Kirby Classic Omega troubles

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sonnyndad

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Jul 31, 2012
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A few months back, I found a Kirby Classic Omega box and all the standard accessories, shampooer, Suds-O-Gun, and Shag King. It was all $3.00, so I figured, oh if I ever get a Classic Omega, it will be complete. There was recently a Classic Omega on eBay BIN $68.00, free shipping. The auction said "for parts but working." So I popped on it, I thought "I already have a junk Omega I can use for parts." Well, the junk machine is looking more and more appealing for restoration. This Omega is more of an $8.00 Goodwill find than a $68.00 eBay purchase. The Safety Switch has been defeated, the motor has an extreme arcing problem, the handle bail spring assembly has been badly mangled, the front axle is bent, and the plastic headlite is broke. Is there any way to fix the arcing and the handle bail?

Clayton "Sonny"
 
Classic Omega

Hi Sonny,

Sorry to hear about your problems with your eBay Omega. If the motor is arcing, that would indicate either a shorted armature, or a botched job bypassing the safety/speed selector switch. First thing i would do is reverse the bypass of this switch and see what happens. If it still arcs, then i would say the armature is shorted and would need replaced. What is the motor like on your "junker"? Maybe you could use the ebay machine for parts to fix the other one?

Joe
 
Well, both of the armatures are bad, the junker's armature has really bad bearings, and if you try to run it, you'll know it. I know that the Classic 1CR was the last Kirby to have repackable bearings, putting grease in the non arcing armature with dry bearings is not an option. I think I MIGHT have a Classic III armature at the old house. And, the safety switch on the junker is screwed up, too.
I am at a total loss of what to do about this. Thanks for replying.
 
The bearing

on the junker's armature is replaceable, you just need a bearing puller to remove the one from the blown armature and the junker's armature.  You could then tap the good bearing on the armature.  Also,  if you have a Classic III armature, it would be a direct replacement, since the same armature is used from the Omega through the Legend II.  As for the safety switch, they are readily available on eBay, and aren't expensive at all.


 


Joe
 
This Might Work!

I just now thought about it, I actually have a junk Tradition with a GOOD armature and GOOD bearings! I have not taken down a Kirby of this vintage for some time, I'm pretty sure the bearing plate does not come off, but I could be wrong. How would I go about taking the armature out if, in fact, the bearing plate does NOT come off?
 
I rebuild Kirby's

Hi I have been selling and rebuilding kirby vacuums for over 13 years,If you have any questions feel free to contact me from my ebay store.

Richard groski
new2youvacuums on Ebay
 
Front Bearing

I replaced the armature with one from a Tradition. I am going to replace the front bearing, so I banged it out with a hammer, I got it out, but it is such a tight fit, how am I supposed to get the new one in? Sending the machine off to get it fixed is not an option because we are in a 'financial crisis' at the moment.
 
one way out...

Don't mean to horn in, Sonny, but I've got a Kirby Classic Omega in good running condition
that you could have for $10 + shipping from Irmo, SC 29063. Shipping by UPS ground
in an 18x18x24 inch box with weight approximately 24 lbs would be about $37. The box
from UHaul is $3.00. The $10 is what I have in it.

I can send you photos of the vacuum later today if you'd like. Send me a phone number and I
can let you hear it run. It sounds good to me but I'll let you decide.
The vacuum is a little dirty but there's no damage that I can see. Original bag, cord, trim, etc.

Ken
 
Retaining ring

This model did not have a retaining ring. The front bearing housing, when the bearing is installed properly, is flush with the front bearing. I took special note when I took out the armature that there was no retaining ring. When I took out the armature on the Tradition, there was a retaining ring.
 
Ken,

Thank you for your kind offer, but the 68.00 I have in this Kirby, I'll have to mow quite a few more lawns to get that kind of money.
 
Repair or replace?

