Kirby Dual Sanitronic 50 question

[thunderhexed]

In using my ds50 today, I noticed it started making a sound that I'm not accustomed to... normally it ran very smoothly and moderatly quiet for a kirby, then I used my attachments with it today and it was obnoxiously loud and was making some sort of buzzing or vibrating, grinding like noise. Then I placed the floor unit back on it and it was still making that noise. Could this be a bearing problem? A loose inner component of some sort? With the rug nozzle back on, I noticed the noise would come and go. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[vacuumkid3]

My handle on the Omega vibrates a lot. That may be what you are experiencing. But, the motors (I hear)are not meant to be used on high speed with the hose, which is inconceiveable, as many people love to use it. I bet that it is bearings unless it is the handle vibrating. Good luck finding the problem!

~~K~~

 

[billyb0y]

The bearings are a possibility, and also the fan might be chipped or cracked on one of the blades. You can turn the spindle around when the rug head is removed and look in the fan chamber with a small flashlight. Make sure the machine is unplugged. If you can't see any chips or cracks, then you might have to take the housing apart.

 

[bimmer740]

Kirby Attachments

Sorry if this is off the stated topic but I'm curious about what Kyle said in his post, that the motors are not meant to be used on high speed. Several years ago when I bought my first Kirby a Heritage II Legend, an exiled club member told me I should only use the attachments once and a while. Is this still true of the new Kirbys? I have a Diamond Edition, (but it hasn't seen much use since I installed a central vac)but suction and multiple attachments are absolutely wonderful!
-Steven

 

[frkirby511]

Kirby Attachments and High Speed

I am no expert in this by any means.

I do know that many say the carbon brushes in the motor of a Kirby wear down faster with the higher speed. It makes sense that they would. I suspect - though I don't know for sure -- that many factors probably affect the condition and life-span of the carbon brushes. The climate in which the vac is used; the climate in which it is stored; and how long it is running continuously as opposed to on and off. There may even be other factors of which I am completely unaware.

In any case, I have had a Legend for about 17 years. It is not my "daily driver," as we say in the club. I use it with attachments for a good full day of cleaning about every two weeks to a month when I want to give the house a really thorough cleaning from top to bottom. I have had no problem with it so far. But even if I did, there is not a lot to changing the carbon brushes. Any good vac shop can do this for you. In fact I have a Kirby 517 that had the carbon brushes completely worn and, once changed, it runs like new.

From what I could tell, changing the carbon brushes isn't any more involved than the kinds of servicing that used to be given to the Hoover brush rolls, i.e. changing and servicing the ball bearings or the brush strips. My mother had a Hoover 62 and then a 69 Convertable. Every so often she would take it in for standard servicing and this is what they would do. They would also check other things like the bellows for the bag and of course, the belt and headlight. But changing the carbon brushes is this kind of servicing, as far as I know.

Finally, when we were in Cleveland at the Kirby Headquarters back in June of 2001, the chief engineer told us that they had really worked on the carbon brushes of the G-6 and they were not as likely to wear down as in the past. I also have a G-6 that gets about the same use annually as my Legend. I have this G-6 since 2001. I have never had a problem with it.

If I were you, I would use the Kirby as you want to. If you take care of it; keep it clean; store it properly..then it will last you a very, very long time...even though you may have to change the carbon brushes at some point.

 

[sudsmaster]

I wasn't aware that the Dual 50 has a two speed motor.

 

[tommymilan]

GSix

Hello, here in Italy kirbies are mostly used with attachments, because wall-to-wall carpeting is no longer preferred by the mass-market. A friend is kirby repair man and he told me that the only problems he usually has to solve are fan wearing,or powercord replacement. My mum uses her kirby Gsix everyday since 2001, mainly with attachments and it still works like new. I've just noticed a little different sound probably because of the fan, that I will replace this year when I'll send the vacuum to my friend for a checkup.
This means that the carbon brushes are much different now than in the older models!
tommy

 

[williamr1248]

kirby Legend ll

I have been told the same information about using the Kirby tools and motor problems. I have had my Kirby Legend ll for over 18 years and use the tools every week. It has not given me any problems. The only repair I have needed to make was to replace a broken fan. It has been a great vacuum and as club members say it has been my "daily driver" for 18 years. However I moved into a new house and the Kirby does not work on the new carpeting. As a matter of fact NONE of the vacs in my collection work very well on this new carpeting.

