped and others that are not. Not sure which came last, but I have a feeling it was the pinstripe, which is the one I had.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong

 

[broomvac]

*have.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

The omega bags came as follows. Yellow corduroy. First after the 1cr. Tan with brown pinstripes. Then the longest lasting production bag was the one I have, with the little diamond dots on it.

Will

 

[bnsd60m9200]

Also the diamond dots was the last bag on the omega. They always had a cloth bag, but the pinstripes or dots were rubber. The dots came out in early 1975 or late 74 if I remember right.
And as long as it emptied properly. It doesn't pull a pigpen. I demoe'd my omega at a collector friends (sean curry) last nite like a kirby dealer would have and it worked just fine.

Will

 

[eurekastar]

Pin Stripe Bag

I heard that the pin-striped bag was problematic because it didn't breathe well. The pores would quickly clog because of the plastic weaving and thus restrict airflow. The bags would then blow off the Em-Tor sometimes. I gave away most of my Kirby collection before I moved last summer, but I kept the Omega with the corduroy bag. I had another Omega in my collection with the dotted bag, but I never found an original pin-striped bag. I've always wanted one.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

bill, i've seen pinstriped bags come across on ebay from time to time, but they are not common. and you are correct about them blowing off the emtor, two collector friends have comfirmed that with thier's. they blow off if you don't empty the bag after every use like you're supposed to.

Will

 

[broomvac]

Well, I guess I'm lucky! When my local Kirby store gave me my Omega I never thought too much about the bag except for the fact that I thought it had crappier airflow than the original bag on my Classic 1-CR. Here are some pictures of the bag (and vacuum!)

 

[broomvac]

Here is a close-up. These stripes make the bag have a stiffer and rubbery feel, but does make it seem MUCH more durable than the 1-CR bag. Thankfully, this bag has pretty much zero wear (probably because the durability), with no tears, holes, frays, stains, scuffs, or wear evidence.

 

[broomvac]

The whatever-they-call-it pocket used for scraping out the inside of the bag is made of some vinyl instead of cloth. The material feels much like what tents are made of, just thicker.

 

[broomvac]

Ready for action! I have never had this bag blow off the emtor before yet I have filled it quite full many times.

 

[broomvac]

Side view...