Kirby legend II with a stuck fancase screw

[oldskoolguy]

Went shopping at my local goodwill last week and picked up a $10 Kirby Legend 2 hoping to clean it up, put a amodel (not Kevlar as it’s often mistaken) fan in it (for increased durability), polish it, and sell it off. But during my initial inspection, I noticed something off: small stripped screws. I figured “oh that’s easy, I can replace those with new screws from the hardware store. Those came out no problem, save for 2 under the headlight hood (not for the lens) that I’ve yet to address, using a size 3 Phillips head on a small multi head screwdriver. But when I moved on to the fancase, I tried to remove the front screw, but it wouldn’t budge. How it even got stuck is beyond me.
So I grab my electric drill and put the right Phillips head bit in, the clutch kept ratcheting (and mind you, I had the drill set in the to go in reverse for removing a screw). I try WD40 and attempt to remove it again, no luck. So it was off to the Home Depot to grab some speed out extractors. I try 2 different sizes, but neither work. Then I try a ryobi #1 spiral screw extractor, still nothing. I try drilling then an easy out. Couldn’t get far enough in. Then I went to Lowes to see what they had, and I picked up a an Irwin ex-1 extractor and 5/64” drill bit combo along with an Irwin ex-2 extractor and 7/64” drill bit. The 5/64” bit was able to penetrate through the head, and a little bit through the threads. Thinking it would be able to go further down, I put in the ex-1 bit and try to penetrate deeper. Nada.
So now I’m stuck here wondering what the heck I need to do or if anyone has any advice. I’m scratching my head off trying to think of solutions or why this isn’t working.

 

[oldskoolguy]

For reference, this is how the screw looks right now

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Can you get some vice grips on the head, or any good set of pliers?
Can you pound a small 12pt socket over the head and take it out with a ratchet?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Oldskoolguy

Jack,

These machines used several different screws to secure the fan case and the nozzle, all of them #10 size:

On the front of the fan case, a single long 1-1/4" screw (134673) was used.

On the back, by the front wheels, there are four 5/8" screws used: three are round head (134756) and one (by the toe-touch pedal) is a flat head (135169).

~Ben[this post was last edited: 10/14/2021-19:26]

 

[huskyvacs]

The only thing left you can do to that screw is to notch out on each side with a dremel (cutting wheel) and convert it to a standard slot screw and try and ease it out that way with a good ratcheting screwdriver. You never want to use power drills at removing screws for exactly this reason.

I suspect some screws on appliances are always extra-torqued from the factory to make them more impossible to get out so that the company can tell if you have tried to get into it or not (and void the warranty). Every single time I work on something there's always that one screw that refuses to let go.

 

[hoover300]

80s Kirbys always have this issue with me. I love my impact driver, do you have one of those? Even an air powered one could work. For the future of course, for now your best bet seems to be the vice grips.

 

[oldskoolguy]

Update

I managed to free the screw using a torx head hammered in. Now I’ve got a fan shaft that won’t come off. Even with the fan held in place, the armature still turns. WD40 didn’t work in this case, and neither do vise-grip pliers. I’d heat it with a torch, but I don’t want to melt the fan.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Oldskoolguy

Jack,

You can still get a new fan (if need be), only it will be black instead of cream.

~Ben

 

[kirbyklekter]

Oldskoolguy

Worth a try I would baste the offending screw with Liquid Wrench, then tap the screw a bit to help the LW further penetrate. Let it sit like over night even. Tap a few times during the basting process, giving it a go at removing it now and then. So far it has worked 100% for me.Even if you end up drilling the bugger out, it will go easier for you.

 

[centralvacs1928]

Fan shaft

Kirby models from the Classic Omega to the Legend II do not have a hole through the armature shaft near the cooling fan (as older models did) or a flat spot on the armature shaft behind the rear bearing for an open end wrench (as Generation Series machines do). So Kirby introduced the stamped steel "armature locking tool" that you can slide into one of the slots in the armature to jam it against the field. You could attempt something similar with a flat screwdriver or even a hacksaw blade, but your best bet is probably going to be to take the field coil off (four screws) and grip the armature with a big pair of channel locks or vise grips.

Good luck!

 

[oldskoolguy]

A while back, I managed to get the fan off, but it required me to get creative. I used vise-grip pliers to hold the fan in place (had to rotate the fan until the lever touched the hood), then, with the field removed, I put an oven mitt on and held the armature in place. And then, with a small screwdriver for leverage, I turned the shaft until it was loose. With about an 1/8 of a turn, that puppy was loose enough to remove it by hand. New fan went on without issue! Currently, the Kirby is disassembled for polishing. After it’s polished to shine, it’s off to eBay once reassembled.