I’ve been working on an old Canadian Lux for about 5 years now. It’s always been an amazing long shot when I find a particularly piece, at curbside or on eBay. About 10 years ago when I had more time, I personally think that it’s best not to put all of your emotional energy into one machine. I used to keep multiple resto projects going at once as a way to keep my interest up. Nothing is more depressing than having one vintage vacuum that’s not running because it’s missing parts that are hard to find. I’m not one to get manic or start pining away over a singular vacuum.
Kirby model 2C help needed
- Thread starter vacuumheaven05
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vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
question
Does anyone have spare factory original Kirby 505 parts like the black headlight hood trim and black bumper. I'm interested into getting it for my Kirby 2C, it badly need it. It has a bumper, but it's from a Kirby 508 or even a 509-515 model, since it's gray, could always spray paint it black, to make it look accurate. If anyone has spare trim they are willing to give to me, trade or sell, please let me know some time soon.
Thanks Liam
Does anyone have spare factory original Kirby 505 parts like the black headlight hood trim and black bumper. I'm interested into getting it for my Kirby 2C, it badly need it. It has a bumper, but it's from a Kirby 508 or even a 509-515 model, since it's gray, could always spray paint it black, to make it look accurate. If anyone has spare trim they are willing to give to me, trade or sell, please let me know some time soon.
Thanks Liam
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
good news
Hi again. Some extremely good news happened for me personally. A blessing. well, I was able to get tom Stephine's email and we amazingly started to become distant friends. He said he had a spare Kirby 1C or 2C handle, a complete handle with the top angled piece and wooden grip. I was very successful in talking to him about selling the part on eBay, he did. I told him to sell it at a fair price of $60.00 and it worked out perfectly, I was able to buy it immediately. It's been over a week and I'm expecting it to arrive any day now. I'm very excited to see it and attach it to my Kirby 2C, when it arrives in the mail. Finally, I will be able to use it, vacuum with it, once it arrives. Once I get it, I will take pictures and or a video of myself using it for the first time and upload it here soon.
From Liam
Hi again. Some extremely good news happened for me personally. A blessing. well, I was able to get tom Stephine's email and we amazingly started to become distant friends. He said he had a spare Kirby 1C or 2C handle, a complete handle with the top angled piece and wooden grip. I was very successful in talking to him about selling the part on eBay, he did. I told him to sell it at a fair price of $60.00 and it worked out perfectly, I was able to buy it immediately. It's been over a week and I'm expecting it to arrive any day now. I'm very excited to see it and attach it to my Kirby 2C, when it arrives in the mail. Finally, I will be able to use it, vacuum with it, once it arrives. Once I get it, I will take pictures and or a video of myself using it for the first time and upload it here soon.
From Liam
Good news, Liam! I'm looking forward to photos & videos! 
Here are some photos of a Model C and Model 505 that I used to have but sold a few years ago.
Here are some photos of a Model C and Model 505 that I used to have but sold a few years ago.
Charles
I have a 4c floor polisher in a box very similar to the one you have pictured. I believe the polisher just used the regular floor nozzle with a bigger belt mounting on the floor nozzle. Is this how the floor polisher was used?8
I have a 4c floor polisher in a box very similar to the one you have pictured. I believe the polisher just used the regular floor nozzle with a bigger belt mounting on the floor nozzle. Is this how the floor polisher was used?8
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
side note
Quick question, does anyone have a spare factory original Kirby 508 headlight hood trim. They were identical to ones off of a 505 but colored gray instead of black. I can easily spray paint it black and do a very nice paint job. If you look at my other post, at my photos, you will notice that my 2C nozzle has a gray bumper, which is likely from a Kirby 508, because of the light gray color. I can also just spray paint that bumper black, to make it look accurate for my Kirby 2C.
From Liam
Quick question, does anyone have a spare factory original Kirby 508 headlight hood trim. They were identical to ones off of a 505 but colored gray instead of black. I can easily spray paint it black and do a very nice paint job. If you look at my other post, at my photos, you will notice that my 2C nozzle has a gray bumper, which is likely from a Kirby 508, because of the light gray color. I can also just spray paint that bumper black, to make it look accurate for my Kirby 2C.
