Pushing a Kirby to its limits?

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vac_whisperer

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Jan 14, 2011
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Okay, so sitting here looking at my 1-CR, what would happen if you absolutely stuffed a Kirby? The bag, emptor, even maybe out intop the fan casing...? Ive heard horror stories on here about people finding Kirbys like this, but I have two questions:

1)If youre just using the vacuum for your weekly vacuuming, how long will it take to do this?

2) What would happen to the machine?

VW
 
I think youre right. It would run, just it wouldnt pick up. But would it damage the machine? Ill use my 1-CR since its a pretty much lost cause.

VW
 
I have an inlaw that stuffed the bag on a Classic III. Didn't do any damage to the machine as the fan case was not stuffed. I believe that it took about a year and that was with a dog in the house. It took my brother quite a while to clean out that bag. He nearly needed a crow bar. And just about beat her with the handle of the vacuum for not empting the bag regularly and then complaining that the vacuum didn't work.
 
That would really depend on so many different factors. Sq footage, frequency of cleaning, pets, carpet type. A while I would think, like months.
 
To completely fill it it may take up to around a year or so. Do it with a sanitaire. Would take much less time. :)
 
No need to debate. Different carpets and situations require different machines. It's just what works for the owner is what works best.
 
Ive always been a Kirby guy. And I have wanted to at least use a Sanitaire since I first saw one! From what I have heard they are AWESOME vacuums.

This is what ive always thought:

Sanitaire= Best commercial cleaner
Kirby= Best residential cleaner.

VW
 
Good points. Sanitaire are nice. Not as durable as a Kirby. But price points show why. A Kirby is a more deluxe and higher quality machine than a sanitaire. The brush roll is key too. Kirbys seem to be the most amazing cleaners for dog hair. Sanitaire not so much.
 
I have been thinking about getting a Sanitaire for the past few months.

I love the look of them. Theyre heavy metal! Literally and figuratively! XD I only own two plastic vacuums and thyere the worst vacuums I have. A DD and an Oreck. Blech. (Well,I actually have four vacuums that are plastic, but the other two are actually good. A Panasonic Performance Plus and a Dial-a-Matic.)

And I'm always partial to Kirbys because I grew up with a Classic III and a G4.

VW

vac_whisperer++6-27-2011-22-30-45.jpg
 
Haha good comparison. I used to have that same model sanitaire pictured. The key is to get a 7 amp model with vibra groomed two

I have had 3 sanitaire never had a problem with any. My daily driver is my top of the line s677d with the D loop handle wit switch.
 
Yes, Ive heard that Sanitaires have EXCELLENT motors in them and ive also heard that theyre pretty durable. But could they last as long as a Kirby?

VW
 
Well you know that's a good question.

As a collector I think it's hard for any of us to really wear down a machine. I have seen in vac shops in for repairs both sanitaire and Kirby in dire need of lots of work. Sanitaire machines are built to be easily fixed and cheap. Kirbys similarly.

Sanitaire machines do have a considerable amount of plastic compared to a Kirby but it's good to know that their plastic is very thick and durable.

Think of all the kirby vacuums. There are more vintage models out there in good running order than just about any other brand. It says something on their quality for sure.


I think every collection needs a Kirby as well as a sanitaire. They are both classics in the vacuum world.
 
I have a total of 8 Kirbys and sadly 0 Sanitaires. Im hoping to get one before the year ends, so well see what happens.

Well, I think its time I logged off for the night.

G'night, all.

VW
 
Sanitaires are made to be repaired, because many of them are abused. That's why they have the Quick-Kleen models. Kirbys are built for the least repairs while maintaining the best carpet cleaning performance. I am very glad Kirby still has no clean-air machines.

Kirbys and Sanitaires are very close in carpet cleaning performance. Kirby has the air-flow and the Sanitaire has agitation, although it really comes down to the carpet. Kirby has the best tool suction for sure.
 
I use a Sanitaire paper bag/ chrome cover/ wide base model at the one cleaning account we have. There's LOTS of carpet there, but I also use it to clean the outside mats and even part of the sidewalk. It's obviously been through many brushes and fans, but that motor keeps taking it. I won't put a metal fan on it, fearing that it would just transfer the damage to the fan cover. I've seen it happen too often on other units (and sometimes cracked base assemblies).
Fans are still cheaper and it can be replaced in less than 5 minutes.

It's probably the simplest unit to repair in the commercial/ industrial work field.

I nicknamed it "the lawn mower".
 
Given that I now have two Sanitaires, I have to say, they work better at carpet cleaning than any of my Kirbys do in this house (commercial grade carpet here in the living room), I love my Kirbys for their engineering and modular capabilities, but, it is a case of "Jack of all trades, master of none", having extras and air-powered tools doesn't make a top notch vacuum cleaner, and not to mention, the Sanitaires here are sharing one motor (cos I haven't another 240v one to hand), which is the 240v equivalent to the 5.5A 120v motor...

