Weird Kirby Question

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logdog

Active member
Joined
May 1, 2011
Messages
40
Had a weird question so thought I would ask the experts. Has anyone modified a Kirby Nozel or safety switch so the Kirby runs in High speed for carpet cleaning? Is there a reason not to do this? I just thought you have the machine might as well use it to the fullest.

Thanks,
Logdog
 
I'm guessing that if you run the vacuum on high speed all the time that it would burn up the motor.  Plus, on non self-propelled models, I would guess it would be much harder to push.  On self-propelled models, the transmission would be shifting too quickly all the time.  These are all guesses on my part, but they are good questions!  I've thought about trying the same thing sometime just for grins! 
smiley-laughing.gif
 
wel...

my tradition is stuck on hi speed, which i learned like 2 months after i got it. it is hard to push, but hasnt burned up yet (i havent used it since i learned), and does an awesome job!
 
The spring in the safety switch of my Classic III broke at one point, so that unless I moved the switch back up after using the hose, the switch stayed in the high speed position.  I did try using it in high speed for carpet cleaning a few times and I should add that there was a 4 row brush roll in the carpet head.  It was a Kirby on steroids!  What little carpeting I had at the time was upstairs where nothing but dust ever landed on the carpet so I can't report on whether it worked any better at pulling up embedded dirt. 
 
I would be

I would be doing this on a G3 so the Tech-Drive isn't great in the first place. I may try it though, "For Science"! :)(I love that phrase you can get away with almost anything by saying it is "For Science")

Logdog
 
I don't think running it on high speed would lead to it burning out, after all, when using it on high-speed with the hose it's running sufficient cooling to prevent it from toasting itself, under load with the nozzle & brushroll is probably about the same as with the hose (think about it, nozzle seals to floor, less air rushing through the fan, the load lost from the airflow is replaced with the load from the BR, thus everything balances up somewhat)... :)

As for modifying it to run on high speed, I haven't the foggiest, I'm not sure which wires do what in a Kirby, I just know where they go to on the switches... :P
 
Kirby high speed for carpet cleaning

I would not do it. First of all the Kirby has way more than enough airflow on low speed to clean your carpets well. Why take the chance? If it is not cleaning well, maybe you need a new belt or brush roll.


 


 


Just my two cents.


 


Bud
 
Actually I did to my G4. I noticed it actually pulls the carpet up, now i leave one noice up instead lowering the nozzle.But I did this once don't want to burn my Kirby motor.
 

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