My new Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Edition

hooverman2121 · Jul 16, 2014

Hey guys, I managed to get another Kirby today. Went to my local dealer and asked them a few questions about these machines. I intended on purchasing a G5 off of Craigslist but after I got done talking with the guys at the shop I frequent, I decided this was the better way to go.

Anyway, what came home with me was a Kirby Ultimate G in mint condition. The dealer I got it through let me know that they had done a complete overhaul on it. All parts were included as well as a few extra bags.

This is my second Kirby. The first one I had was a Heritage II which I gave to my aunt after her first one finally succumbed to plaster dust and water poisoning thanks to a stupid construction guy when they were building their new house.

Anyway, just wanted to share!

Gr8DaneDad · Jul 16, 2014

One of my favorite Kirby's

hooverman2121 · Jul 16, 2014

Already used it. I love the way it grooms my carpets and the "hum" from the brushroll. Something that is severely lacking in all the newer machines with whiny brushroll motors!

kirbyvacuum · Jul 16, 2014

Hi Rich I have amoung many other Kirbys the Diamond ed- also Love it .Good luck enjoy it Doug

hooverman2121 · Jul 16, 2014

Just a few more pics.

New fan and brushroll.

cb123 · Jul 16, 2014

Truly, a remarkable machine!

eurekastar · Jul 16, 2014

I think that is the very best of the G Series! Congratulations!

hooverman2121 · Jul 16, 2014

Thanks a lot. It does seem to have a bit more suction than my old Heritage II especially when using the tools.

Quick question to all you Kirby guys: the front end likes to lift up sometimes when I'm pulling the unit back towards me. I'm vacuuming at my usual speed, any tricks or suggestions to prevent it from doing that? It seemed to do it less if I left Tech Drive in neutral.

eurekastar · Jul 16, 2014

I wonder if the nozzle height is adjusted correctly. On that model, lower the nozzle until you hear a change in the motor note (sound). Then go down one more click. If it moves too easily in neutral, then the nozzle may be too high.

hooverman2121 · Jul 16, 2014

The nozzle height is correct, it doesn't hop or skip when I pull it back but occasionally it'll just lift the front up at the quickest time enough to where I can hear a whoosh of air for a millisecond.

kirby519 · Jul 17, 2014

One possibility is that the floor or the carpet pad isn't level under the carpet. I have an area or two where two seperate sections the padding meet under the carpet and creates a small hill under the carpet. Which causes the head to rise up and break the seal betweem the nozzle and carpet. If there are any areas you notice the nozzle rising up off the floor with normal vacuuming. Walk on that area to see if you can feel any uneveness under the carpet and also try vacuuming from a different angle in that area. Or it may be that you are pulling back harder or more quickly on the handle than you realize and causing the machine to "jump" into reverse thus breaking the seal with the carpet.

hooverman2121 · Jul 18, 2014

Kirby519...

Good point with the pad underneathe the carpet. I got on my hands and knees and rubbed the area where the nozzle likes to lift and it does seem a bit uneven. Before I moved into this apartment, the entire place was gutted and new everything was put in.

I ran it again in the hallway and it didn't do it as much as it did in the living room, but there were a few times when it did feel like it wanted to come up. I tried it with TechDrive on and off and at various speeds and it didn't really seem to matter if the transmission was engaged or not.

For whatever reason I actually prefer to vacuum with TechDrive off (for the most part), I know it's all psychological, but I like that positive feeling of the agitator pulling on the carpet. With TechDrive, it feels too light(as if the height adjustment was too high even though I HEAR the hum from the agitator and I know it is at the proper height setting).

I have to say though, I love this machine! Ended up doing my entire place today, and used it as a "canister" in my dining and living room with the barefloor tool and cleaned my mattress as well. Makes me miss my Heritage II but at least it's in a place where it gets used and with someone who loves Kirby's!

hooverman2121 · Jul 25, 2014

I gotta say, I love this thing. I converted it into the hand vac without the brushroll, took it to my friend's house who let me use their driveway and garage to detail one of my cars, used the hose and blower and it performed great.

The "blower mode" isn't like using an air compressor gun but it's enough to blow water out of cracks and crevices in a pinch.

Can't wait to move into my luxury apartment at the end of August with new wall-to-wall carpeting! I can't vacuum right now mainly because my place is filled with boxes

hooverman2121 · Aug 14, 2014

In addition to my Ultimate Diamond G, I found a Heritage II in decent shape. The tools appear to be unused, and overall the cleaner is in good shape. It needs a good polishing, but other than that it seems to run fine, and there is plenty of life left in the brushroll. I even have the original invoice from 1988 tucked in the manual.

Here are some before and "after" shots. I say "after" only because I cleaned some of the crap off, but I haven't done anything under the hood. I'll tear it down and give it a proper service and cleaning once I move at the end of the month as most of my tools and buffer wheel are already packed away.

It's killing me because my apartment is currently being packed and I haven't been able to vacuum properly in over a month!