Instead of the oreck I am asking for a refurbished G$ from govacuum.com. After I helped my neighbor clean her house with her legend III I fell in love with it!!! They are lighter than my concept one and very easy to use! Can anyone tell me about the g4? What is the little green light on the brush head? Can anyone tell me if the refurbs have the lifetime rebiuld program? Are the refurbs worth it?


Thanks, Andy

is an excellent choice. The Kirbys in general are excellent machines. The light on the brush head is for if the brush roll stops, it will warn you. That could be for a few reasons; including a broken belt or the brush roll is locked up. The refurbs I have seen seem to be worth it. I don't know if it is for lifetime; my guess is no. But I think it is under $50 to get it refurbished; yet again, I am not sure. In fact, when I went to my vac shop, a lady came in with a Legend II (the red one??) and had several things wrong with it: she never had it serviced, and the brush roll was locked up. She had NO clue how to even use a Kirby. Oh, well...we can't help 'em all!

Im a kirby collector and the G4 is a great machine.
Heavier than the Legend II to pick up but it is light to use due to the techdrive.
The proformance and filteration is better than the Legend II as well. The Green LED on the head is there to let you know if the brushroll is engaged and turning or if the belt is worn.
Rebuild program is only for the original owner of the kirby.
But if you spend enough time and love on it you can get it looking like new!! (Look at pictures of my kirby collection.)

Any other questions you would like to know feel free to ask.

Thanks.

James

p.s
Hopefully you might get the manual and video with it to show you all it dose and what else you can get for it.

Why would Kirby only rebuild the vacuum for its orignal owner? So I couldn't get ANY of my Kirbys refurbished by Kirby unless I bought them from an authorized Kirby dealer? Is there any amount you could pay to get a vacuum refurbished?

That's right kirby will only "rebuild" the kirby if you are the original owner.
When you buy one new from a authorized distributor they take down the serial number and put it to your details so they know that machine belongs to you also for guarantee purposes.
Also when your selling them as a authorized kirby dealer you tell your prospect this as it helps them to buy it off you and not a 2nd hand kirby off someone else.
So you only get the factory rebuild plan and the factory guarantee from the authorized kirby dealer.
This is only at the time the kirby is "New" not if you bought a 2nd hand kirby off a authorized kirby dealer as "Kirby"the company already have the details for that machine.Also the authorized kirby dealer only got the 2nd hand kirby by part x changing it for a new kirby.

Hope that makes sense to you???


And if I can help with anything else.

James

If you are NOT the original owner of a Kirby with the necessary documents needed for the rebuild program, then the lesser prices are not available to you.

The standard price for a rebuild no matter what the model, (as it was explained to me), is $350.00 if you are not the original owner.

Rebuild prices for original owners vary from in the low $20's on up depending on what model and when it was purchased. The rebuild price is based upon the date of original purchase.

Example: Rebuild price for the original owner of a Dual Sanitronic 50 made in the mid to late 1960's, is $27.50 and you would need the signed owner's manual with the serial number that matches the vacuum.

Rebult price for the original owner of a Classic Omega made approx. 1973-74, is $49.50 and again, you would need the signed owner's manual with the serial number that matches the vacuum.

The rebuild program was designed so that the original owners would keep their vacuums. When Kirby does a rebuild, the vacuum is essentially brand new. They no longer have the red and gray wheels, bumpers and trim for the early machines. The supply of green for Dual 80 is just about gone. The Classic III red is no longer available for the hose and tools. They have plenty of tan used for the Sanitronic VII, 562 and Dual 50.

If you are thinking of having a rebuild done, you should contact their rebuild department by calling Kirby at 1-800-494-8586, (main office) or the rebuild department at 1-216-433-7797.

You usually have to leave a message and have them call you back. Payment is expected before your Kirby will be returned to you. Copies of original paperwork would need to be included when your Kirby is shipped to them. Kirby does not pay for shipping in either direction.

When they do a rebuild you get back a wonderful, shiny, perfect vacuum. See the photo for my line up of rebuilds.

Here we have the Classic Omega, Classic III and a G3.

And here are the Duals: the Dual Sanitronic 50 and the Dual Sanitronic 80.

The only one missing is my Legend II which is used as a daily driver on the first floor of my home.

