Retrofit a diamond edition speed switch to another Kirby

[richardc1983]

Has anyone done this? Sure I seen a post on someone who did this on an Avalir but cannot find it now.

 

[human]

Yes, it can be done...

I remember seeing the thread to which you are referring. There's no reason it wouldn't work, because all G-series machines are the same beneath their color schemes. If I recall correctly, it involved cutting a notch in the rear shell to accommodate the switch, although I don't know why they didn't just use the rear shell from the G7, and transplanting both the switch and its associated circuit board, which required a bit of wire splicing.

 

[lesinutah]

You

Could swap out armature and transmission and keep the body in the diamond edition. The reat like transmission pedal etc you could swap but the least amount of butchering would be to use the g housing and accessorize it.

 

[richardc1983]

Yes I was thinking to use a G7 diamond edition cover that already has the position for the switch.

 

[richardc1983]

This was the post I believe... https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?42261_7

 

[kloveland]

Isn’t the two speed switch on the diamond edition. Accomplished by cutting the power off in half rather than having an actual 2 speed field coil?

I can’t remember the name of the device/reducer but it’s similar to what Oreck used on their two speed motors. Maybe it’s called a diode.

 

[panasonicvac]

I wish Kirby was still using the speed switch today, that would've been excellent for delicate cleaning like bathroom rugs. I do that with Orecks all the time.

 

[rivstg1]

@kloveland. I wasn't aware of any '2 speed coil". my 'buddy' who helped me modify mine ( in the link posted by someone else..) did most of the work. He is an old time Kirby technician and Never mentioned to me of any mod to make it like a Diamond edition other than what we did....It just cuts the power to accomplish the lesser suction/speed that the switch serves.