kirby heritage tear down trouble shoot

[vacuumssuck213]

Just tore apart Kirby heritage got to the moter and couldint get to the fan found the screws were all messed up so I put it back together and now it will not turn on what could have gone wrong? ?please help

 

[kirbykid]

Pictures would help. I sell heritage motors so if you need a new one i could send you a rebuilt power plant

 

[super-sweeper]

Down to the nitty gritty,

Alright, There a number of thing that could have gone wrong, but we'll need some specifics other than "won't turn on"!


 


Does it hum, the light turn on, or anything?


Let's list some possibilities, shall we?


 


Humming indicates you've frozen the motor (The motor cannot freely spin). You could have done this by not fully tightening a screw, causing the fan to hang on it (Or some other rotating motor part).


 


If the light is coming on, You've likely messed something up with the speed switch. I'd take it apart and look for lose wires, broken contacts, Etc.


 


I'm guessing you're referring to the Original Heritage I of 1981-1984, But in the event it is a Heritage II (Grey bag with black), You'll notice a Red light on the top of the power plant (Motor). If this light is illuminated, You have power to the cleaner. I suppose you could take an Ohm meter to where the cord plugs into the cleaner to test for broken electrical contacts.


 


Have fun!

 

[vacuumssuck213]

more information

So when I tore in I only was able to take the shell off the motor I was going to get to the fan and found the screw heads totally stripped out. So I put it all back together plugged it in and pushed the switch and absolutely nothing no lights no humming I did put a cap back on the wires to the switch

 

[vacuumssuck213]

continued

It is a 82 HD 1 if that helps

 

[super-sweeper]

No idea,

Tear into it and look for the above, and be sure you have power in the wall outlet 

 

[vacuumssuck213]

hi Kirbykid

If worse came to worse how much do you charge for a rebuilt ?

 

[super-sweeper]

Suck,

I wouldn't send it out for a rebuild. These are very simple cleaners, You could always drill out the screws, it would be what they'd do in a rebuild and charge you $$$ for it.

 

[craig_1982]

when you say the shell of the motor, do you mean the actual metal outer casing? (shouldn't stop the machine) or you mean as in the casing surrounding the motor armature and field coil? (white in colour held in by 4 screws)
if it was the latter when you put it back together again, were the carbon brushes put in correctly sometimes these don't quite make contact on the armature. Also as Alex said above it could be the speed switch as well, make sure the wires are fully connected and in the corresponding colour slot and check the mechanisms working correctly.

 

[craig_1982]

Just to add I take it the Kirby was working before you stripped it down?

 

[kirbykid]

Its 30 bucks for a rebuilt power plant. That's just a rebuilt motor, not polished. Its 75 bucks if you want it polished.

 

[vacuumssuck213]

thank you everyone.

I will try to tear into again later in the week if not next would hate to think one of my babies won't run again. Or for awhile at best

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Kirby Motor Service

This page from the Heritage II service manual might help you:

~Ben

 

[vacuumssuck213]

drilling out?

Being not the most mecanicly inclined person and not the least ether this.may be a stupid question but like I've always said the most stupid question is the one you fail to ask. if i drill out the screws A will the holes beable to take a new screw and B what size of bit would9 be most appropriate ?

 

[craig_1982]

Have you tried knocking them round? if you get a small flat bladed chisel tap a wedge into the screw head then try knocking it around to free it off this sometimes work. There's other ways too first you can try drilling a small hole in the middle of the screw sometimes it releases enough pressure for you to be able to turn the screws, you can also try both, small hole drill then trying knocking the screw around with a chisel sometimes it work's and saves you on re-tapping the threads.
Another option is If your replacing the screws with the same size screws then you will need to drill out the whole diameter of the screw. If any of the screws can come out then remove one and match it up to a metal drill bit as I'm not sure exactly what diameter they are, Also measure the depth of the screw to the drill bit as you don't want to drill any deeper, I usually put some tape on the drill bit so I know when I'v reached the desired depth, The next step you will need a Tap&Die tool set, this is used to recreate a thread in the casing ready for the new screws to be inserted, Make sure again you get the right diameter tool.
These process do work done it with two Kirby's in the past as long as you drill straight and you get the right diameters then you should be ok.
Here's a you tube video to show you about tap and die..

 

[super-sweeper]

Redneck simple,

You have tried WD-40, haven't you? frees most screws easily!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

E-Z Out

I wonder if you'll try those "E-Z Out" drill and driver bits to remove broken screws and stripped screw heads?

~Ben

 

[vacuumssuck213]

update safety switch.

Lucky I did get the heritage up and running again stupidest thing. After wrapping my head around it I had a aha moment the safety switch I took the power head sure enough the safety switch was stuck up. Man the things we don't think about huh?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Nathan,

Here's this page of the Heritage II service manual to help you.

~Ben