Thread Number: 2978
Some Kirby usage questions
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Post# 32961   2/21/2008 at 21:04 (5,880 days old) by mattshaver ()        

Dear All:

Hey all, I am really enjoying my Kirby G6. This weekend, I pulled all the parts off of her and started buffing her up with some very fine steel wool and my car buffer. It's such a sharp machine and I love the gun metal gray/black against the silver...very sexy and chic...LOL.

But what I cannot get over is that it cleans better than anything I've seen in the past. In fact, I think it's time to put a new bag in as it's nearly 1/2 full. I cannot believe the dirt that was hiding in my carpet, floors, ceilings and everywhere. Troy told me he's never seen the carpets looking better than ever.

After each use, I clean the brush roll out...however I have two questions that need some answers to match:

1. The carpet I have always sheds a lot of fuzz. This has been an issue with my X's Dyson and my 10 year old Kenmore canister. I noticed there is a good bit of fuzz mixed with my Beagle's hair around the belt lifting finger (don't know what's that's called). I take my fingers in and pull as much as out. However, how can I get it all out. I'm very careful not to do any damage to both the belt and the knob as well as the brush roll. How can I full clean that?

2. Sometimes, and this is very very very rare, but when I pull Hellga back whether it is slow or medium speed, it jumps a little. It happens rarely, but I have the feeling I'm not doing something right. It's not transmission wise, because I can feel it at the front of the cleaner. Is my brush roll to far down? Am I doing something wrong.

Otherwise, I'm very very happy with my purchase and am looking for an older Kirby to restore too! I'll post pictures of Hellga when she's all buffed!

Matt
Spfld, IL.


Post# 32965 , Reply# 1   2/21/2008 at 22:27 (5,880 days old) by lux1521 ()        

Well, as a person with a little bit of Kirby experience, I can deal with question one for you. I suggest that you take the belt of the belt finger to clean the finger. That is the easiest way to do it. You can also slide the belt off the brush roll pully and even remove the baseplate to clean the brush roll. I would not worry about damaging the belt. If you ruin it (not likely), just replace it. It should be replaced from time to time anyway to maintain top performance.

Someone with G Series experience will have to deal with your second question.


Post# 32967 , Reply# 2   2/21/2008 at 23:05 (5,880 days old) by vintagehoover ()        
'I'm not mad at you, Helga, I'm mad at the dirt.

When you say 'jumps a little', what do you mean, exactly? I know from using my G4, G5 and Diamond Edition, if you don't have the height set low enough, the Kirby will let go of the carpet with a dramatic 'gasp' of air...the solution is to lower it one click.

Post# 32968 , Reply# 3   2/21/2008 at 23:21 (5,880 days old) by mattshaver ()        
Hella we love you...LOL.

Regarding the jumping:

Ok, I'll try to explain it best as I can. When pulling Hellga back, the front of her jumps up about two or three times. I thought I was pulling her back to fast (which I never have done for any vacuum) but then I slowed down and it still just jumping sometimes.

I had two thoughts why this might be happening:

1. I have the toe-touch control to far down. However, after watching the video it said to listen to the vacuum as you lower the head. I click down three times and hear the motor engaging then I click one more time. That's a total of 4 clicks. So I was curious if I'm "clicking" to much.

2. Is the brush roll to far adjusted down. I was reading where there are three settings and I'm thinking it might be adjusted to far down. I think it's on setting #2, but I'll have to look again to see what the exact setting is.

I'm open to any suggestions but I know it's not the Tech-drive, it's so very smooth and this jump is only happening at the front of Hellga. She's doing a great job!!

Thoughts?
Matt, Spfld, IL.




Post# 32970 , Reply# 4   2/21/2008 at 23:45 (5,880 days old) by vintagehoover ()        
Hmm...

You're doing the right thing - the rule is 'wait for the head to make contact, then down one more notch'.

The brush-roll only needs to be on setting 2 if it's worn. Try putting it on setting 1, and see if that solves the problem.

