Quality ...

[lori_ann]

In my research I came across this articles and thought of those pushing Kirbys.. while I myself loved the kirby's performance, the heavy, bulkiness and cumbersome attachments make me think to steer clear of it... that said, this article brings out a point of "dirty air technology", and their proneness to have motors replaced and fan breakage...

http://www.simplicityvac.com/choosing-a-vacuum/?id=20

 

[blackheart]

Dirty air machines

Or Direct air machines are more durable than you'd think, my parents have always used Kirby machines, and i was amazed by the stuff i'd find in the mini emptor of their G3. All sorts of coins, and the occasional screw/nail i'm actually surprised the fans survived as long as they did.

Tacony machines like the Simplicity Freedom/Riccar Supralite and the tandem air machines also have a direct or "dirty air motor"

When it comes to carpet cleaning there is no beating a direct air machines they provide the highest airflow and really pull out that deep down grit.

 

[super-sweeper]

motors replaced!?

I can understand fans breaking (which should only occur in the event a care-less user has the vacuum ingest unhealthy amounts PhD coins, rocks or other hard, damage producing objects), but motors!would ancient Kirby, HOOVERS, and the like have survived all these DECADES on their original motors if this statement was to be true?


 


The oldest cleaner I have in my collection is a Eureka from 1929, since I got this machine, all I've needed to do to


Ensure the best performance of my cleaner is replace ONE part (which was lost some time before I acquired it), and ONE carbon brush. No fans, motors, etc, in 85 years!


 


There are countless other stories of lasting quality trough the many decades our dirty-air machine have faithfully


Served, with little maintenance, only bags, belts, and bulbs! (With carbon brushes every 20 years or so, and in


Rare occasions, a replacement fan). Imagine all the filters the run-of-the-mill Bagless model would have burned


Up by then!


 


These elder cleaners I speak of are still VERY capable in the world of modern household hygienics. Models such


As a Kirby do not take but under 30 seconds to equip, dependent on the experience of the operator. I can install


The attachments on my Heritage II Legend (and I would STRONGLY recommended you either a Heritage II, Heritage II Legend, or Legend II cleaner for your needs.you stated having allergy in your previous thread, Kirby


Allergen bags can be purchased in Style #3 for these bags, or upgraded to use the more modern Style F bags)


In 10 seconds.


 


To repeat, QUALITY, reliability,<span style="text-decoration: underline;">PERFORMANCE! </span>


<span style="text-decoration: underline;">The</span> Kirby company's motto!


 

 

[sptyks]

Lori Ann...

The stories you have read on here and the Simplicity web site about Kirby fans breaking are greatly exaggerated.


The stories you have read about Kirby motors needing to be replaced because the Kirby is a Dirty Fan machine are totally FALSE! There are many 


50 to 60 year old Kirby's still running with their original motor. The motor in the Kirby is completely sealed away from the fan and fancase. No dust and dirt can reach the motor.


 


<span style="font-size: medium;"> Being a Dirty Fan machine means that dirt must pass through the fan on it's way to the bag, but it is because of this very design the Kirby is one of the most powerful vacuum cleaners on the market today. I believe it is rivaled only by the Royal metal upright. On the other hand, the clean air design, because of it's long complicated air path can not provide the powerful suction, airflow and agitation that the Kirby has. You see, in the Kirby, the fan is only 3 inches away from the carpet. The fan in the clean air vac is anywhere from 3 to 5 feet from the carpet.</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium;"> Unless you suck up a lot of coins, marbles, rocks, screws and nails, the fans in the newer Kirby's like the Sentria are almost indestructible. Please read my research article on the Kirby fan here: </span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?23261</span>


 


<a style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; background-color: #b3eaec;" name="preview"></a>

 

[sptyks]

Also

The Sentria is light as a feather to push due to it's "Tech Drive" self propelled transmission. You have to try it to believe it.


 


If you spend 15 or 20 minutes practicing, you can convert a Kirby from Floor mode to Hose mode with attachments in 10 seconds.


 

 

[lori_ann]

Stan.....

