Stuck metal Kirby fan

[Deleted member 5972]

Hi everybody. I was wondering what's the best way to remove a stuck metal fan off from a Kirby? I tried many tools to stick it in the armature hole,vice grips, pb blaster. Nothing. I might even accidentally damaged the armature a bit too unfortunately.

 

[lesinutah]

Is

The fan toast already?

 

[Deleted member 5972]

Lesinutah, oh no the fan is in good condition, not toasted at all. I'm just trying to swap out with a kevlar fan to put on my fraken Kirby 517 and put the metal fan on my classic uprights.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

I have always used my Craftsman scratch awl, which is like a screwdriver but with a tapered shaft with a point at the end.
Never came close to breaking it as it fits the armature hole fully and is hardened steel.

A wide ice pick might work if it is hardened and fills the hole.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

I would then wrap an old towel around the fan (case apart) and give some hard cranks clockwise (like an impact) until it breaks free.
Just try to keep pressure towards the bottom of the blades and as uniform across the blades as you can get to avoid braking a blade.

 

[Deleted member 5972]

Texaskirbyguy, thanks for advice.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

No problem - just hope it helps you!
Sometimes corrosion will just make life miserable in the world of repairs and restos...

 

[vacmadman]

Fan removal tool

You can still buy the Kirby fan removal tool on eBay. If you like working on old Kirby's this is a great tool to have.

Jim

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2031991502...h1vbFZS+GA1FUKsDd8RVbhEWD8lL+DEe8z+9ZKN0b6BwA

 

[Deleted member 5972]

VacMadMan, thank you the link. These Kirby fan tools, they never break do they?

 

[lesinutah]

Lol

Everything breaks. Spray wd 40 on it. Jam a screwdriver in there that makes the armature stop spinning. Then spin off the fan. Getting wd-40 behind the fan is where you want to get it.
Im not gentle on any tool I broke this tool. This doesn't mean people with patience should have no ossues.