Does the jumping happen on all of your carpets, or just one in particular? It could be that if the carpet pile is medium or thick, but very trodden-down, the brushes are meeting a lot of resistance as they try and sweep the nap back up, causing it to buck slighly. Combined with the backwards motion, this might cause it to jump...

With this sort of thing, trial and error is the best method of solving the problem. I can't really think of anything else to suggest, it's hard to diagnose a cleaner with an unusual problem if you can't see it for yourself!


Post# 32973 , Reply# 5   2/22/2008 at 00:58 (5,880 days old) by mattshaver ()        
And the saga continues...Hellga patiently waits.

I have medium cut carpet that's about 3 years old. It's very thick and not worn down at all. I'm thinking since it has a brand-new brush roll and it's set to #2, I'm thinking I need to set it to the #1 position. Do I seem to be thinking in the right direction?

Thoughts
Matt :-)
Spfld, IL


Post# 32974 , Reply# 6   2/22/2008 at 01:05 (5,879 days old) by swingette ()        

this is a situation where a video would really help.

Post# 32975 , Reply# 7   2/22/2008 at 01:35 (5,879 days old) by mattshaver ()        
Oh no not VHS tapes...LOL.

I'll plug that tape in tomorrow and watch how they change the brush roll level. I'll set it from two to one and let you all know about that. Also, I'll clean out the fuzz by taking off the belt.

Looks like I've got some fun tomorrow...

Matt :-)
Spfld, IL.


Post# 32976 , Reply# 8   2/22/2008 at 02:53 (5,879 days old) by swingette ()        

lol, i meant video of the machine in use so we can see what this jumping is all about!

Post# 32983 , Reply# 9   2/22/2008 at 09:14 (5,879 days old) by kc_kirby (Kansas City, MO)        

I have a G6 too and have noticed the same Jumping you describe. A friend of mine suggested it possibly could be that the rear wheels could be worn out. The rear wheels do have tread on them and after time, need to be replaced as they get worn out. I haven't replaced mine yet as the jumping isn't that bad and it isn't all the time. Interestingly I noticed it more when the carpet in my house was new. So I'm thinking maybe it was a little more slippery when it was new than now after a few years of being down. It's just something to consider.

Post# 32984 , Reply# 10   2/22/2008 at 10:15 (5,879 days old) by mattshaver ()        
Hellga and her tires...

I checked Hellga's tires and the tread is a little worn and are smooth to the touch. I'm going to replace the wheels first. But I do need to clean that fuzz out of the belt finger.

I'm going to visit the Kirby store today and get a couple of wheels. I assume I can put them on myself, right??

Matt :-)
Spfld, IL


Post# 32989 , Reply# 11   2/22/2008 at 12:57 (5,879 days old) by kc_kirby (Kansas City, MO)        
Changing the tires...

Matt,

Yes, you can do it yourself. Just pry off the hubcap then take the circlip off the shaft and then remove the wheel.

Chad


Post# 33004 , Reply# 12   2/22/2008 at 17:25 (5,879 days old) by lux1521 ()        

This auction has some interesting info on hopping:

CLICK HERE TO GO TO lux1521's LINK on eBay


Post# 33011 , Reply# 13   2/22/2008 at 20:03 (5,879 days old) by mattshaver ()        

I went to our local Kirby store and took Hellga in to see what the technician thought. He looked at the wheels and said they were in excellent shape and there was no wear on the wheels. He looked at the brush roll and said it was brand new (which I knew too) but he asked me to describe my carpet and he told me the brush roll (which was selected on #2) should be brought down to one.

He said the brush roll was to far down and selection #1 should stop the jumping completely. He said if you have jumping (in the front) it's because the brush roll is to far extended.

I also guess Kirby units really keep their value. For instance, a G3 Kirby rebuilt from the factory they are selling for $350.00 with new, matching attachments. I didn't ask how much a G6 would fetch but I did get to see the new Sentria to which he showed me some of the features.

From what I could tell they changed the headlight and he told me they changed the handle a good bit. He said it was more ergonomic as opposed to the older style. No other changes really, other than the bag color.