From Liam
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
kirby note
Quick question to anyone, What type of Bearing fits a Kirby 2C. Could a 505 bearing fit a 2C? And did they also have washers and spacers? Just curious. I recently polished my entire 2C. It looks beautiful, photos will come soon. However, when I put everything back together and tested it, The light turns on and motor runs but it runs very slow and doesn't have any airflow. I did replace the old headlight hood harness wiring with a new one since the old one was dry rotten. I don't know why my 2C motor runs so slow, it cant be the bearings since they spin freely without any bad play. Could it be something with the electrical like the field or could it be bad windings in the armature. It was working fine when I first tested it, before I took it apart for polishing. I don't know what the deal is with it. One more thing, The bearings in my 2C do not have any washers, are they suppose to have washers and spacers?
From Liam
Quick question to anyone, What type of Bearing fits a Kirby 2C. Could a 505 bearing fit a 2C? And did they also have washers and spacers? Just curious. I recently polished my entire 2C. It looks beautiful, photos will come soon. However, when I put everything back together and tested it, The light turns on and motor runs but it runs very slow and doesn't have any airflow. I did replace the old headlight hood harness wiring with a new one since the old one was dry rotten. I don't know why my 2C motor runs so slow, it cant be the bearings since they spin freely without any bad play. Could it be something with the electrical like the field or could it be bad windings in the armature. It was working fine when I first tested it, before I took it apart for polishing. I don't know what the deal is with it. One more thing, The bearings in my 2C do not have any washers, are they suppose to have washers and spacers?
From Liam
bikerray
Well-known member
Front and rear bearing are New Departure 8008 which translates to an 87008 bearing.
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
question
Is a 87008 Bearing the same as a 505 bearing and will a 505 bearing fit a 1C or 2C?
From Liam
Is a 87008 Bearing the same as a 505 bearing and will a 505 bearing fit a 1C or 2C?
From Liam
bikerray
Well-known member
Answer
NO
A 505 front bearing is an 87500
Also, when you put the 2C back together did you lift up on the projection from the handle fork yoke?
If you didn't the bearing plate will not screw down evenly, which would cause the armature to bind. The projection rests on the edge of the bearing plate.
NO
A 505 front bearing is an 87500
Also, when you put the 2C back together did you lift up on the projection from the handle fork yoke?
If you didn't the bearing plate will not screw down evenly, which would cause the armature to bind. The projection rests on the edge of the bearing plate.
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
kirby note
I did test it twice but the motor runs very slow, not normal and even the fan and armature spins slowly in the opposite direction, when I turn the motor on. The bearings are fine as there's no bad play, everything spins freely and everything is properly aligned and assembled. I really think it's something with the electrical, but the thing is, it was working fine before it took it apart to polish, when I tested it. Maybe I didn't connect all the electrical wiring, like to the foot switch and the brush holders, to the proper sport. If so, I must correct it. I think hooking up the copper u clips for the rear wires, to the field is easy to me, but which way or orientation should I connect the wiring to the foot switch. How should I connect the foot switch wiring correctly for a Kirby 2C. The only thing is there's no indication of any black or white wiring, since I know white goes with white and black goes with black, for a proper electrical connection.
From Liam
I did test it twice but the motor runs very slow, not normal and even the fan and armature spins slowly in the opposite direction, when I turn the motor on. The bearings are fine as there's no bad play, everything spins freely and everything is properly aligned and assembled. I really think it's something with the electrical, but the thing is, it was working fine before it took it apart to polish, when I tested it. Maybe I didn't connect all the electrical wiring, like to the foot switch and the brush holders, to the proper sport. If so, I must correct it. I think hooking up the copper u clips for the rear wires, to the field is easy to me, but which way or orientation should I connect the wiring to the foot switch. How should I connect the foot switch wiring correctly for a Kirby 2C. The only thing is there's no indication of any black or white wiring, since I know white goes with white and black goes with black, for a proper electrical connection.
From Liam
bikerray
Well-known member
If the fan is spinning in the opposite direction then you have the wires to the carbon brushes reversed.
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
reply
I was right. The wiring to both carbon brush holders was positioned in the opposite direction, which caused the motor to run in reverse and not normal. So I changed the position again by rotating the field around by 90 degrees. I rotated the field around and switched the position of the wiring that goes to the carbon brushes. So hopefully they are in the proper orientation and I hope that I fixed the issue and that my Kirby 2C motor will run in the proper direction. The armature is supposed to spin in the same direction as the angle of the fan blades. That should fix the issue.
