My pair of 505's

[jo]

I sort of wish...

My Dad hadn’t decided to get rid of the old Kirby. It was one of these models based on all the pics on this thread. I see the same bag, the same belt switch, the same power switch and so on. It was, however, very difficult to use on the matted carpet that was in the basement where it resided as you could only vacuum in one direction or it wouldn’t push forward.

Everything was quality about it. I always wondered what year it was made because it looked so old and that was back in the 70s that I thought that! Dad did get a bulb and a belt finally to make it work as it should as for years I used it without the belt not realizing it should have one. Also the roller brush seemed to be too far inside the nozzle and the bristles wouldn’t touch the carpet once we got the belt. Hence I rigged it with some washers under the roller mount to keep it out further. I was a kid and didn’t really know any better at the time of what was the issue. Maybe the bristles were just worn down or something else was out of adjustment?

Jon

 

[vacmadman]

Roller brush ajustment screws.

Jon,

All Kirby's have adjustment screws on them to lower and raise the roller brush. They have changed a little over the years and I don't know what model you have. In the picture below you can see the adjustment screws on each side of the roller brush on this early 505 Kirby model.

 

[lesinutah]

Hmm

I'm guessing your meaning it's more of a wishbone shape as opossed to regular circular shape. Your handle is 90 degrees straight up. It's supposed to be between 22.6 and 45 degree angle. That's how they came originally.
The brush nozzle if it's correct the adjustment screws would be the same size.
The pin for the handle of original has something very distinct about it. That I'm not going to mention.
If you bought a reproduction bag it's not the correct material.
In the video it's thomas who I traded my model 1c to. The bag is the right material and is exactly like the one I sold for $350.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

VacMadMan

Jim,

Is it true that the #6 screws that are used to secure the two clamps for the front wheel shaft, on both your 505 and 2C, are the same 3/8" length as that for the headlight socket?

The reason I think these two screws are of the 3/8" length is because I know these particular length screws were used with the clamps for years (even when the screw size changed from #6 to #8 with the 517), save for the 1970s when the Kirby Classic 1CR switched to the slightly shorter 5/16" length screws (same as those that hold in the front bearing plate on this model and earlier machines), which ran through the Tradition 3CB.

I do know that the same #6 size screw used to secure the rear wheel shaft is slightly longer at 7/16".

The attached picture is of these two screws from my non-working D80 I got from Thom (KirbyCollector). The left screw goes to the rear shaft, and the right one goes to the light socket.

~Ben