Kirby sanitronic 50 80 issue

[lesinutah]

Hi
I have been throwing together d80s and d50s. I put a d50 lid on d80 and wow I like d80 2nd favorite kirby but lighted logo is sweet. I put d50 lighted logo on d80. I have pic attached I just love the combo.
Now to the question on d50 and d80 I took 4 screws off replaced carbon brushes and reassembled them. I turned it on and it was working great then no power was gone. Took apart nothing. I thought maybe it could be the cord but it wasn't. The VAcuum headlight light only comes on nothing else. I'm wondering what could be wrong.

 

[lesinutah]

Hi

I got both of them to work the d80s switch was stuck between how and low. The d50 carbon brush spring went goofy forcing brush to come out not sure what the brush did but spring was goofy popped out of holder. They both work thanks for reading.
Les

 

[texaskirbyguy]

The D50 is my favorite...

as I love the classy copper-brown colors as well as the lighted logo, the starburst belt lifter, and the logoed bag topper.
I restored my Mom's original D50 last month as a Christmas gift - came out beautiful. Makes me want one for myself...

As you might know the metal clips that hold the brushes in the holders are supposed to be bent after they are installed. However they usually break after the second bend. Kirby sells replacement clips to solder on, or you could make your own out of sheet brass or copper. What I usually do after installing new ones is to bend the ends just enough to be difficult to install, and a bit difficult to remove without bending them. This way they will not vibrate out on their own.