where can i go in florida to have my kirby vacuum cleaner restored and buffed
- Thread starter shilohair
- Start date
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super-sweeper
Well-known member
Nice Kirbies!
As for where to go, that would all depend on your location. I believe my local Kirby distributor restores machines, but I'll have to double check, I'm not certain. If you do not live in Northern Florida, Then, Well, I'm afraid I may not be of assistance.
By the way, Your Kirby Tradition (The Blue cleaner in your second picture) Would appear to be a 1979 Model, As it still has the "Head-light" safety switch, While the Classic III, Which was the model before the Tradition, Has the switch lower to the floor.
Supposedly, Kirby placed the switch on their new Tradition in the Headlight area to prevent moisture from the Rug Renovator attachment from getting into the cleaner's electrical system. This design however proved faulty, for after years of slamming the head-light and usage, The switch would sometimes "Jam" in the "ON" position, allowing exposure to the running motor, Yikes
!!!
I also have the '79 Tradition, And I would highly recommend, If not already done, That you upgrade your Kirby to either a Heritage I's Bag system, or use the "Mini-Emptor" system from the Heritage II model, Which would greatly improve the performance of your machine. The Tradition was Kirby's first disposable bag cleaner, and they made the fault of making the Fill-Tube too thin, which GREATLY decreased airflow, and, in turn, performance. You could also, although not recommended, simply remove the bagging adaptor from the Sani-Emptor, Which is performed easily with a flat-head screw-driver, and use the Tradition like a Classic III, with simply using it as a cloth "Shake-out" cleaner.
Good luck with your cleaners!
-Alex.
As for where to go, that would all depend on your location. I believe my local Kirby distributor restores machines, but I'll have to double check, I'm not certain. If you do not live in Northern Florida, Then, Well, I'm afraid I may not be of assistance.
By the way, Your Kirby Tradition (The Blue cleaner in your second picture) Would appear to be a 1979 Model, As it still has the "Head-light" safety switch, While the Classic III, Which was the model before the Tradition, Has the switch lower to the floor.
Supposedly, Kirby placed the switch on their new Tradition in the Headlight area to prevent moisture from the Rug Renovator attachment from getting into the cleaner's electrical system. This design however proved faulty, for after years of slamming the head-light and usage, The switch would sometimes "Jam" in the "ON" position, allowing exposure to the running motor, Yikes
I also have the '79 Tradition, And I would highly recommend, If not already done, That you upgrade your Kirby to either a Heritage I's Bag system, or use the "Mini-Emptor" system from the Heritage II model, Which would greatly improve the performance of your machine. The Tradition was Kirby's first disposable bag cleaner, and they made the fault of making the Fill-Tube too thin, which GREATLY decreased airflow, and, in turn, performance. You could also, although not recommended, simply remove the bagging adaptor from the Sani-Emptor, Which is performed easily with a flat-head screw-driver, and use the Tradition like a Classic III, with simply using it as a cloth "Shake-out" cleaner.
Good luck with your cleaners!
-Alex.
You can ask this question directly on Kirby's official Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/kirbycompany?fref=ts
~Ben
https://www.facebook.com/kirbycompany?fref=ts
~Ben
dysonman1
Well-known member
Have you considered having the Factory rebuild done on your machines? They'll charge you about the same price as a distributor would, and you'll have the VERY BEST rebuilding job with the machines returning to you virtually brand new.
Michael,
I had just asked the same question there, too.
~Ben
I had just asked the same question there, too.
~Ben
my only hang up with the kirby factory is i dont trust them to keep everything original ive heard of people sending them there vacuum cleaners and getting back black color plastic parts in place of there original parts and that concerns me as i want the two vacuum cleaners to stay as original as i can keep them.also i know some parts u cant even get anymore as well
Michael,
I was just going to point that out to you (about sending your machine to Kirby for rebuild): try to rebuild it yourself since they will replace the original bags, and metal fans.
~Ben
I was just going to point that out to you (about sending your machine to Kirby for rebuild): try to rebuild it yourself since they will replace the original bags, and metal fans.
~Ben
Michael,
I've been told by the Kirby people on its Facebook that you should dial 1-800-437-7170 for assistance and what tools they recommend for your polishing jobs.
~Ben
I've been told by the Kirby people on its Facebook that you should dial 1-800-437-7170 for assistance and what tools they recommend for your polishing jobs.
~Ben
dysonman1
Well-known member
The correct color parts are available for both the Classic III as well as the Tradition. All parts and trim are still available for both those models. Sending it to the factory will get a true rebuild AND it will be returned with correct color parts. It's only the small head models (Dual 80 and backward) that have non-genuine color bags, cords, etc.
