My last two Hoover 63s ready for good homes

[marukap]

Hi Bill:

Sorry, that 515 is not for sale!

First, I checked my usual sources and they didn't have the part.

Then I decided to email the Kirby rebuild service since I knew they'd have to have it. Here's their response:

"Hi,
We do not sell the internal parts, you can have it rebuilt by us if you would like. The cost of the rebuild would be $350.00 plus tax and shiipping both ways. If you are interested please contact us at (800) 437-7170.

Thank you."

Interesting bit of information, but NOT what I was looking for!

So

I took Charlie's advice and made one out of a sheet of fiber gasket material. I think it will do nicely for this project but I WOULD like to have a couple more on hand for future early Kirby restorations.

Please let me know when you get your supply and I would very much like to purchase a couple baffles.

Thank you!

Marty

 

[a007kirbyman]

Marty & supply...

No problem Marty.

I was meaning the parts for sale vs. making them, even though you are very talented at creating parts & pieces.

If you want to shoot me an email (see profile) with your contact information, I would be more than happy to call you when they come in.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[marukap]

You asked about that Kirby 515?

It is one of the very favorites of my collection and a highly appreciated birthday present from a dear friend last year. The 515 came to me beautiful and looking like new, fresh from a professional metal polisher's workshop. Now, thanks in part to Bill (a007Kirbyman) for the elusive paper field baffle, it is complete, correct and like new on the insides as well.

Yes, I know the bag is not original, but it is a very nice genuine Kirby replacement.

Here's what I've done to the 515 in the past couple of weeks:

1) Full tear down, detail cleaning and lubrication
2) De-bur edges of fan blades - Otherwise the original fan is in excellent condition.
3) Replace front and rear bearings
4) Resurface commutator and replace carbon brushes
5) Replace brushroll & rug guard gasket
6) Install four matching gray plastic wheels. I've seen the black rubber wheels and the gray plastic on different 515s. Very confusing. I have 4 gray wheels, but only 2 spare blacks . . . decision made.
7) Visor trimmed with my last red NOS replacement
8) Switch the perfect belt lifter from the power polisher to the rug nozzle and vice versa with the less perfect lifter originally on the rug nozzle.

First comes a photo essay of the replacement of the field coil baffle, followed by some serious beefcake!

 

[marukap]

Rear View of Motor Unit

 

[marukap]

Fan housing opened

 

[marukap]

Shaft locked with punch to permit removal of fan

 

[marukap]

Fan removed

 

[marukap]

Front bearing plate removed

 

[marukap]

Carbon Brushes removed

 

[marukap]

Armature pulled

 

[marukap]

Field coil bolts and temporary baffle removed - new, correct baffle in foreground

 

[marukap]

New baffle installed, armature remounted

 

[marukap]

Beefcake 1

 

[marukap]

Beefcake 2

 

[marukap]

Beefcake 3

 

[marukap]

Beefcake 4

 

[portable]

Woe!!

Beautiful! It blinds you to look right at it!

 

[electrolux~137]

Very, very, very pretty!!!

 

[air-waycharlie]

Marty my Darling,

I LOVE all your pics of all the machines! They are really wonderful and I know from seeing your vacuums in the past that they are showroom quality.

I'll never forget how you helped me with the Air-Way Chief in Omaha. We oiled those bearings and that vacuum took off!

I look forward to seeing you soon in Austin and thanks for your great pictures.

Charlie W.

 

[a007kirbyman]

Marty & Kirby 515...

Hello Marty.

I'm glad to see you were able to get the field baffle installed right away. As I've said before, you really do, do a great job on your restorations. L@@Ks fantastic.

I appreciate the business & if I may be of any further assistance wtih parts, don't hesitate to contact me.

Cheers & hagd all,

Bill