This is Why Kirby Says to Empty the Bag Out After Each Use

[kirbyclassiciii]

The picture you're seeing suggests why Kirby recommends to empty the shake-out bag after every single use of your machine.

I vacuumed my house today with my Classic III. It emitted a strange grating sound in the motor, and I think these tufts of hair around the fan blades suggest why.

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I would say pretty hairy situation.  Hopefully it stayed in fan chamber.


Les

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lesinutah

Les,

Yes, I totally agree!

I do know for certain that a disposable bag past half-full would restrict suction, thus causing all this hair to be stuck around the fan. This is what you should also pay attention to.

~Ben

 

[madman]

Well there's your problem! Your fan blade needs a haircut.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I do watch bag fill after every vacuum.  I'm ocd I clean off brush roll wipe down with baby wipe.  Empty emtor tray.  


I make sure seals are good.  Good lesson for everyone who likes vacuums.


Les

 

[huskyvacs]

Well they mainly say it because of the fiber material the bag is made from can collect bacteria and mites within the weaving, but if you get it too full it can fall back down through the motor as well too.

 

[gregvacs28]

Oh-h-h-h dear lawd-dy



well, that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Just think of A-LL the people you and I know DON'T empty after each use.

When I used to have canister or uprights, I would always remove the bag after each use, put it in a plastic shopping bag, and carefully store it in the freezer. This was to freeze and kill the parasites, bugs, germs,.... whatever. And, the vacuum gave off a nice "clean freezer" smell, next time you vacuum.

I'll only use a vented central vac now. The suction is great and having all the dust and heat and chemical off-gassing and whatever else expelled outside keeps one healthy.
But hey, It was a long time coming to that revelation.

 

[gj3476]

I have that same problem on my ‘84 Heritage II Turbo and it makes a weird noise too so I got a new kevlar fan so wish me luck!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Gj3476

Gabriel,

Good luck to you on your Heritage II!

~Ben

 

[tolivac]

Surprized the hair didn't get wrapped around the motor shaft before getting stuck in the fan.If there are nicks and cracks in the fan blades that can cause the hair to get caught in them.Plastic fans can get nicked more easily than the metal ones.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

tolivac

Rex,

Actually, there was hair on the shaft too, but I removed it from there before I took the picture.

~Ben

 

[kirbysthebest]

This is something that happens with fan first machines. The hair may be longer and it just gets trapped between the blades of the fan.

Not so much a defect, as just a need for regular maintenance. If you know you are vacuuming lots of hair, you may have to do it more frequently. As others said, if there are nicks in the fan, it can cause the hair to get stuck more readily.

 

[kloveland]

I've already seen this post on Facebook. Like others have said there is probably a nick in the fan and hair is catching on that nick. I've seen this before in Kirbys with nicks in the fan blade. Mostly on Heritage II machines with the gray fan.

I don't think it has anything to do with emptying the emptor unless the bag is so full that dirt is backing up into the fan chamber.

 

[rivstg1]

greatvacs28,

what a engenius idea that is to freeze the bag....thus halting bacteria growth/food fermentation etc . thanks for sharing that idea!

Kelton

 

[sptyks]

Kirby plastic fan...

If your older pre-G5 Kirby has the Gray plastic Lexan fan, you should replace it ASAP with the newer White Amodel fan! The Gray Lexan fans crack with age and could fly apart causing major damage to your Kirby.


 


 

 

[gregvacs28]

rivstg1


"..a engenius idea that is to freeze the bag..."
Thanks but I can't take the full credit for this. I was reading about people wanting to sterilize their kids toys and stuffed animal. They said put them in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer over night. boom

Logically, that would work for other things as well. I also freeze my compostable scrap food items to help break the cel walls before composting. It also helps to keep flies away.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

I had a long-haired girlfriend who shed so much that her hair would clog up my Kirby's fan 2-3 times before I finished with the carpet. The belt would slip and the noise would increase. To her defense I was vacuuming once a month then. Empty bag or not, too much debris at once can get stuck in the fan or wrapped abound the spindle. She was proof of this...
I remember stopping the Kirby one day and she asked me what I was doing with the nozzle off and a knife in my hand. She watched as I cut a big glob of hair off the spindle. I gave it to her and told her that she gave the vacuum a hairball. She blamed the cats I never had...
Luckily, removing obstructions like this from a Kirby is easy. Imagine all that hair getting stuck in a cyclone chamber!
She clogged up the shower drain on a regular basis as well. I am surprised she never went bald!
After she moved on, I never had such problems anymore, even when vacuuming every 4 months!

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

If I remember right this is a metal fan not grey lexan. If metal caught on fire let's just say unless you are sucking up burning colles with sealed chamber is almost impossible. His bearings in motor could spin out pop off bag but he isn't going to burn down the building.
Ben
I'm wiring tradition back to stock. My d80 single speed. I gotta g series hose cut off small lip and glued on d80 adapter.
My tradition was made in may of 82.
Les

 

[madman]

Hate to break it to you, but freezing does not kill bacteria, it just puts them to sleep. I suppose at the very least, it would prevent it from festering while frozen, but as dust tends to be very dry, bacteria wouldn't be able to propagate anyway.