Hi charlie,
In the uk you have to be the original owner as far as Im aware.When you read the paper work for the new kirby's
And every year it goes up by a certain percentage.
Bearing in mind we in europe have to send our rebuilds to Germany.
I know the guarantee is non transferable.Also we told people this when I was selling them.
I didn't know they have stopped doing the classic III red tools etc in red as when I was in the rebuild plant they had
lots of red tools for the classic III and for all the color Kirby's after the dual sanitronic 50 on wards.
In fact I would not of minded getting a shopping cart when I was there and going around there filling it up with all kinds of parts.

Thanks

James

Did you go to the plant in the US? That would be something to see!

I have a small vacuum business and the tools in the US are only available in black for the older machines. I think you can still get the G series in the correct colors but from the Tradition on back, they are only available in black by most suppliers to the vacuum business.

I did call the factory in Cleveland about something in red for the Classic III and they too, told me that they were only available in black.

All the Kirbys pictured have correct, original sets of tools for them along with the owner's manuals and hoses. Some have the rug renovator, miracle head and shag king as well. It takes up a lot of space but I like have the vacuums complete.

BTW, your collection is WONDERFUL! Some of the early Kirbys I would love to have.................maybe someday on ebay someone will be selling them!

Charlie

I did understand about the policies where you live. And Charlie: those vacuums are fantastic! Maybe I could start my own "rebuild" program at my house! All I need is, let's see...a bench polisher, a lot of spare parts, and a heck of a lot of time! Oh, and you can't forget a ton of Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish!

I also hope to get parts for my 515/505 Kirby. It was originaly a 505, but the plate says 515. I think I could either turn it in to a 505 OR a 515...I think I will go with a 505. Well, really...it all depends on which parts are available.

And James, once again, your collection is great! I love the Kirby Utility! That is the NEATEST little handheld I have ever seen! I also love the pre-500 machines. Those are strange, but neat, looking vacuums.

This is my Kirby! It was my grandmas and i traded her for a 6 amp Royal!(she loves it!) I love the (new) Kirby! It was 30.00 total that includes the shipping both ways!! I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!! Hope you guys like the pics!!!!

Kyle

another shot!

*GLAM SHOT*

Oh yeah!!

She is the original owner!! She bought it April 10, 1964!!!
Never owned another vacuum since a month ago!!! Her only vacuum!!! 300.00 new! This is model sanitronic 7 (sanitronic IIV)

Kyle

Thanks Charlie, your machines are ALL GREAT!Also nicely finished off!

When I went to the factory and had the tour there then they also sent me to the rebuild plant.
In my opinion the rebuild plant was more amazing than the factory. Lots of different Kirby's and parts.It was like being a kid in a candy shop! The warehouse was huge!
They have a service centre shop set out to show how a independent authorized kirby centre should be set out.

When I bought parts off them they need my distributors number before they would sell them to me even though I was paying privately.
I know in the uk they have stop supplying the heritage II and legend II bags and you have to buy Generation 3 bags now but that was in the last 6 to 9 months.Again that might just be us in the uk?


When I was also at the rebuild plant I got to sit at Carl fetzer's original desk!!
Must show you the pics.

Most of my kirby's have there complete tools,manuals,boxes etc.
Half the attic is taken up by them.
For the 1st time the other day once I got everything in the attic to see it all together is a very nice feeling.
Lets hope we don't move house again in the near future!

Kyle

I bet your mom would LOVE you to have a rebuild program in your house.;-))
My Mom moaned when I had 2 Kirby's and she said no more.
40+ late.....
When She say is that a new kirby I say "no Iv had it ages and you just haven't seen it before";-))

Thanks

James

I have three Kirbys that were rebuilt-a G3,G4,G5-these were trade ins on new Kirby's got them from a Kirby dealer that went out of busines.The Kirby dealer had them rebuilt so she could resell them.Even had the sale papers with them.

That was the same vacuum I had!! I threw it away because it had a hole in the fan housing. It was in BAD shape! Oh, well...$60 waste...

I got a G4 only a couple of weeks ago free from a friend of my sisters. It had been sitting out in their barn for numerous years all dusty and dirty but it works fine. I did a preliminary polish on it just to get rid of the tarnish where it now looks like dull silver. Once we're settled I'll find a bench grinder/polisher and give it a good polish. I was working on it in my mothers basement, she couldn't even lift it up or get it out of the closet and found the whole thing too clunky and cumbersome to use. I much prefer the Heritage Legend II as well for a daily use machine. It feels much more agile.