My Legend II

[colincollects85]

A few months ago,I acquired a decent Legend II with all the attachments manufactured 06/1989 a from eBay.The vacuum was originally sold in Connecticut, and acquired at an estate sale. I have (almost) completely restored it. The metal needs a professional buff and polish. Nozzle has scratches and motor casting has ago spots. Overall, a nice piece.

 

[crazykirbydude]

Nice!

 

[rowdy141]

Hi Colin,
I'm just starting the refurbishment of my Legend II.
Did you upgrade/modify your Filler-Tube, Bag type, or Brush-Roller?
I'm wondering whether to do that at the same time, or to keep it all original.
Alan

 

[colincollects85]

Kirby Legend II

Alan,

The bag and filler tube are original. I just washed them. Before washing the bag, I found a sticker containing the vacuum's serial number affixed to the inside, which I carefully peeled off and reglued after it was dry. I would only replace those parts if they absolutely need replacing. I replaced the "old style" grey fan with a new white Lexan fan. Also replaced the grey brush roll, but saved them so I would still have the original parts. The Nike shoe box in the pics I posted contains all the parts I replaced.

 

[rowdy141]

Thanks Colin,

I'm doing this up as a present for my sister.
Your information is helping - I'm piecing together all the facts & info I can find.
So the GREY fans are the old ones, as are GREY rollers?
Did you change the bearings? Is that something I should be concerned with if they're still working OK? I didn't think the smokey-plastic em-tor could withstand too much knocking (on stairs etc.) so I'm thinking of replacing it with a metal one from a TRADITION, keeping the original here. Not decided as yet.

Any problems washing the bag?
I had a nightmare with the Blue Tradition one some years ago. It's probably some type of polyester blend that couldn't be made, or dyed, electric-blue. So they sort-of dusted it with colourant that fell off in water.

Can I safely wash the Legend one?
Vacuum first. Inside out. Cool wash. Woolite. Hang dry. No iron/heat. ?

Interesting to find a serial number label. I wonder if that was in case of warranty returns? Can't think why it would matter during production/assembly.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

I had washed two Legend II bags, and the only thing to come out of them was the dirt. Like mentioned above, "Vacuum first. Inside out. Cool wash. Woolite. Hang dry. No iron/heat."
These bags seem to be made of polyester and/or nylon, as they dry quickly. The Tradition one seemed to have cotton or wool in it, which is not nearly as colorfast.

The plastic emtor is pretty durable. As long as you do not drop it down the stairs, it should be fine.

 

[rowdy141]

Thanks so much.

I hadn't realised just how much my family admired my Kirby Tradition, until they all said they want one just like it. So it was worth my polishing it whenever I expect company to arrive? I just didn't think anyone noticed.

 

[colincollects85]

Washing Bag

I washed my bag by hand in the tub. I filled my bathtub about halfway with warm water and a cap full of Gain. Turned bag inside out, and agitated the bag for a few minutes. Then emptied the bath tub and rinsed the bag with cold water running from the bathtub tap. Then hung it to dry.

As for the fan, yes the grey fan is the old style, which Kirby no longer produces. It's made of a plastic blend that is prone to micro cracks. I mainly saved it because they are no longer in production...The grey painted brush roll is also "old style". The modern brush rolls are a wood color which have bearings and a magnet installed.

 

[colincollects85]

Kirby Legend II Update

Ok, so I paid the local Kirby dealer $100 cash to get the professional buff job on the Legend II. I'd say the results are pretty amazing. Looks like a brand new vacuum...