friendlynerd
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2007
- Messages
- 17
Hi everyone - I'm kind of a lurker and this is my first time posting. I'm not exactly a collector but I love vacuums and have for as long as I can remember. I do have a Hoover 115 and a much older one (though I forget the model) - but it's old enough to have the straight wooden handle and no beaters on the brushroll.
I was lucky enough to get a trash-find Kirby G3 in pretty decent condition, but it does need some help. I'm fixing it up for a friend who has plush carpet in her apartment and just got a dog, so I thought a Kirby would be just the thing!
By my estimation it needed a new brushroll and belt (easy, already done.) It needs a new fan because the current one has multiple cracks with a bunch of pet hair caught in them. That's on order and I've watched the videos on how to fix it, so that doesn't seem too hard.
The tech drive definitely works, and I'm no Kirby expert but it doesn't sound bad to me (though it's hard to hear over the vibrating cracked fan.)
The main problem is the seatbelt-type thingie where the handle connects to the base. The spring is broken so the handle just drops. I can live with that, but it's all very loose. The handle sways a bit side to side and front to back. When it's in the upright position it looks to me like it tilts too far toward the front of the machine.
I've seen the whole replacement unit for sale for around $40, but I don't want to go throwing parts at it if it won't fix the problem. Do you all think the buckle assembly will solve this problem, or is there some cheaper fix like a missing gasket or washer perhaps?
Also, I've noticed when I put the attachments on and it ramps up to high speed, there is a bit of a burning smell. I don't think it's the motor carbons because I took the top case off and I can see that they are in good shape. Also, I don't see sparking when it's running. I hope it's just something rubbing in the fan case since I know the fan is in bad shape. Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
I was lucky enough to get a trash-find Kirby G3 in pretty decent condition, but it does need some help. I'm fixing it up for a friend who has plush carpet in her apartment and just got a dog, so I thought a Kirby would be just the thing!
By my estimation it needed a new brushroll and belt (easy, already done.) It needs a new fan because the current one has multiple cracks with a bunch of pet hair caught in them. That's on order and I've watched the videos on how to fix it, so that doesn't seem too hard.
The tech drive definitely works, and I'm no Kirby expert but it doesn't sound bad to me (though it's hard to hear over the vibrating cracked fan.)
The main problem is the seatbelt-type thingie where the handle connects to the base. The spring is broken so the handle just drops. I can live with that, but it's all very loose. The handle sways a bit side to side and front to back. When it's in the upright position it looks to me like it tilts too far toward the front of the machine.
I've seen the whole replacement unit for sale for around $40, but I don't want to go throwing parts at it if it won't fix the problem. Do you all think the buckle assembly will solve this problem, or is there some cheaper fix like a missing gasket or washer perhaps?
Also, I've noticed when I put the attachments on and it ramps up to high speed, there is a bit of a burning smell. I don't think it's the motor carbons because I took the top case off and I can see that they are in good shape. Also, I don't see sparking when it's running. I hope it's just something rubbing in the fan case since I know the fan is in bad shape. Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
