Kirby Legend 2 Handle: WHY???

[jake1234]

Hey!

I have noticed that this has happened to a few of the Kirby Legend 2's I have refurbished. I dont know about in America but in England the Legend 2 was one of the most popular kirby models. And this problem has happened to at least 3 of the ones I have had. The handle starts to deteriorate and perish away. I have no idea why this happens and it dowsnt happen to all of them, I have 2 kirby Legend 2's that have an immaculate handles, but the others seem to not be as good. I have a Kirby Heritage 1 and it doesnt seem to have happened to that or anyone elses for that matter. Did Kirby change the plastic used for the handle on the Legend 2? Its very strange how it only happens to that specific model. Please look at my attatched pictures and you will see what I mean.

Thanks, Jake.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Hmm, I'd guess maybe the plastic formula wasn't right on some of these, or they spent time in the sun or a hot environment for periods of time.

 

[kirby519]

Wow.

I have two of the Legend II's. So far neither one has had that happen.

Is this one you have had since new or an acquisition ?

Possible damage from long term exposure to direct sun light. Around here I have seen people store vacuums in and enclosed porch.

Could be a bad blend of materials,

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Jake1234

Jake,

The 240-volt version of the Legend II had an extended sales run in your country and other export markets because the Generation 3, for some reason, didn't make it to your side of the Atlantic until July 1992.

I am sure that long-term exposure to sunlight may be the cause for your "weathered" handle grips.

~Ben

 

[anthony]

I have one here

just like that .The plastic insert in the back of the handle has also gone the same . I put it down to the machine spending is life standing in the glass porch on my parents house .There is also a slight smell coming from the plastic parts reminiscent of body odour

 

[eronie]

I have some cookware that the handles are doing the exact same thing! Bad batch of plastic?

 

[human]

I seem to remember reading on here a long time ago that the pigments they put into plastics can affect their longevity, possibly as a reaction to UV light. The post was in reference to the burgundy G5's cord hooks, which apparently tend to be a little more brittle than ones in other colors, as a possible explanation for why the back of the handle on mine, which includes the lower cord hook, was replaced with a charcoal gray one from a G4. The handle grip itself is still burgundy though and not noticeably deteriorated, but definitely a different type of plastic from the cord hooks.

 

[madman]

Stinky plastic that smells like cheese is that organic crap they used to make screwdriver handles out of for many years. That has nothing to do with UV exposure, they simply rot... literally, they are biodegrading.

If this handle rot problem is isolated to the UK/EU, it's probably because the handles were actually made by a different supplier... who probably used a different plastic formula. It's that simple.

 

[lesinutah]

Melting

I checked my handles and their plastic is good.
Les