 

[thunderhexed]

Kirby dual sanitronic 50

Thanks for all of the info guys! I to have heard that you should use attachments on older kirbys sparingly, which I do, usually for no more than 15 minutes at a time twice a month or so. I also have a small canister vac that I use from time to time. In regards to the Dual Sanitronic being a two speed motor, (and anyone please correct me if I'm wrong on this) The DS 50 was the first model that kirby put a two speed motor on. If you take the front nozzle off, you will see not one, but two safety switches at the base of the air intake opening. One switch is depressed when the rug nozzle is attached using a lower, more delicate power for regular rug cleaning, and then when the hose is attached, the other switch gets depressed causing the motor to run at a higher speed to compensate for suction through the length of the hose and attachments. The Dual Sanitronic 50, 80 and Classic I all had the same safety switch set up, then I believed with the Classic Omega on, Kirby changed over to using a single safety switch. When the rug nozzles were on the cleaners the switches were pressed in to a certain extent and ran on low speeds and then when the attachments were used, the switches were pressed in even further tripping the motor over to high speed. I THINK this began with the classic omega but I could be wrong...it could have been a later model. I know some traditions and my heritage model are like that. Early model tradtions had a different type of safety switch introduced on them that were totally flawed in that they relied on the headlight hood being down all the way for the motor to run, well, we all know that some kirby's hoods end up becoming loose and VERY easy to move, so this of course caused a problem with the hoods not providing sufficient pressure to the safety switch to keep the motors powered. This was remedied with later produced traditions and Kirby went back to using their standard type of safety switches. This info was provided to me by the Kirby dealer here in OKC, and if you lok at the tradition in the owners manual, you can kinda see the set up for that first type of safety switch.

 

[kirbyvacuum]

hoover carbon brushes

Hi Steve I have just joined this club and have already talked to many nice people. I have been collecting vacuums for many years. I really love the Kirbys the 500series are my favorite. Steve i noticed you are on Long Island as i am would you nowhere i could get a set of carbon brushes for a hoover madel 918 it is a Hoover comerical. Please let me know if you can help. If you like i can let you no all the vacuums i have in my collection . Thanks God Bless Doug.

 

[bimmer740]

hoover brushes

Hi Doug!
I am not sure how old your machine is, as I've just started to take more of an interest in Hoover's vintage machines. I live in Commack but always go to Deer Park Vacuum on Deer Park Ave. I have purchased many machines from them, two Mieles, an Electrolux, and just a few months ago my VacuFlo central vac. I have other newer machines and DP Vac has also been able to help with what I need so I dont know what they have as far as vintage stuff. I would suggest giving them a call, mention you are in the VCCC, one of the owners I believe used to be part of the club too. They are very friendly and may be able to help you out. If not, create a thread and you will find how friendly the club members are and how willing they are to help out!
Good Luck!
-Steven

 

[thekiz]

thunderhexed DS-50 noise

Cory,
I would suspect a fan problem, it could be a bearing but I don't think so. The DS-50 & DS-80 are really the same machines other than color and handle. I bought my DS-80 used in 1990 and used it many hours per day w/ my cleaning service at high speed w/ the tools. It is true with those models you need to keep an eye on the carbon brushes & armature tracking, however I've not had much problem. My old DS-80 has gone 9to5 for many years & is still my favorite!!! AS a matter of fact I used her to polish my bling this evening.
Also, just to share, anything after the DS-80 has a larger diameter armature & much larger carbon brushes I don't know the tech. differences but I would suspect them to be more stable. Others would know much more than I do.
Anywho, good luck and if I can help you further let me know & I'll get with you.
P.S. Thank you for understanding about my friend and my slow responses.
P.P.S. Hellooo All!!! I hope everyone is well and enjoying the big 2007. Gosh, it sure is nice to have our web family back! Let us all work at being kind to one another. After it's all said and done, who in the world will really understand us but another vacuum freak!
Best Wishes,
Russ

 

[kirbyvacuum]

Hi Russ I am a new member to the club (Jan1 07 and am really enjoying it I also love Kirbys they are really wonderful machines. The 505 is my first love and would love to own one i bought the Kirby model c on e-bay looks and runs like new. i find it so nice that we are getting so many younger people and father son members to join. I will go for now lets talk soon God Bless Doug

 

[thekiz]

Kirby 505

Doug,
Congrats on your 505! I too am a new member and love all the info. from other members, I've learned so much already. The oldest Kirby I've worked on is a 509, they just don't make things like they did in the past, (I hate our throw-away world).
Back to Cory's thread, I believe I mixed-up armature for commutator in my post. Sorry! I keep loosing my work on this darn laptop. Anyone have a hammer!!!!!!!
Thanks All,
Russ