There is a possibility that I might take you up on your offer of selling me your Kirby. I just made $30.00 on a mow job a few hours ago. I would have to talk to my father about this, so don't think I'm not I'm not interested. The handle bail, I have seen so many Kirby classics with the spring broken or the handle retainer is mangled up. Is this part on yours in good shape? Is the safety switch in good shape and still springy? No arcing on the commutator? I am interested if these check out ok.
 
i'll go over the list tomorrow and let you know.

Since it seems to be going to a good home where it'll be appreciated, I'll waive
the $10 for the vacuum and $3.00 for the box. Send me your shipping address
by email and I'll email payment options for the shipping. I'm pleased to find
someone that can use the Omega.

Just checked the handle and it seems to spring to vertical position OK. Safety switch
Works fine - nice and springy. I can't tell of any brush arcing without taking the
Casing apart but the vacuum starts easily and runs smoothly. All in all, it's in
Good shape - just a little dirty but it should shine up nicely.
I got it in a "two-fer" when I got my 561. Nice vac but I don't have the space to
keep both.

The online ups calculator is usually pretty accurate so the $37 for shipping will
probably be accurate. I'll disassemble the handle and pack everything carefully.


Ken
 
e-mail address

I really appreciate you helping me out. If you would post your e-mail address, we could go from there.
 
Just dawned on me

that I'm dealing with the "minor" portion of "sonnyndad". Since I don't know
how "minor" that is, you should probably let your dad email me to get my phone
number and we can exhange shipping information. The Omega is yours if you want
it but it's best to have an adult do the transaction part.

BTW The handle spring does seem good. It springs back to vertical from about
15 degrees with the weight of the cord and bag attached. I also ran the vacuum
in the dark (as much as I could - the vacuum light comes on...) and I didn't
see any arching from the rear ventilation ports. It seems like a good condition
vacuum with no problems that I can find. A little dusty of course.
Even though I can't use it, I definitely don't want to junk it. Not many
70's era Kirby collectors in South Carolina.

Let me know.

ken
 
I told my Father, and he said he would email you a shipping address, etc. Make sure to check your e-mail often. And when you box it up, make sure you lower the toe-touch-control to "zero", also when you take the handle fork off the shell housing, put the locking pin through the slot, but without the handle on. On the last Omega that I bought, the seller taped the pin to the plastic handle. Lowering the nozzle all the way down during shipment lowers the chance of the wheels getting broke, or the axle getting bent.
 
Will Do.

I'll print these instructions out and put them with the Omega now so I won't
forget anything. I've had shipping nightmares too. I usually pack for WWIII and so
far I haven't had any problem. I also usually photograph AS I pack and email
a picture or two before I ship to make sure everything's ok with the
folks on the receiving end.

ken
 
Started to disassemble the Omega

I removed the front wheels/axle and both rear wheels from the axle. That way,
they're less likely to get broken or the axle bent. I removed the bag from the
rear of the emptor and plastic bagged the bag. I couldn't remove the emptor from
the housing. Tried a few drops of oil in the groves but it would only wiggle.
I left it connected to the housing - you might know of a trick to removing it.
Each part will be bagged - no tape on any of the parts ( I once had a guy put
tape on a wind-up phonograph tone arm that was nickel plated. Of course, the
thin plating pulled off with the tape! AAARRRGGHHH!),
The bottom of the motor housing will have a sheet of styrofoam underneath and
everything will be packed with lots of styro chips.

Gotta get a box but I should have all packed by Wednesday. Waiting for the
address info.
 
Glad to see someone who cares about how they ship something. I bought a Sony sl-5000 Betamax from ePay, I got it working, but the loser who packed it used ONLY styro peanuts and of course they all inside the tape transport and messed up the heads. I have heard plenty of other ePay horror stories aswell. There is a trick to getting a stuck em-tor Off, sit on the floor with it, and push the housing back with your feet, and pull the em-tor with both hands. Never fails.
 

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