Wireless Vacuette Lubrication?

[nubz3760]

I just acquired my dream machine, a wireless vacuette! Well, technically it's a kwik kleen but pretty much the same thing. My question is, how do i lubricate it? The bearings are noisy, I unscrewed the cap over the end of the shaft and there appeared to be oil in it? I thought these took grease. Also, how do I remove the cap covering the gears? There's a braided metal wire holding it on and I don't know how to remove it without cutting it. Info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[charleskirby66]

Kwik Klean off eBay?!

So YOU'RE the one who bought that machine. I just knew it had to be one of us!!! I wanted it too, but at 65 bids to $379, I just couldn't swing it. Keep me in your will.

As for the oil, remember that thing has been around for near 100 years. Goodness knows who got a hold of it, or how they serviced it.

 

[nubz3760]

Yep it was me . Do you know if it takes oil or grease?

 

[caligula]

Vacuette.

This Vacuette went into a storage unit for 9 years.

Last month I brought it home. The gears didn't turn, but after a quick spray of WD-40 it ran like new in seconds. Now, aside from a worn bag, it runs like new.

 

[caligula]

Vacuette.

Home and once I replace the bag will be ready for use again.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Alex. That's a nice picture of you and some of your machine. Was it taken recently?</span>


 


<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>

 

[caligula]

Hi kirbymodel2c

Those are before and after pictures.

The one of the Vacuette was taken in 2005 right after the VCCC convention in Los Angeles. A year the entire collection went into storage for what I expected to be a few weeks, turned out to be 9 years!

Last August they were brought home. The second picture was taken the day I cleaned out the holding shed, while bags, cords, and so on were still in boxes. Since then they have been cleaned, the shelves organized and they're in the correct order.

 

[cb123]

Congratulations Nubz!!!

Here's a photo of the worm gear behind the grease cap. If I was you, I wouldn't pop that cap for nothing, on account, that it still has its original wire and rubber pin. If you attempt to remove it, the pine will most probably be destroyed and you won't ever find another one

! If I was to guess, it has never been opened up before, which is no real problem. All you really need to do is run 4 or 5 drops of 3-IN ONE OIL, preferably (in the blue and white bottle) down both its wheel axels for about a week, to reactivate the grease inside its worm gear case. Remember, as you apply the oil to move its wheels back and forth ( NOT BY THE RUBBER PART OF THE WHEEL, BUT BY ITS METAL REM!!!) Also, you may want to remove its bag...DON'T WANT NO OIL ON IT!!!  Once again, Congratulations on a super fine James Kirby machine!

 

 

[cb123]

P.S. Please say that you didn't undo this big screw here!? 

 

[super-sweeper]

What happens if you undo the big screw? Inquiring minds want to know! 

 


 

 

[cb123]

Do you see the little shiny piece of dye cast I'm pointing at with the pencil? Well, underneath that is a retaining screw inside the worm gear keeping the big "ass " brass fan screw from moving doing normal use of the machine? So, that's called a locking screw which needs to be unloosed before you unloose the big one...OH, NOOOOOOO

In the photo you will see the retaining screw clearly at the bottom. But on a happier note it could have loosened over time and no damage was done to the big brass screw, which, of course, keeps your fan in place during operation. Please, pray it was so!  And, Alex, as always I'll press like on your jibber jabber!

 

 

[cb123]

P.S. Nubz, there's a good chance your in the clear, because I've worked on a couple of them and the retaining screw was loose.

 

[nubz3760]

No I removed that big cap with the slot in it, I was just wondering if I should slap some grease in there.

 

[cb123]

Well, wonder no more! Go on ahead and slap some of that non-vaginal white lithium grease up in there, and in no time you'll be ready for BLASTOFF!!!

 

[nubz3760]

Now say I wanted to grease the internals, how do I remove that cap without cutting that wire?

 

[cb123]

By leaving it alone, unless, of course, your dead set on ruining that incredible piece of originality. But since you got the bottom cap screw off, go on ahead and put a little  3-In- One Oil in with some white lithium grease ( Replace cap carefully ) and that should do you quite fine. 

 

[cb123]

The cap screw is important, it holds down your sleeve for your bearings. When oiling, move your wheels gently -- Don't want to pop that sleeve out. Also, don't over oil it, it will blow out into your bag.