My Tradition was rebuilt by Kirby last year and came back with a black bag topper, black bag guard, black handle and not blue wheels, so maybe the parts are available and maybe they are not.
I bought a correct bag topper, bag guard, blue wheels and blue handle on ebay. Some items were NOS and some were used in very good shape. I posted pics of the vac with hose and tools on this site at the time. The pics may be found in the archives.
I bought a correct bag topper, bag guard, blue wheels and blue handle on ebay. Some items were NOS and some were used in very good shape. I posted pics of the vac with hose and tools on this site at the time. The pics may be found in the archives.
dysonman1
Well-known member
While we don't make Kirby vacuums at the Simplicity factory, we do have all the repair parts. A quick search of the parts inventory shows we have all the trim for Classic III as well as Tradition model in a "trim kit" which includes bag hanger, wheels, headlight trim, handle, nozzle trim, bag guard, and cord hooks.
shilohair (Michael), dysonman1 (Tom) & Kirby parts...
Hello Michael.
If you decide to do any of the restorations yourself, keep me in mind as a source for your Genuine Kirby wants & needs. I'm sure I will be able to save you substantially.
I carry only Genuine Kirby parts. And, if you have questions on Kirbys, feel free to contact me anytime. As I have customers across the globe, I'm pretty easy to communicate with.
I did send you an email with all of my contact information the other day. (May check in your spam folder. I usually include VL or Kirby in the subject line.) I wish you well with your Kirby restorations.
Hello Tom.
It must be new, old stock parts for Kirbys, that you guys have there (at Simplicity).
Many of the trim &/or colored parts from the Legend II on back, are NOT available from Kirby anymore, & haven't been available for quite a while. Black is mostly what they (Kirby) still have, with a few exceptions here & there. Tan & green being most of them.
Even a lot of the "G" Series parts from the Diamond Edition back, have disappeared or are becoming 'blended' when produced by Kirby's vendors.
I L@@K forward to visiting the museum sometime.
Cheers & hagr8wknd all,
Bill
Hello Michael.
If you decide to do any of the restorations yourself, keep me in mind as a source for your Genuine Kirby wants & needs. I'm sure I will be able to save you substantially.
I carry only Genuine Kirby parts. And, if you have questions on Kirbys, feel free to contact me anytime. As I have customers across the globe, I'm pretty easy to communicate with.
I did send you an email with all of my contact information the other day. (May check in your spam folder. I usually include VL or Kirby in the subject line.) I wish you well with your Kirby restorations.
Hello Tom.
It must be new, old stock parts for Kirbys, that you guys have there (at Simplicity).
Many of the trim &/or colored parts from the Legend II on back, are NOT available from Kirby anymore, & haven't been available for quite a while. Black is mostly what they (Kirby) still have, with a few exceptions here & there. Tan & green being most of them.
Even a lot of the "G" Series parts from the Diamond Edition back, have disappeared or are becoming 'blended' when produced by Kirby's vendors.
I L@@K forward to visiting the museum sometime.
Cheers & hagr8wknd all,
Bill
Hey Bill
Do you have any Handi Butler belts? I have two HB and they both need belts. I have three Kirby's that I need to polish and neither butler is useable.
Joe
Do you have any Handi Butler belts? I have two HB and they both need belts. I have three Kirby's that I need to polish and neither butler is useable.
Joe
Joe,
You could try using the #301291 knurled Rug Nozzle belt on your Handi-Butlers and see if that one works well.
~Ben
You could try using the #301291 knurled Rug Nozzle belt on your Handi-Butlers and see if that one works well.
~Ben
Thanks Ben
I'll try it, but am a little worried about stress on rhe armature shaft and front bearing because the belt is a smaller diameter than the original. Kinda like using a Kirby belt on a Royal. I'm wondering if a power nozzle belt might not be a better fit.
Joe
I'll try it, but am a little worried about stress on rhe armature shaft and front bearing because the belt is a smaller diameter than the original. Kinda like using a Kirby belt on a Royal. I'm wondering if a power nozzle belt might not be a better fit.
Joe
jfalberti (Joe) & Kirby HB belts...
Hello Joe.
They (Handi Butler belts) are no longer available, as Kirby has depleted their inventory. :-(
I have been L@@King for a source of 'other' alternative replacements. However, as of yet, I have NOT found any.
Cheers & hagr8wknd all,
Bill
Hello Joe.
They (Handi Butler belts) are no longer available, as Kirby has depleted their inventory. :-(
I have been L@@King for a source of 'other' alternative replacements. However, as of yet, I have NOT found any.
Cheers & hagr8wknd all,
Bill
