My first Kirby (G2000 Gsix G6 Limited Edition)

[mike811]

So I have been looking for Kirby a long time and I finally managed to order one. It's the G2000 Gsix G6 Limited Edition with a lot of tools included and new brushroll.
I also ordered 3 genuine belts for it.

So I should know the basic things like belt change, proper height adjustment set and so on.
But is there something else what I should know about the Kirby??
Thanks!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322320566466

 

[human]

Nice machine...

That's just like my first Kirby that I rescued from a dumpster almost exactly four years ago. I later snagged a full set of tools for it from a thrift store for $4 and change. I like to think I reunited the two. With regards to your questions, there's no real secret knowledge. Using these machines is pretty straightforward. The one thing that seemed counter-intuitive to me at first is that the belt lifter actually puts extra tension on the belt so you can remove and install the floor nozzle. Once it's in place, the lifter relaxes the belt onto the motor shaft. Once I wrapped my mind around that little factoid, everything else fell into place. I still can't reconfigure the machine as fast or as easily as the Kirby salesman who demoed a Classic Omega in our living room when I was about nine years old, but the process isn't difficult. If you'd like to see all the functions demonstrated, take a look at the 52-minute video owners manual, linked below for your convenience. There are also abundant resources--including, but not limited to, the fine folks on this forum--available to answer more advanced repair and maintenance-related questions.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NqWwRTnSzA

 

[mike811]

Thanks for the link.
I have 3 large shag rugs and Kirby seems to be one of the best vacuums for that.
And of course being a vacuum collector Kirby is also very desirable.

Vacuumtests from the youtube

 

[fantomfan]

Very nice Kirby

A family friend of ours used to have one. I think it was replaced by a Miele upright. I have a picture of me at a vacuum exhibit my museum had in 2003 standing next to a G6 Limited Edition and a Singer Twin Turbo upright.

 

[mike811]

How long those belts usually last in light use? I mean If I buy ONE belt from Finland it's 29,90€!
Thankfully I ordered 3 x genuine Kirby belts from eBay for 9.50€.
I found (Finland) microfiber bags (5x) for 22,95. Those bags are huge.

 

[human]

They last a pretty long time

It's really hard to say exactly how long a belt will last. I don't exactly burn through them, but it's always good to have some spares on hand, just in case. The Kirby I use the most is my G5. I put on a new belt and brush roll when I got it almost two years ago and the belt is still going strong. Of course, I've not taken the floor nozzle off in at least a year and a half. Doing that frequently would tend to stress the belt. Another unpredictable variable to consider would be random objects that might damage the belt if they get sucked up. When I picked up a second GSix on the cheap at a thrift store about a year and a half ago, it had a AA cell battery lodged in the floor nozzle. It had apparently immobilized the brush roll and burned out the belt. Rather than replace that one relatively cheap part, the previous owner just donated It. Oh well, their loss was my gain.

 

[mike811]

Bags

Okay it's good to know.
Some vacuums need a belt change much more often. My cheap Simple Value Upright (Black & Decker Air-swivel) already need a belt change. It's because it has no height adjustment and brushroll is struggling to spin on my high pile shag rugs. I have 3 of those large rugs so I really don't use it often.

By the way those rugs are very demanding to get clean. For example picking up gritty stuff is a pain. So far my best vacuums for deep cleaning are Kärcher upright (Sebo BS36) and Lux Royal D790 with Wessel-Werk EBK 340 PH.
So I am very curious to see how Kirby will do. I believe it will do well (high airflow & agitation).

I am still a bit confused what bags I will use.
Paper bags are much cheaper, but those microfiber bags work better at filtration in my other vacuums.

 

[human]

Rug pile

Good point on the pile of the rugs/carpets. That will definitely be a determining factor on belt longevity. I have Persian rugs in several rooms and basic low-pile wall-to-wall carpeting in my living room and bedroom so my machines' belts don't get that hard of a workout. That said, I'm not sure how belt wear would compare from one brand of machine to the next since that introduces even more variables into the equation. I can only speak for my Kirby vacuums and my Electrolux power nozzles, all of which have excellent belt longevity in the environment and conditions under which they are used.

 

[brycerivers]

Congratulations with That Generation 6 2001 Limited Edition!

Here is The Digital Owner’s Manual on Kirby's Website
http://kirbywhq.powweb.com/manuals/Gsix/index.html


Here is the video owner’s manual if you want to learn the basics on how to use the machine.


http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN3Vn5rZi_U&list=PLDF3EBDEB8D2CC666

 

[mike811]

Thanks

human:
About those shag rugs. Those are quite high pile, but if vacuum/powerhead has height adjustment it is much easier for the belt. I have several powerheads and uprights, but only ones what suffer belt wear are without the height adjustment and have flat belt. Vacuum/powerhead without the height adjustmen is very hard to push and head will sink in to the rug.
I assume that Kirby with the height adjustment will be ok on those rugs.

brycerivers:
Thanks! And those links are very helpfull.

Kirby used to be just a distant dream for me, but now that dream is coming true. I am very exited. I just hope that everything goes well. Seller in the eBay had several Kirbys for sale, but I liked this Gsix the most.

 

[mike811]

Love it

So my Kirby G2000 Gsix G6 Limited Edition finally arrived.
There is so much to say about this vacuum, but just few mentions:
Quality seems excellent, self-propelled system is fantastic (although I don't like sound it makes).
This vacuum moves a lot of air and it's much easier to use what many say.
Vacuuming those shag rugs has never been this easy

http://https//youtu.be/9N_bdqTUj8I

 

[human]

Nice machine. Glad you're happy with it. It should serve you well for many years to come.

 

[charleskirby66]

Does your light work?

It looks like the bag is inflated, but I don't see a light.  These really are great machines, congrats!!!

 

[mike811]

Agitation

Thank you! Yes the light works and Kirby is switched off in the picture. For some reason it looks like bag is inflated, strange.
I have done some tests with it and it deep cleans my medium pile shag rugs fantastically.
I noticed step up in airflow when I started to use Fleece/Hepa bags. Great improvement over the paper bags.
Belt seems to be a bit loose so luckily I have 4 spare belts.

Here is Kirby agitation action (notice loose belt at the begining):

 

[human]

Please tell me that's not some type of carpet fresh powder you're using. That shit will kill your vacuum cleaner! The baking soda in it promotes corrosion of metal parts.

 

[suckolux]

Old belt, but also is the brushbar set too tall? 1/2/3?

 

[mike811]

This was just a oatmeal, but apparently there was fine particles also.
I hate when the fine dust goes everywhere and vacuum needs a complete cleaning. Flour is the biggest mistake and I have learn it the hard way.
I will continue using sawdust when testing the vacuums. I can get it much as I want from my work.

About the brush height I have to check how it is set.

 

[sptyks]

Again, I will ask if this rug has a rubber backing.


A rubber backing will really mess with the performance because there is no airflow through the rug.


 


 

 

[mike811]

Yes this low pile rug has rubber backing. That's why I didn't lower the height so low what it should be. It seems to work well. No snowplow effect and Kirby did lift the rug just so much that it still had airflow to the nozzle. It did't lift it evenly, so there is airflow to the nozzle.
It was clearly this oatmeal which caused the brushroll to slow down. For some reason it had a lot of very fine particles almost like flour. I tried it with the Shark and it clogged the cyclone mesh screen pretty quickly.
So I assume that when it got between the motor shaft and belt it caused it to slip.
Now on big no no to this nightmare oatmeal.
With the rice on this low pile carpet it works fantastically.