Thread Number: 27744  /  Tag: Brand New Vacuum Cleaners
Kirby Tech Drive 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 310152   12/28/2014 at 14:40 (3,406 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

Some of you may of already seen a bit of a disagreement in another thread regarding Kirbys being difficult to use on flat carpets when little airflow is allowed to pass through the floor.

'Useless' was the exact wording.

If you haven't seen it, see thread #27681. Sebo Automatic X1 1997.

Anyway rather than carry on hijacking another persons thread I thought I'd start a seperate one.

So. Here is some more of my argument to defend the Kirby's honour.....

In the video I take two entrance rugs. Fresh genuine HEPA bag in the Kirby so the suction is as strong as it can possibly be. Machine is lowerd as low as it will go to ensure it 'sticks' to the rugs as much as possible. One rug is water resistant rubber backed and clearly is going to allow ZERO air to pass through - meaning the Kirby will stick to it. The other rug is anti slip rubber backing and when I lower the machine on this rug you hear the motor tone change as the airflow has clearly been blocked. You can even see the machine try to drag the brown rug across the room.

Yet I'm vacuuming with only two fingers! Thats because Tech Drive is taking the work out of pushing and pulling the machine on the rugs the machine has 'stuck' to.

Then we skip to the living room. Wall to wall carpet. For some reason the Kirby doesn't like this carpet. It's the only room I feel I NEED to use the Tech Drive, as the machine feels like it is ploughing down into the carpet pile rather than gliding across it. If I use the machine without the Tech Drive on when pushing the machine I can feel the hand grip flexing and bending slightly.... thats how much resistance there is. Tech Drive on again and we are back to vacuuming with only two fingers pinching the machine handle.

You can clearly hear this carpet is more of a struggle as the noise from the drive unit increases. At one point I raise the machine up and push it so you can get an idea of how quiet the Tech Drive is with no load at all on it. I also lower the machine as low as it will go to ensure the resistance for pushing and pulling is as great as it can be.... Tech Drive works harder and makes a bit more noise, yet I'm still only using two fingers!

I've used this machine on masses of carpets both in my home and in relatives homes. Low pile, medium pile, deep pile, wool, man made... I've even used it on Flotex... if you don't know what that is it's kinda like vinyl flooring with a fuzzy feel to it. Water resistant and glued down too so ZERO airfow getting through. The machine may feel lighter at times, especially on short cut pile pure wool, but at its heaviest with the Tech Drive in gear it never needs more than those two fingers.

Or maybe I'm just abnormally strong and have fingers of steel?

Our landing carpet has a very deep pile, and sometimes the machine will 'skip' across it. I have this issue with most machines on this carpet. I just need to change direction and push the machine in the direction the pile is going and the problem is solved.

I suppose it's like driving a car. When you start driving up a steep hill it doesn't get any more difficult for the driver does it?
Thats because the machine is doing the work.

The Kirby does the hard bit for me, I just aim it in the direction I want it to go.

The vid is in ultra Hi Def 4k so make sure you adjust the quality settings on YouTube to allow a clearer idea of the Tech Drive sounds.











CLICK HERE TO GO TO matt8808's LINK
Post# 310155 , Reply# 1   12/28/2014 at 14:51 (3,406 days old) by parwaz786 ( )        

Impressive machine! Sounds like its beating the carpet well and vibrating it, does it or is that the brushbar bristles hitting the mat? Either way it sounds powerful. I like those machines when they have a huge amount of suction at the head. Tech drive seems awesome

Post# 310158 , Reply# 2   12/28/2014 at 14:58 (3,406 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

The brush roll has multiple rows of brushes. No beater bars. But as you can hear it agitates the carpet and makes the floor vibrate like nothing else.

They feel like huge awkward machines when you first use one compaired to a 'normal' plasic vacuum, but used as a daily driver for a bit you soon get used to the size.

You won't get you carpets any cleaner than a properly maintained Kirby gets them.

Post# 310163 , Reply# 3   12/28/2014 at 15:22 (3,406 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Hi Matt

 kirbymodel2c's profile picture

Great video. I must get around to making some new videos. I do love your living room carpet.

I also like your new profile picture by the waywink

 

Jamessmile

 

 
Post# 310165 , Reply# 4   12/28/2014 at 15:27 (3,406 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

Haha well James I couldn't have people thinking that lass was my wife now can I?

Lmao



Post# 310171 , Reply# 5   12/28/2014 at 15:53 (3,406 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
I..

 kirbymodel2c's profile picture

have no idea what you mean.....loltongue-out

 

Jamessmile
Post# 310172 , Reply# 6   12/28/2014 at 15:56 (3,406 days old) by Jaker15 (Meridian, ID)        
Kirby

 jaker15's profile picture

is awesome. The newer models are pretty heavy, I'd even say they're excessively heavy. The TechDrive adds a lot of weight, but it is pretty dang awesome. The lightest models are the late 500 series and the Dual Sanitronic 50 and 80. I've never used a DS80, but I have a DS50, and it has plenty of cleaning power without all the added heft. It's even lighter if you install a Heritage II mini emptor. laughing
Post# 310174 , Reply# 7   12/28/2014 at 16:01 (3,406 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        
So Matt,

 sptyks's profile picture

That was an excellent video. It proves that the Sentria can handle any carpet you throw at it with minimal effort by the user. Keep in mind that the Sentria II is a 23 pound machine that is literally glued to the carpet and it can be pushed, pulled and maneuvered using only two fingers. NOW THAT'S POWER!

 

The only thing I would have added would be to lay the machine on it's side so folks like Tayyab could see the brushroll.

 

By the way, who was that Lass in your old profile picture?

 


This post was last edited 12/28/2014 at 16:17
Post# 310175 , Reply# 8   12/28/2014 at 16:02 (3,406 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

Oh I agree it's heavy to lift. But with the drive in gear theres no effort required to actually use one

Post# 310176 , Reply# 9   12/28/2014 at 16:05 (3,406 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        
The lass

 was / is just a friend. Shes married, I'm gay.

Think of her as one of my fag hags lol

Post# 310179 , Reply# 10   12/28/2014 at 16:37 (3,406 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

sptyks's profile picture

Matt, That's funny. Lmao.

 

 

Jake, believe it or not, The G series Tech Drive weighs only slightly more than a pound.

 

The Kirby D50 and D80 both weigh in at about 12 lbs each and they handle exactly the same.
Post# 310194 , Reply# 11   12/28/2014 at 19:45 (3,406 days old) by parwaz786 ( )        

No problem :) I decided I want both a Sentria and Dyson DC41 Mk2. That Sentria is a hell of a mega beast :O
The most powerful vacuum I used was a Dyson D 14 origin with seals in the soleplaye. Or the 07 origin.

The link below shows my DC14 with seals in the sole plate sealing on to the floor (is this Flotex?) and a rubber backed rug. It is pretty good for clean air IMO.
PS speakers down

CLICK HERE TO GO TO parwaz786's LINK
Post# 310215 , Reply# 12   12/29/2014 at 03:53 (3,405 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Would have liked to see that Kirby equipped with a dirtmeter to see what dirt was picked up from the rug sample peices and the Flotex flooring.Shows the Kirby can pass the EXTREME tests!


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