Vacuum Miss Matches
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combining parts
It's actually very common to use attachments from one brand of vacuum wiith another brand. I do this all the time. I actually will not buy a vacuum unless the hose is a standard size or an adapter is available to make it a standard size. The current Kenmore Elite canisters sound really good, but since I can't use standard attachments with it, that's a deal breaker. I remember reading a message from someone wondering if the Panasonic Mc-cg902 canister could be paired with a different power head. The answer is yes, definitely. The Lindhaus power nozzles work great with it. So, it can definitely be interesting to combine different attachments with vacuums that they did not come with. I've even heard of people replacing the motors in some canisters with more powerful Ametek motors.
It's actually very common to use attachments from one brand of vacuum wiith another brand. I do this all the time. I actually will not buy a vacuum unless the hose is a standard size or an adapter is available to make it a standard size. The current Kenmore Elite canisters sound really good, but since I can't use standard attachments with it, that's a deal breaker. I remember reading a message from someone wondering if the Panasonic Mc-cg902 canister could be paired with a different power head. The answer is yes, definitely. The Lindhaus power nozzles work great with it. So, it can definitely be interesting to combine different attachments with vacuums that they did not come with. I've even heard of people replacing the motors in some canisters with more powerful Ametek motors.
human
Well-known member
I did it with my Kirby G5
When it came to me about a year ago, my G5 needed a lot of love. The back part of the handle had been replaced with one from a G4, which is fairly common as something in the G5's burgundy pigments makes the lower cord hook more fragile than other colors. The brush roll was shot so I replaced it with a new Sentria style one and the cloth bag had holes in it so I found an entire bag assembly from an Ultimate G to replace it. For aesthetic purposes, I put the burgundy bag topper back on it, which helps bring out the flecks of burgundy in the otherwise mostly gray bag fabric, thus complementing the G5's unique color scheme. I have occasionally considered taking the color integration further by putting the original burgundy emptor on as well but it seems like a lot of work for no functional gain, especially when the light gray one is in much better shape. From a functional standpoint, I do prefer the newer style outer bag with its curved zipper.
So all told, my G5 is made up of fully compatible parts from four different Kirby models, all of which have made vast improvements over its previous semi-decrepit condition and in some ways may even arguably improve on the G5's original design.
When it came to me about a year ago, my G5 needed a lot of love. The back part of the handle had been replaced with one from a G4, which is fairly common as something in the G5's burgundy pigments makes the lower cord hook more fragile than other colors. The brush roll was shot so I replaced it with a new Sentria style one and the cloth bag had holes in it so I found an entire bag assembly from an Ultimate G to replace it. For aesthetic purposes, I put the burgundy bag topper back on it, which helps bring out the flecks of burgundy in the otherwise mostly gray bag fabric, thus complementing the G5's unique color scheme. I have occasionally considered taking the color integration further by putting the original burgundy emptor on as well but it seems like a lot of work for no functional gain, especially when the light gray one is in much better shape. From a functional standpoint, I do prefer the newer style outer bag with its curved zipper.
So all told, my G5 is made up of fully compatible parts from four different Kirby models, all of which have made vast improvements over its previous semi-decrepit condition and in some ways may even arguably improve on the G5's original design.
floor-a-matic
Well-known member
How can a Electrolux Epic 4000/Epic 6000 upright handle fit a 'Franken-Sebo' upright?
Vacmaster
Justin,
Kirby dealers did that mix-n-match thing a lot. . .
For example, I saw such "zoinky" rebuilds like a Classic or Classic Omega re-trimmed in blue to resemble a Tradition.
~Ben
Justin,
Kirby dealers did that mix-n-match thing a lot. . .
For example, I saw such "zoinky" rebuilds like a Classic or Classic Omega re-trimmed in blue to resemble a Tradition.
~Ben
delaneymeegan
Well-known member
I would think it would be in dealers best interest to make the Used vacs look a certain way, that is less than perfect. Than they can say, well, this is what you get when buying that Used stuff.
How about this gem?
A Montgomery Wards Eureka 3.0 h.p. from around 1980. The cord and cord -reel were removed and replaced with a heavy duty 30' extension cord. The original electric hose was removed and a shop vac hose put on, in black not white. The floor tool is a Hoover. The bags he was using were from a hoover Celebrity. The switch was replaced with a 3 position switch, because apparently that's what he had laying around.
This guy really knew how to keep things running without spending any money; he used this for property maintenance. Oh, and the latch which originally clasped the top into place was broken, so he simply drilled 2 holes and would screw the top down between bag changes. Motor still ran good though. (The entire units since been parted out)
human
Well-known member
Now THAT'S a true frankenvac!!!
dartman
Well-known member
Well we do that with our old cars all the time. Leave the body mostly the way it came but anything under the hood or the running gear is fair game.
My Dart has a 83/4 rear out of a slightly newer 71 Dart, the electronic ignition is out of a 75 Cordoba I think. The distributer is a combo of a old 65 wide block 318 with newer electronic backing plate and parts on top from the 70's
I used a rear sway bar out of a 75 Valiant police car, and I have the big bolt disk brakes and rear drums and axles out of another 75 Valiant I bought just for the brake conversion parts. The car still looks stock but will drive and stop way better then any 69 Dart made and it's all just easy to find newer factory parts off newer versions of the same chassis.
As far as my Royal 4650 powertank the hose was bad and I found a good one cheap for a 4600. It's the wrong color but works and doesn't constantly shut off when you tweak it right so I can still use the power head adjustments on the handle.
My Dart has a 83/4 rear out of a slightly newer 71 Dart, the electronic ignition is out of a 75 Cordoba I think. The distributer is a combo of a old 65 wide block 318 with newer electronic backing plate and parts on top from the 70's
I used a rear sway bar out of a 75 Valiant police car, and I have the big bolt disk brakes and rear drums and axles out of another 75 Valiant I bought just for the brake conversion parts. The car still looks stock but will drive and stop way better then any 69 Dart made and it's all just easy to find newer factory parts off newer versions of the same chassis.
As far as my Royal 4650 powertank the hose was bad and I found a good one cheap for a 4600. It's the wrong color but works and doesn't constantly shut off when you tweak it right so I can still use the power head adjustments on the handle.
