Newbie Proud owner of a Frankenkirby! Belt lifter?

[ROSIELEE]

I am now the proud owner of my first Kirby! It is a "frankenkirby"! either the ds 50 or 80...but I have decided to rescue it and clean it up and use it as is....until I can find a prize Kirby.....

BELT LIFTER NOT LOCKING
I apologize I am a newbie to Kirbys and I can't seem to get the belt lifter to lock in place the pressure of the belt makes it pull back to the "slack" position. Am I doing this right? How does the belt stay put?

Any help would be appreciated.
~Yasmin

 

[human]

The belt lifter is designed to do exactly what the name implies. When you disengage the belt from the motor shaft, the belt lifter actually increases tension as it stretches it off the shaft. When you engage the belt, it actually removes that extra tension until the belt again rests on the shaft.

FWIW, I saw a complete bag and emptor assembly for your machine on eBay yesterday for about $45. It would add the missing pieces between the motor and the bag as well as make it more nearly correct.

 

[sptyks]

Yasmin, make sure you are using the correct belt. In the older Kirbys such as the D50 or D80 you should be using the soft black belt. The new Knurled belt is for Kirby G3 and newer. The new Knurled belt is made from a different type of rubber and is very difficult to stretch and is not recommended for use in the older machines. I have provided a link where you can purchase the correct soft belt.


 


 



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kirby-vacuu...756?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a879d37c4

 

[ROSIELEE]

Oh Okay that makes sense...I hadn't got to the part of engaging it to the shaft...too busy fighting the tension! I will give it another go. Thank you for your positive take on the frankenkirby I started to polish it as you suggested and wow...it makes a huge difference! Thank you for the tip on Ebay I will run a search.

 

[sptyks]

Yasmin, you are welcome.

 

[human]

Here's the link for the bag assembly.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KIRBY-Dual-...498?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43d6ee518a

 

[bikerray]

I'm guessing that you already found the screw that acts as a stop for the belt lifter since you have the belt lifter out.

 

[oldkirbyman]

Newbie

Turn the beltlifter around to pick up belt. Look in side from the back of the rug nozzle. belt should be on hook-hook should be straight up..do this with nozzle off the machine. Put nozzle on the machine, turn beltlifter back around as far as it will go. ____---- If rug nozzle is on the machine and the belt is loose you can turn the beltlifter the rest of your life and it will not hook up the belt. With nozzle on the machine and you tnrn the beltlifter your bringing the belt up against the fan shaft.It can't get past it. So when you let go of the beltlifter it kickes back and the belt is loose. Just take the nozzle off tune the beltlifter like I said put the nozzle back on the machine turn beltlifter back around. It will work.

 

[oldkirbyman]

Newbie

Bag assembly looks ok. But the bag is on the emptor backwards. Zipper pocket should be in back.

 

[ROSIELEE]

Thank you for explaining...I think I understand...I have ordered a new belt as suggested...when I get it I will have another go...Im most probably doing it all wrong.
Thanks!!
Yasmin

 

[oldkirbyman]

Newbie

Your belt is probably ok.------ try it ----- practice hooking up the old belt so you don't burn up a new belt.

 

[oldkirbyman]

Newbie

Your belt is probably ok.------ try it ----- practice hooking up the old belt so you don't burn up a new belt.