Latest Kirby Sentria - Notable Changes

[vacfanatic]

Here is a video I found noting some of the new changes to the Sentria which are different from mine that was made in 11/2009.

At 6:00 min, you'll see a shot where it shows 4 holes in the kick plate. Not sure why they added that.

At 12:30 min, you'll see the changes to the emtor.

Andrew

 

[vacfanatic]

 

[vacfanatic]

 

[twocvbloke]

Seems the Emtor has just become a filltube connector rather than act as a trap for debris that could damage the bag or filltube, they might aswell ditch it and go the way of the cheapo F&G replacement "upgrade" bags which did not come with an emtor, just connecting straight to the exhaust... :&#92

Time to buy up the older style emtors for upgrading the new ones...

 

[redgeminipa]

@twocvbloke

The emptor hasn't been a debris catcher for quite a while. I kinda like the idea that you aren't faced with the nearly impossible task of cleaning it out.

 

[tolivac]

The Mini Emptor doesn't do much good anyway-feel it should be AHEAD of the fan-that way it could catch heavy,hard items BEFORE they go thru the fan-like the scrap trap "snout" on the NSS Pig.

 

[gsheen]

From my opinion , I can't wait till they replace the G series completely, every new Kirby that is Launched is just a more rounded and different color to the last one, I think they are getting worse to , I've had a few of the sentria's in with broken handles and broken belt lifters, I have also had two completely stripped gear boxes which I will admit is unusual, those things normally last a long time.

 

[twocvbloke]

Kirby Techdrives are fun to service...

Just have to clean out the clutch material that covers everything, dismantle, clean and re-grease the flat roller bearings, aswell as cleaning and oiling the sleeve bearings, then the most fun part is putting it all back together without it all flying apart cos of the springs...

This one was my G3's TD unit, went from being a screamer of a transmission which didn't like to work right to a quiet, smooth and pleasant transmission, just took a couple of hours of cleaning (didn't do any "after" pics)...

 

[dwhdarren97]

My Grandma and Grandpa bought there Kirby Sentria about a week before Thanksgiving last year. It has this new style emtor as well as the holes on the back. This style has been out for a while. But, it's good to see it's gaining popularity .

 

[vacfanatic]

G3 Transmission

Here was the inside of a G3 transmission I tore apart as it was non-working a few years ago. The internal cogged belt had broken, which they are reinforced with some fibers of some fashion. Was suprised it had broken. It's all worn down where the break was from rubbing on the gears inside the transmission.

 

[twocvbloke]

Pretty much every cogged belt has a reinforcing material within the rubber, but I'd guess that belt was snapped through someone doing that test where you push the Kirby up to a wall, put it into drive and then pushing & pulling the handle to see if the wheels spin or whether it slips... :S

Last I heard, you can't actually buy that belt on it's own, you have to buy the whole unit, which is a bit silly really, but given the age of my G3 and the pretty perfect condition of the belt, then they must be long-lasting if used properly, but obviously not impervious to rough-use...

 

[vacfanatic]

I'm sure you can't buy the internal belt seperately either. I'd looked around everywhere back when I tore this apart to see if I could find one, ended up buying a used transmission to put it back in service with.

I was actually shocked to find a cogged belt inside the transmission when I tore it apart - I'd never taken one apart before.

 

[gsheen]

You can buy it but not from Kirby, Just go to an industrial belt supplier , all these toothed belts are standard sizes, Its just the width that differs, they manufacture these belts in long tubes and cut them to the size you require, The same with all the belts that are used in sebo x1,2,3&4 and the belt used in any 340 350 360 model . 


 


Its just a matter of going to get them but yo need a sample, they are also dirt cheep to and generally a  goodyear brand, 

 

[twocvbloke]

I was wondering if there were generic alternatives, I guess with that, there are, Kirby's missing a trick there...

Before I stripped my G5's techdrive (as opposed to the G3's pictured above), I assumed they were like car transmissions with just cog-to-cog gearing, not gearing with a belt, but, you live & learn...

 

[gsheen]

As said before I really don't like G series Kirby's we see so many in our shop and considering that here in SA they cost 5x the price of the most expensive dyson or 3 times the price of the really good vorwerk vk140( even been the soul agent for vorwerk in the whole of Cape Town  estimated vorwerk's in Cape Town 50 000, we only see 3 or so a week and then they are old  80's ones) For that kind of money they are over priced. I expect more for a vacuum costing that much , I think its like getting a Toyota corrola for Mercedes s class money 


I hope Kirby designs something better in 2014.


 


Even a friend who works for Kirby in SA said to me they have far more comebacks the current models than on any legend and heritage models.

 

[twocvbloke]

The only issues I had when I had my G5 (never really used the G3, loose parts and poor brushroll) was the weight, and as I had popped a rib out lifting my Heritage84, I had to give up the G5 as I didn't want to risk a repeat of my rib injury, but, I do miss using it as it was much lighter to push about than the Heritage models, thanks to the Tech Drive, and I only paid £57 and a trash-picked Electrolux Vitesse for it, so not a bad purchase really...

But these days I'm not actively seeking the more recent Kirbys, I'd have another G5 or a G6 if I were offered it, but, I'm happy with what I've got (Sanitaires, Victor, Tirstar CXL, Pre-G Kirbys, and the miele if I must!!), plus the D80 is just a cool looking vac, and just as effective (especially if I put a disposable bag setup on it), and lighter to carry too...

 

[broomvac]

Metal Fan in a Kirby SENTRIA??

Are my eyes deceiving me? If it is true, this cannot be stock, but rather a seller Kirby MOD.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kirby-Sentr...ps=63&clkid=3360373456196660460#ht_600wt_1396

 

[thissucks]

I assumed they were like car transmissions with just cog-to-

ahh yes, but there are quite a few auto transaxles in cars that have one or more chains!

i want a kirby G but i already have a omega and i doubt a new one would clean any better once i put on a disposible bag upgrade and double row brush roll.

i would say kirby has the best mechanical drive system availible.

 

[twocvbloke]

Your eyes are deceiving you, that's a plastic fan, you can tell cos the metal fans don't have the 6 ribs in the middle surrounding the pulley shaft, that area on a metal fan is smooth and rounded, and the pulley hasn't got that ring cutout in it either...

Plus metal fans tend not to have deformed blades at the mouth of the opening into the fan chamber where they've been struck multiple times with debris...

This is the plastic fan it's using (the lighting on that Sentria listing's a bit odd giving the fan a grey hue, unless it's a generic replacement which are usually grey):



http://www.ebay.com/itm/180639635268