kirby DS50 and DS80, any difference?

[kenc184]

Sure, different shaped handle, different color, but are there any fundamental differences between the kirby DS50 and DS80? They seem to have the same motor, same nozzle. Is the DS80 actually "better"?

 

[lesinutah]

The

Motor company was changed mid run. The changed motors look very similar to prior motors look very similar.

 

[kenc184]

So no performance difference between the 50 and the 80?

 

[lesinutah]

No

There is no performance difference between the 2.
Here's a ds80 and ds50 Mashup I did.

 

[canisterman]

According to

The Kirby dealer in my hometown who started out selling D-50s, the D-50 was hard on motor brushes when used with attachments,They redesigned the motor for the D-80, the D-80 was ,according to them, one of the best Kirbys they ever sold.

 

[kenc184]

I haven't found any information regarding the various motors used over the years, is there anything online that I might have missed?

I was curious to see one guy online using generic 6000 or 6200 series bearings available on ebay for next to nothing on his DS80. My DS50s both were fitted with bearings having a longer inner race than outer, certainly not available cheap on ebay. Could those "standard" bearings be the ones fitted to the later motor?

 

[lesinutah]

Idk

I look up parents off the model plate and no avail. I believe the 1st year 1967 ds 80 had the same motor as ds 50. The 2nd year idk the time line exactly but kirby got a new motor manufacturer. I got this info from the late Kent oyler who was once a kirby dealer but later independently he sold kirby items. 2 of his brothers iirc were kirby authorized dealers for a long time.
The motor did change but not from the release.
I compared 2 motors from separate ds80s and ds 50s and only the later ds80s had the motor.
Kirby had to get new patents with a new motor manufacturer. This could have been hailed as a superior vacuum. I've had quite a few ds 50 and ds 80s. I can't say there's a difference other than a change of the manufacturer of the motors.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

LesinUtah

Les,

Kirby changed its instruction book with a new date of June 1968 (the 6-68), instead of September 1967 (the 9-67) from the first printing; therefore, I believe the change of motor internals was at that time.

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

Ben

The man with all the facts.
Thanks for that like always.
Thanks Ben
Les

 

[odavid123]

You can find more information about the differences on my website at this link


https://collectingdust.com/kirby-model-years-1963-1983/

 

[lesinutah]

Hmm

Ds50 roll o waxer introduced. Purchase of janitronic company kirby launched first shampoo kit. Metal relief vent on nozzle.
Ds 80 better hooks for nozzle. Plastic relief vent, different hood, different handle. The shampoo plug was also a cup. Ones green ones brown.
That's the differences between the two according to collecting dust.

 

[kenc184]

I ask because I was contemplating picking one up, but I have a DS50 and it would seem like my efforts should be directed elsewhere based on the similarity of the two. Hopefully picking up an Omega this weekend, then possibly a tradition in the week after. Also quite similar machines but not so similar perhaps.
MY wife would kill me if I had the sheer number of machines some of you have!
As it is I have had to sell off my second Avalir and my Sentria2 just to make room for more "vintage" machines.

 

[lesinutah]

The

Omega and tradition are similar but they do have different in a few ways.
The tradition is a great vacuum to have. The blue is great looking machine.

 

[kenc184]

Hmmm, the Omega guy hasn't messaged me yet. I hate it when these guys refuse to give a phone number, even when I have already given mine. He's been quite hard to get ahold of "online" so it's a pain.