Maybe I'll come across a used one on CL or eBay...like I need another Kirby. LOL.

Well I'm off to change the brush roll setting and I'll let you all know what happens tomorrow when i vacuum.

Matt
Spfld, IL.


Post# 33018 , Reply# 14   2/22/2008 at 21:32 (5,879 days old) by lux1521 ()        

Glad you found a solution.

About the value. I find that they depreciate at a incredible rate. I would not pay more than perhaps $125 for a used G3 with all attachments. On ebay a refurb G6 is worth about $350 if it's from a good seller.

Brands that do hold their values well are Electrolux (I can still sell a 1975 Super J for $225 on a good day), Miele (I don't think I'll be able to afford one anytime soon), and Dyson (just a fad I hope).

Take a peak at the G6 in the link:


CLICK HERE TO GO TO lux1521's LINK on eBay


Post# 33038 , Reply# 15   2/22/2008 at 22:44 (5,879 days old) by mattshaver ()        
Jumping is fun...sometimes.

Well here's what I did...

I took the brush roll out and took it to notch #1 and cleaned all the fuzz from the "belt finger" (What is the name of that thing?) and cleaned it all out. Assembled the power nozzle back together and took it into our bedroom. Here are the results:

With Tech-drive on, it will jump just a little and much less than it did before. No matter how slow I pull it back (and only back) will it jump a little.

With Tech-drive off, it never jumps.

But what I noticed is this:

If I change the direction of the vacuum over the same piece of carpet, it won't jump at all. It's only in one direction. I can tell you the carpet I have is three years old, very very thick and cut short (not as short as Berber ) but again so very thick!

I'm thinking that no matter how high or low the brush roll is, it's working against the nap of the carpet and will cause it to jump a little. The tech drive is helping it back and lightens the load a little. With the Tech-drive off, it's very heavy and does not jump.

Am I thinking this correctly?

Matt
Spfld, IL.


Post# 33073 , Reply# 16   2/23/2008 at 10:37 (5,878 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)        

countryguy's profile picture
I have a Kirby Ultimate G that jumps back but only on 1 section of carpet in the bedroom. In fact all of the power nozzles on my vacs do the same thing on the same spot. On the rest of the carpeting in the house it doesn't do it.

Gary


Post# 33074 , Reply# 17   2/23/2008 at 11:28 (5,878 days old) by thunderhexed (Edmond, OK)        
what I have noticed

thunderhexed's profile picture
I was sitting on my couch one day while my partner Micahel was using my Heritage I to vacuum the carpet at our old apartment we moved out of over the summer. While he was doing so, I noticed the front of the nozzle would bob up and down over certain areas no matter what setting it was on, come to find out, it was a result of cheap, uneven carpet padding underneath causing the problem..
We now live in a place that is all hardwood flooring but we have large area rugs in the bedroom and living room, all of my Kirbys now glide smoothly over the surface.


Post# 33085 , Reply# 18   2/23/2008 at 14:45 (5,878 days old) by mattshaver ()        
What? Cheap padding? LOLOL.

I've been insulted about a lot, but never my padding. ha hah ah ah...very funny.

You make a good point. But you know as I vacuuming this morning and it happened to me in two places. The first is right in front of my desk where I have a desk chair on rollers (this prompts me to purchase one of those chair mats) and the other place is at the top of my stairs (I live in a split level home) and those are the only two places.

Wonder if the padding has gone wonky due to traffic??

Well everything is kosher and Hellga, yet again, lived up to her usual vacuuming mistress this morning.

Matt :-)
Spfld, IL


Post# 36727 , Reply# 19   12/31/2069 at 18:00 (19,811 days old) by xraytech ()        

The problem could be vacumming against the wear pattern on your rug. I have A G6 2000 Edition that only jumps some on the berber carpet in 2 bedrooms the rest of the carpets in living room and other bedroom are thick plush carpet, it also jumps if I go agains the wear pattern on outdoor carpet on my front porch. It is the direction you vacuum not the cleaner, my Concept with power drive and my convertibles jump a little in the same places


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