Two Kirbys and a few attachments

[tase]

I was browsing a local EZ Pawn yesterday as my brother broke his iPad and he was looking to replace it.


 


When I got to the vacuum section, my heart stopped. I saw a Kirby Tradition!


 


People who don't live in Colorado don't know this... But getting a Tradition for under $80 is pretty much impossible. For some reason, people think this a rare model or something because I see them on Craigslist for $150.


 


So I instantly grabbed it. But my favourite salesman there wouldn't sell it to me.


 


I had to explain to her that I fix and restore Kirbys. After showing her my collection (small compared to most of your guy's) I won her over. She sold her first vacuum in 5 years of working at EZ Pawn.


 


So for $20, I got a Tradition with the switch like a Kirby Heritage (I think.)


 


I can't wait to restore it.


 


Unfortunately, I now have three Kirbys I have to restore. And the G4 (ick) is at the top of my list.

 

[tase]

I think I've posted this one before, but that's not a big deal.


 


I bought this Kirby for $15(?) at a Unique thrift store. My sister has been wanting a Kirby since she bought her Shark. 


 


Well, I decided that if I found a Generation series kirby, then I'd get it for her and fix it up.


 


While it looks like donkey s*** right now, I'll make it look great.


 


All it needs is the brushroll replaced and a cleaning, but I'll go ahead and replace the front bearing since this is supposed to last until my nephew, Quinton, moves out. (He'll be the last picture of this post)


 


Interestingly enough, he's following in my footsteps. Already in love with my Kirbys and adores my sister's Shark.

 

[tase]

Well, my sister really, REALLY wants a shampooer with her Kirby. I don't blame her.


 


I was browsing the same Unique on Wednesday and found a Kirby G6 shampooer. While it's not a G4 shampooer, it'll work fine.


 


Also, I'll just give her my third set of Sentria attachments that I bought for $7 or $8.


 


Merry Christmas Julie!


 


Interestingly enough, there's an almost complete shampooer for the Tradition in the box. Plus, I bought Tradition attachments well over a year ago. Now all I need is a hose!

 

[super-sweeper]

Awesome! If your heart stopped when you saw that thing,I have no idea what mine did when I walked off from the Flea-Market with the early 1979 Kirby Tradition! Mine was made December, 1979, and features the original 12-blade fan and working headlight switch! I think I'm the only one on vacuumland with one! I really need to finish restoring that thing! 


 


Ok, enough about myself, make 'em shine, Will! 

 

[tase]

The bag inside the Tradition bag had exploded. I was shaking it out all over my front lawn (the disposable bag system was transformed into a dump-out bag) and I got covered in the dust.


 


I just got out of the shower it was that bad. The only way I can describe the smell is Moldy Finger cheese from Cheese Balls mixed with granny dust.


 


I have to order some parts for the G4. At this point, I just have to reassemble.

 

[super-sweeper]

EWW! The worst I found in my Tradition's bag was dog hair!! Be sure to keep us posted! 

 

[tase]

This is one of the dirtiest Kirbys I have EVER worked on. It's actually cleaned up very nice though. Can't tell it was this dirty.

 

[tase]

Bath time for the Kirby bags! (Both the G4 and Tradition)

 

[penie396]

That's how it is with traditions in Utah there is one at the thrift store for 180 buck... Its just the vacuum not atachments...

 

[penie396]

That's how it is with traditions in Utah there is one at the thrift store for 180 buck... Its just the vacuum not atachments...

It has the weird locking light hood but I dunno if that makes it worth that much.

 

[super-sweeper]

As rare as that model is, it's not worth the $180! Especially if it has a replacement fan, and if the original safety switch has been disabled over the years! 


 


If you think that's bad, I've seen a used Oreck for $279 before! 

 

[tase]

Well, I got to work on my Kirby G4 for my sister. 


 


First, I replaced the sticker on the handle fork. I was going to remove the original sticker and clean it but uhh... It kinda fell off... and broke... and disintegrated... 


 


Fun.

 

[tase]

I ended up replacing the front bearing even though it didn't really *need* it... But considering I don't want to see this Kirby for another 3 years, I'll definitely spend the extra $10 to replace the front bearing. 


 


I also replaced the fan and impeller even though the original one was fine. I prefer the white "Kevlar" fans to the stock gray fans anyway.

 

[tase]

There wasn't much to report on while putting it together, cleaning it some more, and polishing the vacuum... Except, I accidentally switched the two carbon brush wires and had the motor running backwards. That was enjoyable. 



http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?27694_new_20141223151957

 

[tase]

I had the vacuum mostly together. The bag in the first picture is from my other G4.


 


I decided to take a look at the cleaning nozzle...



And holy crap was that a mistake. It was so bad. This picture doesn't give it justice to how bad it was. So much stuff fell out onto my carpet.  (Should have been at the workbench but give me a break, it's 20F outside)


 


The metal is petty bad. I proceeded to spend around 3 hours polishing the head and getting alright results.


I tried taking a picture to show the difference some polish made, but the bad light and reflection didn't really help.


 


I made the decision to remove the blue tape around the bumper of the cleaning head. Quite a bit of it had fallen off, and a majority of the remaining tape turned the opposite direction. It looks a lot better with the tape removed. I'm thinking about doing it on my G4 which has the same problem.


 


A new brushroll and belt, and the cleaning nozzle is actually in pretty good shape. It'll do what my sister needs.

 

[tase]

After cleaning a set of Sentria attachments (had an extra set) and clean the Kirby G6 shampooer I found for her...


 


And I'd say it's a pretty reliable Kirby. Nothing matches, but it all works and so there isn't much I can really ask for.


 


Considering I did this the two days before Christmas (we're celebrating it on the 24th due to family things) and nothing else broke on me, I can't be too unhappy.


 


Now... In the spirit of it being my sister and I, I'm going to make her close her eyes. I'm going to throw two confetti eggs at her, and in her rage, I'll plop the vacuum down in front of her and say she can clean herself off with it.