Oh no, my baby is sick! Please help! (Kirby tranny problem)

[vacuumfreeeke]

So, my Kirby G5 is my favorite machine. Imagine my horror this morning when I was vacuuming and heard something awful come from it! I was using the machine in neutral (something I almost never do) and I heard the transmission trying to run! It still works properly in drive, but it's my understanding that the transmission should be silent in neutral. I lifted the machine and and while in neutral, I pushed and pulled on the handle as if I were vacuuming... I heard the transmission trying to run but the back wheels didn't turn. I flipped it into drive and the wheels worked as they should. Any clues as to what's going on here and how big of a deal it would be to fix?


I guess I could get back on CL and look for another G Series machine if necessary. I'm not mechanically inclined... I took a G3 apart when I was 16 and couldn't get it back together... it was also having transmission trouble.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[louvac]

Bobby,

What I suspect is that there is a small metal toggle like lever that engages and disengages the tranny that has worn down over time. It's an easy part to replace and your local Kirby dealer should have it in stock. Unfortunately, you have to remove several other components to access it so needless to say, it can be time consuming. I don't believe that your tranny is completely shot. If it is, they are on the expensive side to replace, but do-able. Some trannys are noisier than others by design as I am told by some of the other Kirby enthusiasts. Let us know.

Louis

 

[kirbyvacuum]

G5

Bobby let your Kirby dealer do the repair you will save in the long run. The G5 is a wonderful vacuum. Take care Doug

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

hhmmm

You know what? I sold Kirbys for the local Kirby dealer here several years ago. I'd throw my machine in the dump, replace it with a dirt devil, and shoot myself in the foot before I'd patronize them. They don't have morals! I have a feeling if the repair isn't something I can do myself, I will just look for another on Craig's List.

 

[thunderhexed]

vac shop

Are there any other vacuum shops you can go to? I found a little mom and pop owned store here on Oklahoma and they are the NICEST couple. They are both so very sweet. They are even fixing me up a nice Classic III. Surely there are other vac shops around there that can fix it for you? I'd even drive 30 miles to a vac shop to have one repaired if they were decent people.

 

[xraytech]

I would look for a repair shop before I would ever throw away a kirby. If you cant find one you could sell it to someone who dosent care, chances are they will beat it up anyway, so it would not be a total loss and get a new one. I prefer my g6 mostly because of the color scheme same colors as the team colors for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team(my favorite)

 

[kirbysanitronic]

hey vacuum freeeke....

let me know if you want to get rid of the G-5, i bought one not too long ago with a bunch of problems (including the problem you have!) i am interested!