So I found this cool looking Royal yesterday

[cosmokramer]

And I had to buy it! Yes, I know that it is not a vintage royal--but a later "classic" model--not sure that this is a good thing or bad thing. It seems to be built with quality in mind, still made in the U.S., and I LOVE the all-metal finish. The vac looks almost new with a few scuffs and just a light fray-spot on the shake bag.

The Model # is 9700 and the serial #I93275056B 7.0 amps

Can someone tell me more about this vacuum? I know that it is a later redesign of the earlier Royal metal uprights, but is it regarded as highly as the older models? Plus, it did not come with the "Adjust-o-rite" cover. Where would be the best place for me to source this part? I have found a few vac & sew places online that sell the part, but don't know which to trust.

Finally, any place to source an owner manual for this thing? I checked the "royal" website, but a quick search through their manual database did not turn up anything.

Sorry for the horribly large camera pic!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

I know this model would have a 9-bladed fan as opposed to all models built March 1990 and earlier which had 6-bladed impeller fans.

Your cleaner was built September 1993 per the serial #.

And, according to www.hescoinc.com, a replacement Adjust-O-Rite plate for this model is listed under part #R-080169.

~Ben

http://www.elkypro.com/hoops2005/vacuum_parts/royal/9700.html

 

[cosmokramer]

Cool! Thanks for the reply. So was there a downgrade in quality for the later models like this or the same quality with a few minor improvements?

And luckily, I found a replacement Adjust-o-rite plate on ebay for 8 bucks shipped in the color I needed. Only question now is, how does it work?

Oh, and what is this little green light on the bottom of the vacuum by the front wheel with what looks like a sensor on the opposite side near the brush roll? Some kind of dirt-sensor?

 

[tolivac]

Adjust the nozzle height until the little black knob on the nozzle belt cover goes inward.The little light is a brushroll rotating indicator-like on Kirby "G" vacuums the light lighting up shows the brushroll is spinning.and replacement brushrolls must have the little magnet in the end of the roll that turns past the lights pickup coil-otherwise the light won't work even though the beater roll is turning.

 

[thevacuumguy96]

I bought a Royal just like that today at a thrift store for $6! It is a great vacuum!

 

[cosmokramer]

I guess I am going to have to wait to install this belt cover to see how it actually works...thanks for your info! Pretty cool feature with that green light too...

I want to order a new belt for this thing too, what kind do I get? Are there different versions of belts for the Metal upright Royals?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Referring back to the link I provided you, a replacement belt is given as part #R-672260.

~Ben

 

[cosmokramer]

So I put in a bag and got the belt cover installed and went for a "drive" today with the royal, the green light is lit up the whole time when the height is too high for the carpet, but as soon as I get the proper height for my carpet, the light isn't lit up (I guess the brush rolls has stopped spinning). The light comes on again as I pull the vacuum back, but when I push it forward it goes off.

Is this normal? Maybe this means I need a new belt? I saw that belt part number, but is this the knurled belt or the standard belt for the metal royal uprights?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[twocvbloke]

If it's like the Kirby BPI light, then yes, if it goes out, you need a new belt...

As far as I know, those Royals use a Knurled belt, virtually identical to the Kirby knurled belts (they can be interchanged too, which is handy if you have both royals and Kirbys)...

 

[henry200]

Yes, the belts are knurled.  If the green light isn't constant you need a new belt.  Except on very thick/plush carpet, with a good belt and the nozzle correctly adjusted the vacuum will pull itself forward.   In fact, when I first got my 9700 I took it to work one night to clean the choir room.  On the glued down commercial carpet I swung out into the hallway, let go, and watched it travel down the hall until the length of cord ran out!

 

[cosmokramer]

Okay, so I need a new belt. Quick diagnosis!

So when I started searching for a "Royal upright" vacuum belt, I ran into the two belts--the mentioned knurled belt, and the standard belt.

The one in the vacuum now is not knurled, but what is the difference between the two anyway? Are they interchangeable? I am not even sure if this is the correct belt for the vacuum (the one found in it already)...

ALSO: what kind of light bulb do I need for the front above the belt cover? There was no bulb there when I bought it, but it looks like it is some type of automotive bulb?

 

[tolivac]

Please note-the Royal and Kirby belts are NOT interchangeable-the Kirby treaded belts can put too much tension on the Royal cleaner motor shaft.This could wear the motor bearings.The belts may look alike or similar-stretch them and there is a diffrence.I have both types of belts.

 

[henry200]

belt and bulb

The standard (non-knurled) belt for Royal metal uprights will work just fine.  I currently have one in my 9700.  They are not interchangeable with Kirby belts.  The light bulb is a "push and twist" 2 pin style which IS interchangeable with the bulbs used on earlier Kirbys.  I used to find them in hardware stores but now get mine in a vac shop.  Here is a pic of the lightbulb.


 


Neil


 


P.S.  Do you have the belt lifter tool?  If not, you'll need to use a hefty-shanked screwdriver and some muscle to get a new belt onto the drive shaft.

 

[twocvbloke]

"The light bulb is a "push and twist" 2 pin styl

Also known as a Bayonet fitting, or B22 if you're suffering the European standards like us in the UK...

I'm sure I had one of those bulbs somewhere here, no idea what happened to it, came out of my Eureka PN... :&#92

 

[cosmokramer]

Wow, you guys got a lot of information!

So either belt will work fine. But is the knurled one better? And no, I do not have the belt litter tool, might have to order one of those online. Thanks for the tip!

So is there a "most trusted" retailer online to buy a belt, bulb, and belt tool?

 

[tolivac]

the light bulb is a bayonet base appliance bulb-these bulbs are also found in sewing machines.Any sew-Vac dealer should have them.

 

[thevacuumguy96]

The green light doesn't come on on mine. But I haven't used it on carpet that much so maybe that's why.

 

[thermokid]

the vacuum guy96

your brush roll light doesn'tcome on? Maybe the brush roll is in backwards. My Royal has a arrow on the brush roll that matches up with the arrow on the baseplate that goes over the brush.. Both these arrows have to be going the same direction....

 

[tolivac]

The magnet in the brushroll has to line up with the sensor light on the floor nozzle.The roll is in backward as the above poster says or an incorrect replacement.