Kirby Sentria G10E

Kirbys are really, really durable. My Sentria has taken a couple of trips down the stairs, and has been left outside for a few months. I live in a family of 5 with two dogs and it is the only vacuum to tackle everything I throw at it. It's easy my most abused vacuum (makes me sad... But it's one of those beater machines you use for everything.) The bag is spacious, though I use the brown/yellow/whatevercolourpeoplewanttocallitthesedays paper bags. I replace my bags about every 4 months even if they aren't full.

I have had Kirbys suck up belts, and they usually go into the Mini-Emptor. You typically get a giant hairball of random crap off your floor, but at least it doesn't seize the fan.

My dad's G6 has gone through two home renovations and still looks brand new, even after sucking up plaster dust (which I recommend you don't do that. It's not good for it but my father was in the "I bought it I'll do what I damn please with it!" mood.)

Any part on a Kirby is easy to replace. Fan replacements take me 35 minutes with redoing the silicone. A motor swap takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Carbon brush replacement takes about the same time. A brushroll replacement takes less than 5 minutes. Same with a belt replacement.

I've used the same belt for a year and a half at this point. It's fine. Though, I'm replacing it next week when I clean out the nozzle.

I really don't know what else to say. They're perfect.

One thing to note, the Sentria with the original style head (zipper will be curved) has problems with the bag becoming discoloured. They fixed that with the F head bags (which have a zipper that's straight down) but it's a present issue and will happen if the bag is exposed to UV light for hours.

Below is a picture of the pink bag problem on my Kirby.

View Full Size


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Post# 292867 8/11/2014 at 08:35 (3,538 days old) by parwaz786 ( )
Checkrate/Likes Can I have information of the Kirby Sentria G10E please? As I have found one, in fully working order on Gumtree, West Midlands for Ł60! Thank you Tayyab Parwaz CLICK HERE TO GO TO parwaz786's LINK

Post# 292889 , Reply# 1 8/11/2014 at 10:34 (3,538 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes If it's in good working order, then definitely go for it! The Sentria and Sentria II are the most powerful Kirby's ever made. I know because I own one and it is my daily driver. Best Upright vacuum I've ever owned in the last 30 years. Had a Royal before I got the Sentria. The Royal was good but the Sentria is definitely the best.

Post# 292900 , Reply# 2 8/11/2014 at 11:11 (3,538 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes Parwaz, what kind of Kirby Sentria information are you looking for?

Post# 292946 , Reply# 3 8/11/2014 at 13:56 (3,538 days old) by parwaz786 ( )
Checkrate/Likes Thank you so much :) I am really tempted to get the Sentria, and the information I was looking for was just any facts etc :) The information you gave was an example of something I was looking for, very much appreciated. Thank you

Post# 292963 , Reply# 4 8/11/2014 at 14:31 (3,538 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes www.amazon.com/gp/review/R14ULWO0...">Opinion of a cleaning lady for Kirby Sentria: By www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2C...">Thartmanon February 14, 2012 This was one of the best investments I have ever made. I clean houses for a living and often use the home owners vacuum. I have used dyson, electrolux, kenmore, oreck, hoover, central vacs, dirt devil, simplicity, a couple commercial or industrial uprights,and probably others. Of all of them, kirby would be my first choice. Kirby pros: Very good suction.....the BEST suction, I cant say enough about the suction! Also, very well built, solid construction. I knew the abuse a kirby could take, so I made little effort to be careful. I have sucked up things that should never be sucked up, run it over very rough surfaces(a stone patio), dropped it(it fell out of the back of my van), spilled bleach on it, and basically asked it to do things only a rugged shop vac would be asked to do. I have owned my kirby for 12 years and have spent less than 70$ in repairs. This includes a replacement brush roll! Also a pro is the versatility. I have used the sprayer attachment to wash walls, and patio cushions. I have reversed the air flow to blow leaves off my patio and clean out my garage,blow off computer keyboards and other electronics and blow up air mattresses and balloons. And anyone who has vacuumed a lot of hard floors, knows the benefit of a long hose attachment. Cons: It is quite heavy to carry, and changing attachments is slightly inconvenient. I would not recommend this vacuum to an elderly person, and it would be overkill for someone who has a very clean house with no pets or children.