From Liam
I was right. The wiring to both carbon brush holders was positioned in the opposite direction, which caused the motor to run in reverse and not normal. So I changed the position again by rotating the field around by 90 degrees. I rotated the field around and switched the position of the wiring that goes to the carbon brushes. So hopefully they are in the proper orientation and I hope that I fixed the issue and that my Kirby 2C motor will run in the proper direction. The armature is supposed to spin in the same direction as the angle of the fan blades. That should fix the issue.
From Liam
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
quick question
Are Kirby 2C bearings supposed to have washers and spacers? My 2C bearings, front and rear, do not have any washers on the rear side. Was there a washer that fitted into the groove of the rear side of each bearing, For a Kirby 2C?
From Liam
Are Kirby 2C bearings supposed to have washers and spacers? My 2C bearings, front and rear, do not have any washers on the rear side. Was there a washer that fitted into the groove of the rear side of each bearing, For a Kirby 2C?
From Liam
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
note
Does anyone have spare original Kirby 2C rear wheels, they were thinner than 505 rear wheels. I think the front wheels to my 2C are original, since they were similar to the front wheels of a Kirby 505, but the rear ones are not original and are from a 505-515. Just curious.
From Liam
Does anyone have spare original Kirby 2C rear wheels, they were thinner than 505 rear wheels. I think the front wheels to my 2C are original, since they were similar to the front wheels of a Kirby 505, but the rear ones are not original and are from a 505-515. Just curious.
From Liam
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
reply
Thanks, will do, have a great day.
From Liam
Thanks, will do, have a great day.
From Liam
vacuumheaven05
Well-known member
note
Oh one last thing to bikerray, I rotated the field around clockwise and switched the carbon brush wires around. However, once I reassembled everything and tested the motor, the same thing happened, where the motor ran extremely slow and in reverse. I need to know what orientation is the field supposed to be placed in, so that the armature and fan can spin in the proper direction. Which way are the wires for the carbon brush holders supposed to go? Do they both go where the wires face up, one face up and the other faces down, vise versa, or do they both face down? Which wire goes to what carbon brush holder? How is the wiring supposed to be positioned to make the motor run in the proper direction? I Do Not Know?
From Liam
Oh one last thing to bikerray, I rotated the field around clockwise and switched the carbon brush wires around. However, once I reassembled everything and tested the motor, the same thing happened, where the motor ran extremely slow and in reverse. I need to know what orientation is the field supposed to be placed in, so that the armature and fan can spin in the proper direction. Which way are the wires for the carbon brush holders supposed to go? Do they both go where the wires face up, one face up and the other faces down, vise versa, or do they both face down? Which wire goes to what carbon brush holder? How is the wiring supposed to be positioned to make the motor run in the proper direction? I Do Not Know?
From Liam
Kirby 2C wheels
The 2C did not come with 2 different size wheels they were set up the same as the Kirby C with all 4 thinner wheels. You can buy new wheels that are a very close match to the original wheels. Pictured is my 2C with two of the new wheels and two original. Picture #3 shows the original wheels. You can buy the new wheels on eBay. In picture #4 shows the new and original wheels the axle of the new wheels did need to be ground down to fit properly.
Side note: These are aftermarket parts but these are as close as you will find to the original wheels, until you can get originals ones just something to consider. [this post was last edited: 2/23/2023-09:04]
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3346500296...optCZ7AodEZn7vgHuencbVbQoH6TjWGNRB1LQ0OWOsAE6
The 2C did not come with 2 different size wheels they were set up the same as the Kirby C with all 4 thinner wheels. You can buy new wheels that are a very close match to the original wheels. Pictured is my 2C with two of the new wheels and two original. Picture #3 shows the original wheels. You can buy the new wheels on eBay. In picture #4 shows the new and original wheels the axle of the new wheels did need to be ground down to fit properly.
Side note: These are aftermarket parts but these are as close as you will find to the original wheels, until you can get originals ones just something to consider. [this post was last edited: 2/23/2023-09:04]
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3346500296...optCZ7AodEZn7vgHuencbVbQoH6TjWGNRB1LQ0OWOsAE6
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