As for there being "more plastic" on a Sanitaire, I call bull on that one, add up the plastic parts on a Kirby, and you have about the same (Handle, handle back, scuffplate, trim, wheels, emtor, filltube, headlight, headlight lens, bag hanger, and on Sentrias, the plastic basepan), maybe on the cheaper, less effective blender motor Sanitaires, but not the decent ones with metal hoods...

Also, a Sanitaire in a commercial environment runs for hours every day, yet they keep running requiring only consumables to be changed (bags, belts, brush strips, carbon brushes), I've seen the state of Kirbys used in the same environment, and they don't last as well as the Sanitaire, they're not made for running every day for hours on end, so break down sooner, and of course with all the removable parts, there's more places for them to break...

The cleaning ability of the Sanitaire is also better than a Kirby, and when you compare the two side by side, the Sanitaire wins hands down, and if you "follow in the footsteps" with each vac (cleaning where the 'taire's been with a Kirby and vice versa), the Sanitaire picks up more dirt that the Kirby left behind, and the Kirby comes out with a clean bag, try it for yourself, I have and it shows...

So, in the Sanitaire vs. Kirby debate, the Sanitaire wins, yes you get all the gadgets with a Kirby, and you have hose cleaning tools, but for basic carpet cleaning, the Sanitaire's my daily driver... :)

And believe me, I used to believe there was nothing better than a Kirby until I got my Sanitaire ZC-880, but now, I know better... :)
 
kirbys and sanitaires.....

not too long ago i found a sanitaire quick kleen widetrack behind a thrift store, she gave it to me for free. i was intending on getting rid of it, but first i tried it out. it works great and at my moms house the carpets are HORRIBLE!!! stained beyond hope before we moved in. when i left to go back to my house i stay durin the summer i told my mom to use the sanitaire because i hate wasting expensive kirby bags on such sorry carpet. when i came back shortly after the switch went out on the sanitaire and now have been using one of my diamond editions and it didnt take long till the bag was full! in my opinion i dont think the sanitaire cleans better than the kirby, mabey close to the same but not better. mabey i will break out one of my dirt meters and see what the sanitaire leaves behind!:P i do love my sanitaire though and i am very happy its part of my fleet.
 
Just as with a Kirby, you have to use the Sanitaire at the right height for the carpet, too low and it bogs down, too hight and it is just breathing air, so if the Sanitaire didn't clean properly, then it wasn't adjusted right...

Only a poor workman blames his tools... ;)
 
ok....

there are obviously pros and cons with all machines......


 


but Scooter.....if you want my opinion on Sanitare versus Kirby.....here it is.....Kirbys are great machine all around even commercially.....ive used a Classic III in a commercial setting and i was great, and there common enough that i don't feel necessarily bad doing so......and as far as Sanitares go.....the only thing i don't like is a 6 or 7 amp Sanitare has ,dare i say a tad too much power and tends to either throw stuff or have little debris just spin around in the fan case and not go to the bag.....the reason for this is most commercial settings have low pile glue down carpet with no pad.....thus not letting the carpet be air washed and, the vacuum not breath as it should........which will make every machine react differently on commercial carpet.....now on the flip side.....if you use a 5 amp Sanitare light, or a blender motor (4.0 amp), or a older 3.5 amp Eureka that just low enough that it does pick everything up......


 


and as far as packing your Kirby full.....i agree with the fact that it depends on the level of dirt and how often you vacuum.....and also if you wait longer between vacuuming's it will let more dirt accumulate and the process might go faster.....but if your anything like me who has to vacuum 3 time a day that will be a challenge.....but a challenge of will can only make one stronger and can only be more rewarding.....so that just my two cents......use as you wish =)


 


Miss.Jae
 
For Kirby Vs Sanitaire-I have found the opposite-the Kirby does BETTER for me-more dirt and debris picked up.And it grooms better than the Sanitiare-but both are durable machines-but Kirbys metal body and fancase hold up better-and some Kirbys ARE used commercially.The University has a fleet of Sanitiares-and they get pretty beat up.Their plastic fancases crack and break all of the time.I don't know who repairs them now-Bill has Died and the Vacuum Cleaner Hospital is no more.Bill used the metal fans and fancase liners in the Sanitares at the owners request.they were even asking him to put the metal fans and fancase liners in new machines.Koblentz makes a metal machine somewhat like the Sanitaire-some of their models have Lexan fans-others the metal fans.and Koblentz has a clear fancase intake cover so you can inspect the fancase and fan.Like the Koblentz machine better.I don't think any "Pancake" head vacuum can match a Kirby or metal Royal.the Royals are more durable still.And present Sanitaires like Koblentz-are made in Mexico.I have some Sanitaires-and use them.their new ST bag system is nice-a BIG improvement over the F&G bag.The ST bagged machine comes closer to the Kirby in performance.
 
I can tell you from experience of using the Sanitaire's commercially; the wide models don't pick up as well as the standard width. I think there's too much displacement provided for airflow, and the cleaning ability is compromised. Maybe if a more aggressive motor was used it could help that issue.

I've actually been looking for a red standard base to put on the one Sani' I work with to make it more usable.
 
One word of warning on stuffing the machine

If your machine has a plastic fan, it can melt it if you stuff it too much.

Don't want you to have to spend money


Dennis
 

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