Newest Member to My Kirby Family - 511

[dandagreer]

Excited about my newest Kirby find - a 511! It was a 2011 Factory Rebuild, but, as is usually the case, was "tan-ified" to their now-standard parts. The cool part was, the internals were in near perfect shape. And the finish was beautiful -- all except for the emptor. It looks like they completely ignored it.

I used automotive vinyl paint with adhesion promoter, and painted the handle grip, bumper, and head light trim back to their original grey, then got some black wheels on Ebay to look more original.

I've seen reproduction bags for these models on Ebay and here, but I can't seem to find who. Does anybody know who does those? I would love a reproduction gray bag with the old Kirby logo on it.

 

[vac-o-matic]

Nice job! It's weird about the emptor..they usually look better than the machine.

 

[paul]

Awesome, David; happy for you. The 511 looks great even if it isn't perfect.

Btw, just yesterday I posted a thread in the Super Market section about a 511 Tool Cabinet (with a mixed set of tools, but those can be found more easily than the box). It's kind of rough, but for a box almost 70 years old I'd say it's in pretty good shape.

Check it out: https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Ki...m=352645312748&_trksid=p2045573.c100667.m2042

 

[lesinutah]

Dan

I'm going to have to hit you up on painting trim. That's probably best I've seen. If you didn't tell us it was painted I wouldn't believe you.
When they rebuild they put a 4 amp mototin and the power switch gets changed to 513 chrome foot switch. Is motor 4 amp and Im guessing you changed switch back to original.
Very nice.
Les

 

[dandagreer]

Les

No, actually it came back from Kirby like that with the toggle switch. I love it. And, yeah, painting the trim was pretty easy. I didn’t even remove the bumper or the handle grip, but I did remove the headlight trim. I masked it, used an adhesion promoter, and about 6 coats of vinyl spray paint. Turned out perfectly!

 

[abcvacplacentia]

Grey Bag in the works!

Hey David,

I'm working on a reproduction gray bag that will have the original Kirby logo from the 560 on it. The only bag I've seen that has the old logo with vertical lines outside would be the $200 bag made by Chicago Mike. However, he hasn't responded to any of my emails and his Ebay site is down, so I'm assuming those bags are now history.

My repro bag is designed to be used with a hepa bag setup, so it will have a full-length zipper and internal hangar. I'm only going to make (12) in the first run, so if you want one so you can run your machine with a modern bag system, then let me know.

 

[kirbyklekter]

Your 518 looks great

I'm with you on the toggle switch. It seems way more solid and sturdy than the mushy old step on switches that came after. I wonder if Kirby honored their original price for a complete rebuild, which according to my 519 "General Service Insurance" agreement was 17.50, but only to the original purchaser. Hope you get the repro bag your looking for. If a person had a good strong sewing machine and access to the fabrics and could reproduce the logos it might be a decent side nitch job. Sure are a lot of people looking for a good replacement as the originals are next to nil.

 

[kirbyklekter]

Ooops! My bad,

I typed the wrong model number, it's getting late. Your 511 looks great! Sorry, Billy

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I have a bag setup sealed and it has a twist. Let's say the first bag of it's kind sold for eBay record. The buyer asked for 508-520 513 517 560 versions. It would have zipper or no zipper but the setup is not Kirby's inner tube assembelly it's a better hose. It's better than anything on the market. The problem is if you reproduce a bag looking original they will not want the zipper. If you did bag assembelly access bag through the top . This keeps the bag as original as collectors would want it.
If you are making bags the thing that goes around the emtor you will not find without luck. The top is easier to find. I do have assembled bags. The black fill tube have flaws in cannister mode they kink.
There is alot of research I have put into it.
I would not put zipper on The bags but inside and pull bag topper off to change bag.
People would want original bag. They want it more than modern bagging.
Les

 

[lesinutah]

David

Hey
I emailed you. If you would please check I think you might like.
Les

 

[abcvacplacentia]

Which fill-tube kinks?

I'm using the late-model hose for the Avalir with the 2 5/8" opening at the bottom and 2 1/2" at the top. That's what Kirby uses in canister mode, so they must not consider any kinking to be much of a problem.

What fill-tube are you using instead of the Kirby part?

 

[dandagreer]

ABCVacPlacentia

Yes! I would love one of these for my 560! Just let me know what I need to do!

 

[lesinutah]

Sentria 2

The full tubes from heritage Al the way through avalir are black. You put sentria 2 fill tube on any vaccuum prior to classic(I believe emtor or different bag Dynamics) when you take off handle and use portable handle the tube kinks cutting off flow through the tube. I have a setup and a few bags with my version of the fill tube and it works.
You can use heritage mini emtor but mine has better airflow and I use sentria 2 topper for newest Kirby HEPA bags.
Les

 

[abcvacplacentia]

I don't notice any kinking

I just put the late model Sentria II hose (part #190316) on my DS50 emtor and don't see any kinking when I pull the tube all the way back to simulate canister mode. This hose connects to the F-Style Adaptor (#190408).

What tube are you using that is somehow better than the Kirby part?

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I'm not being brash but this took me about 4 months to find correct part. I do plan to sale.
I have a ribbon like material that is what they use to make tents. It's sewn on the top of the bag and loops through f adaptor top and snapping where it originated. I use f type adaptor and my tubing.
I cut Lexan glass making a plate to sit on the emtor. Lexan is really really hard to cut my huge hammer drill with correct hole saw bit. It torques the Lexan and it rips up your elbows. I'm a big very strong man. It's quite dangerous. I have 2 items I attach Lexan to fill tube.
I sale them where you just glue on top of emtor. This makes air tight seal.
The Lexan bits I bought a few $15-$20 a piece. You have to get correct depth of Lexan.

 

[dandagreer]

Thanks Lesinutah

Many thanks to Lesinutah for hooking me up with this lovely reproduction bag for my 511. I'm so thrilled! Sure, it's not original, but it sure is snazzy!

 

[lesinutah]

Nice

Yes indeed it does. I'm glad to see it put to good use. It finished up the vacuum nicely.
les