Post# 292977 , Reply# 5 8/11/2014 at 15:16 (3,538 days old) by parwaz786 ( )
Checkrate/Likes Impressive review! We had Dyson for the past 16 years I think, till present and they are our favourite. Don't know what brands we have had before though. Just a question, but would you be confident in throwing a Kirby out of a 1st floor window considering they are built like tanks? Also, if the belt breaks, would the fan jam the motor because of the rubber belt being sucked up, or will the fan chop the belt up? Thanks

Post# 292987 , Reply# 6 8/11/2014 at 15:51 (3,538 days old) by marks_here (_._)
Checkrate/Likes 2 I've never had a belt go through my Kirby motors, the just snap & usually come out the bottom OR you can hear when they go. Just check them periodically to see if they need changing before they break. I had one get so thin but it never broke.

Post# 292997 , Reply# 7 8/11/2014 at 16:19 (3,538 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)
Checkrate/Likes 1 The belt usually just sits on the brush upon breaking. I'd gladly throw my Kirby out the window, it'll live to vacuum the driveway!!

Post# 293009 , Reply# 8 8/11/2014 at 16:50 (3,538 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes First off, I would never toss a perfectly good working vacuum out of a window. I have never had a Kirby belt break on me. Usually when they are worn out, they start to slip and when that happens the belt indicator light will start to blink, informing you it is time to replace belt. The belts will usually last 6 months to a year depending on use. I usually replace the belt whenever I change the bag. Kirby bags are very large and usually last me 6 months or more. The belts are very easy to replace and it only takes a couple of minutes to change it out.

Post# 293026 , Reply# 9 8/11/2014 at 17:39 (3,538 days old) by parwaz786 ( )
Checkrate/Likes Cool, I am getting really tempted now! I wouldn't throw a perfectly good working vacuum out of a window either, I was only asking because I wanted to see people's views on the durability of the Kirby's. Kind regards, Tayyab Parwaz

Post# 293044 , Reply# 10 8/11/2014 at 18:29 (3,538 days old) by TASE (Colorado)
Checkrate/Likes Kirbys are really, really durable. My Sentria has taken a couple of trips down the stairs, and has been left outside for a few months. I live in a family of 5 with two dogs and it is the only vacuum to tackle everything I throw at it. It's easy my most abused vacuum (makes me sad... But it's one of those beater machines you use for everything.) The bag is spacious, though I use the brown/yellow/whatevercolourpeoplewanttocallitthesedays paper bags. I replace my bags about every 4 months even if they aren't full. I have had Kirbys suck up belts, and they usually go into the Mini-Emptor. You typically get a giant hairball of random crap off your floor, but at least it doesn't seize the fan. My dad's G6 has gone through two home renovations and still looks brand new, even after sucking up plaster dust (which I recommend you don't do that. It's not good for it but my father was in the "I bought it I'll do what I damn please with it!" mood.) Any part on a Kirby is easy to replace. Fan replacements take me 35 minutes with redoing the silicone. A motor swap takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Carbon brush replacement takes about the same time. A brushroll replacement takes less than 5 minutes. Same with a belt replacement. I've used the same belt for a year and a half at this point. It's fine. Though, I'm replacing it next week when I clean out the nozzle. I really don't know what else to say. They're perfect. One thing to note, the Sentria with the original style head (zipper will be curved) has problems with the bag becoming discoloured. They fixed that with the F head bags (which have a zipper that's straight down) but it's a present issue and will happen if the bag is exposed to UV light for hours. Below is a picture of the pink bag problem on my Kirby. View Full Size