My 1979 Kirby Classic III

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That was my first new vacuum. I didn’t like the cloth bag set up so I had it converted to the f&g setup. Big mistake, , never worked right after. Wish I would have kept the old bag. The repair guy probably cleaned it up and resold it.
 
Chan55

John,

Well, if you would have used the Heritage II/Legend II Mini Emtor, it would've been a better disposable bag system than the one you had. I know that one (the one you describe) and its poor performance all too well.

~Ben
 
Heritage II bag and mini emtior...

Yes, that's what I did with mine. I actually used a Legend II bag to keep the red color scheme going. It works just as well as a Heritage/Legend series machine.
 
human

Edgar,

When I just emptied the bag of this machine tonight, you're not going to believe this, but it was jam-packed with dirt (and a bottle of Odorific in the pocket area)! I mean, I had to insert my bare hand inside to take the largest mounds out of it. This is also why, when I had first powered on the machine after bringing it home, the tone and pitch of the motor was higher than usual and thus the suction was lower. Hence why Kirby says in the instruction book to clean out the bag after EVERY USE.

No wonder so many people over the years have shied away from shake-out bags in favor of disposable bag systems, including you.

~Ben
 
Hello Ben,
Could you please expand what you meant in your post #454089 by "its poor performance".
Are you referring to an F&G setup? What is an F&G setup?
I'm about to convert a Kirby Classic III from original shakeout, to use; a Fill-Tube, F-Type bag bracket, and HEPA bag. Is this a mistake?
Was the issue with the Emptor-Tube Adapter? And sealing it properly?
Many thanks,
Alan (UK)
 
The F&G setup is used by Eureka and Sanitaire vacuums. The bags have a paper fill tube and are apparently far less satisfactory on a Kirby adapted to use them. It's far better to use the entire bag assembly from a Heritage II or Legend II. There is simply better and more efficient airflow through the wire reinforced plastic fill tube. This setup can also use the latest Kirby F-style HEPA bags for optimal efficiency. My Classic III sports a brick red Legend II bag with the original red Classic III bag topper. Another option, if you're good with a sewing machine, or know someone who is, is to put a full length zipper onto the Classic II bag and install the Heritage II style mini-em-tor and fill tube assembly into it.

I've also made the same modification to both of my orange bagged Heritage 1HD machines. One came to me with a dump bag, which I detest, so it got a complete gray Heritage II bag assembly until I eventually got hold of an orange bag and put the Heritage II fill tube and plastic mini-em-tor onto it. Later, I acquired a Heritage 84, which had been run without a filter bag, so I vacuumed it out and removed the metal em-tor and fill tube assembly to run the bag through the washer. After it dried, I was unsuccessful in reinserting the original fill tube assembly, and eventually just gave up and installed one from a Heritage II. Functionally, it's great; however, I wanted to use the original em-tor and fill tube assembly with the Type 2 bag adapter so that I could use up my supply of Type 2 bags before replacing that bag adapter with a Heritage II style one.
 
Rowdy141

Alan,

To be more specific, the F&G bag conversion kit choked off airflow at the point the bag and bag connector meet.

As to looking to convert yours, most of us here recommend using the Heritage II Mini Em-Tor setup but adapting the Classic III's bag topper to it. This setup can also be used with the polyethylene HEPA disposable bags.

~Ben
 

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