Kirby Factory Rebuild Experiences

[28studebaker]

I'm new to this blog and so far the amount of info is awesome. Here's the question. I have an old Kirby 515. I contacted Kirby rebuild and they told for $350 plus tax and shipping they can rebuild the vacuum.

Has anyone one done this and what was your experience. I'm afraid they will replace the original parts with different color wheels, trim, bag etc.

Thanks
Keith

 

[electrolux137]

Hello, and welcome!

Oh, they most certainly will change all the original trim, wheels, bag, handle cover and cord. If you decide to have it done, you should remove anything you don't want to lose. I will say, when it comes back from the factory it will look brand new!!

 

[kirbyvacuum]

Rebuild

Hi Keith Welcome to the club you will enjoy it here. I had my kirby rebuild in 1989 for the grand price of 27.99.however i am the original owener and had all the paper work they needed. It came back looking like and sounding like a new vacuum. However my friend last year had his Kirby 511 rebuilt also came back looking bran new. However the trin and bag and cord were in black He was very upset as he wanted it with the Gray bag cord and trim all in gray as it was when new. i really like the black. Well to answer your question it most likely will come back with the black trim. You could call Kirby and ask them about that .But as i said it looks VERY NICE. Hope this helps Doug

 

[sonnyndad]

Rebuild jobs

This is just my opinion, but I would rather put in time and money rebuilding the machine myself. For one, I would rather the machine be as original as possible, and two, it is very easy to rebuild the old Kirbys if you have the skill. But if you send the machine in, make sure to take off all the original trim that you want to keep.

Clayton "Sonny"

 

[28studebaker]

Thanks for the info

I've rebuilt my 1928 studebaker president car so I could rebuild the vacuum. What is the best source for parts even if they aren't original. I need trim,bag,brush roll and wheels.

Thanks
Again for all your help.

 

[kc_kirby]

Just to add some info.. If you take of parts you should replace them with other color parts or parts in poor shape. If they vacuum arrives missing parts, Kirby will charge extra for the missing parts. Oh, I also found out you have to use genuine Kirby parts. If you put on aftermarket parts, they will still charge you for replacing the parts. Hope this helps.

Chad

 

[beko1987]

Could you not ask Kirby if they would just polish it up? IE you strip it down and send them just the casings?

Or buy a sh*tty one from somewhere, and built it into a frankenvac. Send it off, get it back, swap it all back over again and voila! You get a shiney kirby and lots of new spare parts!