I just read your research report... As I mentioned, I'm not set yet on which one to buy... and I've always loved the old Kirbys! This option is still in the running!

 

[sebo_fan]

Its like Oreck - my parents had a dreadful XL upright from new bought from Oreck UK. The fan had to be replaced about three times - it is a dirty fan upright BUT...

Not all dirty fan vacs are the same. The Oreck is a case in point. It is lightweight and has a lightweight construction. Pop off the base plate and you'll find the motor isn't that well sealed from dust. The fan on the domestic models are plastic whereas the commercial version has a metal fan. That's eventually what we purchased as a part to stop buying plastic fan replacements.

The link you supplied Lori is pure marketing of course, there are elements of truth in it but at the same time there's a lot of exaggeration, most of which sptyks outlines.

The other thing is, I'm constantly remembering that you wanted to originally clean Berber and that your current uprights couldn't cut it. Kirby uprights and other metal based uprights are pretty good, but like Oreck they're the traditional "upright only."

You could buy in any canister vac as a secondary vac (I've always been of the mind that a home should have two separate vacuums anyway, not just offering one as a back up but also offering something that can be taken out as a more portable design, not just for use cleaning out the car etc) but make sure it is bagged to get the best performance long term.

 

[jade_angel]

If you liked a Kirby but found it heavy and clunky, try a Royal. Admittedly, the Royal's attachments are no better than Kirby, but on carpets, I love them.

It'd be hard to choose between the two for me, but two of my favorite vacuums ever are the Royal 996 and the Kirby Legend II.

If you want something light - but want the effectiveness of a direct-air design, try a Simplicity Freedom. I expected Oreck-like performance - I was pleasantly surprised. They have the same excellent agitation that pretty much all Simplicity vacs have and seem to move as much air as the bigger Symmetry and 6-series. No attachments, though.

 

[man114]

I use a classic 3'to vacuum my garage carpet, I wouldn't be too concerned about fan breakage.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Direct-Air Machines

I have been pushing a direct-air, "dirty air" machine my entire life. No Literally my entire life, I learned to walk pushing a Kirby. In those years I have replaced one (1) fan, which was totally my fault. I sucked up a rock under the car seat with my Omega. (Don't use the Kirby to clean cars anymore).

In contrast, I also have a Riccar Superlite, also a direct air machine. Though I have nothing bad to say about the Riccar, I will mention that it is way more delicate than a Kirby. I am not comparing the two as they are different animals, but that is also my point. There are Kirbys, Eurekas, Hoovers, Sanitaires (actually Eureka design) out there that are 40, 50, 60 years old still running the original fan. There are some of the newer lighter weight machines Oreck, Superlite, etc that has had several fans replaced as they are more brittle.

 

[sptyks]

Just FYI - The fan in the Kirby G5 to the Sentria 2 is made of Amodel, a nylon polycarbonate which is almost indestructible. It is suposed to be as tough as a metal fan or even tougher.

 

[dysonman1]

Actually, the Kirby fan material is Polyphthalamide. This word was taken exactly from the Kirby "Proof Book" for the Sentria II. "A patented Impeller design, molded of space-age durable polyphthalamide plastic, resists abrasive dirt wear and blade wear caused by small metal objects or stones. The fan incorporates eleven strong, curved blades for peak efficiency, high airflow and suction."

 

[sptyks]

I believe Amodel is just the "Brand Name" for Polyphthalamide, a Nylon based super-plastic. Here is a blurb from the manufacture's website:


 


<a style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;" name="start_23261.260547"></a>


" About AMODEL Polyphthalamide-- 

With a heat deflection temperature of 536 degrees Fahrenheit (280 degrees 
Celsius) and continuous use temperature of 338 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees 
Celsius), AMODEL PPA retains its exceptional mechanical properties -- 
strength, stiffness, fatigue and creep resistance -- over a broad range and in 
high humidity environments. This versatile family of high-temperature nylons 
can give you the strength of aluminum, the stiffness of steel, and the impact 
and ductility of hard rubber --"