Thread Number: 36797  /  Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
My 1st Tech Drive Kirby!
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Post# 393688   6/22/2018 at 08:39 (2,105 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Hi everybody, yes I got another vacuum again yesterday at the Salvation Army, I’m actually glad I got this one because I’ve always wanted a Kirby Generation vacuum before I started collecting. This one is a Generation 3, the one that changed Kirby vacuums forever by adding self propelled for easy pushing. As you can see it really needs some TLC, a good wipe up and polishing. So I’ll have to do my best cleaning up the G3, so check out the pics and I’ll try to post more pictures of it when I have it polished up and clean.

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Post# 393689 , Reply# 1   6/22/2018 at 08:40 (2,105 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Service sticker, power switch and tech drive, bag.

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Post# 393690 , Reply# 2   6/22/2018 at 08:42 (2,105 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Everything’s in good shape still but I like to know how to get rid of the rust spots.

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Post# 393691 , Reply# 3   6/22/2018 at 08:43 (2,105 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Serial number on the side, made either around 1990-93.

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Post# 393692 , Reply# 4   6/22/2018 at 08:44 (2,105 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Does anyone know how to remove the outer bag to wash it up?

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Post# 393696 , Reply# 5   6/22/2018 at 09:58 (2,105 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)        

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I know how to remove that bag. You take a flat blade screwdriver and pop that band off. Then you pry the rubber bit off of the Mini Em-Tor.

Post# 393698 , Reply# 6   6/22/2018 at 10:58 (2,105 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Crazykirbydude, Thanks I’ll do my best.

Post# 393701 , Reply# 7   6/22/2018 at 12:09 (2,105 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

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Gj3476,

 

It looks like that G3 still has the original gray Lexan fan in it. Those fans are notorious for cracking and flying apart while the machine is in use. This could do serious damage to the fancase. You should replace that fan with a new white Amodel fan AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

 

There are videos on Youtube showing you how to remove that outer bag, how to clean and polish and how to to replace the fan. Replacing the fan is easy. You only need a Philips screwdriver and a pair of Channel lock pliers.

 

 


Post# 393703 , Reply# 8   6/22/2018 at 13:29 (2,105 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)        

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January 1991 on your G3. Sandpaper will remove the rust on the motor shaft, but it's not detrimental to the performance of the vacuum or the belt. It might even file itself down from the belt traveling over it as you use it. People on here say #0000 fine steel wool can get the discolored tarnish spots out of the metal when polishing.

On the handle, the screws might be loose or the fork is bent.


Post# 394055 , Reply# 9   6/29/2018 at 20:58 (2,098 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Huskyvacs, is there a way to fix the handle lock because it doesn’t want to stay locked up.

Post# 394056 , Reply# 10   6/29/2018 at 21:04 (2,098 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Well here is the G3 after polishing the chrome and wiped up the plastic parts as well. I hand washed the outer bag with free and clear detergent and Borax along warm water and rinsed. Set it out the balcony to air dry and the next morning it was dried up already.

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Post# 394058 , Reply# 11   6/29/2018 at 21:51 (2,098 days old) by vac-o-matic (Saint Louis, Mo.)        

Good job, she looks great!

Post# 394060 , Reply# 12   6/29/2018 at 21:58 (2,098 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Thank u vac o matic, there are a couple of spots I need to polish off and everything’s almost good to go!

Post# 399554 , Reply# 13   10/14/2018 at 21:24 (1,991 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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So it’s been months since I own this G3 and I got the pivot spring replaced at Hook’s vac shop and it needs more polishing again and I want to get the black spots off and clean the inside of the rug nozzle. Anybody know a special way to clean the inside of the nozzle? Steel wool pads should still get rid of the black spots right? Thanks!

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Post# 399643 , Reply# 14   10/16/2018 at 18:02 (1,989 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

Nice find and nice work! I have cleaned the insides of the nozzles with small brass wire brushes - cleaned well and did nor scratch much. Wet Scotchbrite works well too.
Let me know how a newcomer likes the tech-drive. I just bought my first tech-driver a couple weeks back at Goodwill, a Gsix 2000 special edition. I never planned on it but it looked cool and was in pretty good shape overall. I was going to give it a quick resto like you did to yours... However, pieces kept coming off when I was cleaning it and now it is down to a semi-carcass, which tells me I will be going 'all the way' with it... Resto thread is in the contempo section to be updated as I slowly move along.


Post# 399645 , Reply# 15   10/16/2018 at 18:56 (1,989 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Gj3476

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Gabriel,

I also had a G3 before, but the handle lock pivot as well as the zipper on the bag gave me too much grief (both problem areas involved rust from improper storage) to consider restoring it at a reasonable cost, so I sold it.

Its date code said it was built April 1991.

~Ben


Post# 399762 , Reply# 16   10/19/2018 at 14:46 (1,986 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Well I got a brand new kevlar fan and I’m having a little hard time trying to get the old fan out, any other ideas? Thanks!

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Post# 399770 , Reply# 17   10/19/2018 at 17:31 (1,986 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

Put a thin screwdriver, awl, or ice pick in the shaft hole. Hold the fan with one hand and give the tool in the hole a sharp whack or two or more with a small hammer to break the shaft free. Remember to turn the shaft clockwise as this shaft has reversed threads. I just took mine off this way yesterday.
If stubborn, you can use a 9mm wrench on the rear motor shaft to hold it still while you turn the shaft.


Post# 399778 , Reply# 18   10/19/2018 at 21:06 (1,986 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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TexasKirbyGuy, the gears on the back would that be the rear motor shaft? This my first time placing a new fan on a G series vacuum.

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Post# 399801 , Reply# 19   10/20/2018 at 05:05 (1,985 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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TexasKirbyGuy, I also put my hand on the fan and the hammer technique and didn’t work.

Post# 399802 , Reply# 20   10/20/2018 at 07:57 (1,985 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

You would not take the back gear off. You would hold the shaft between the commutator and the motor frame with the 9mm wrench.

Start at 6:30 in this video. However still use the thin tool in the hole of the shaft. Pliers can damage the shaft.




Or 14:15 of this video:




I watched both of these before tearing mine down so I knew what to expect. Pretty easy machines to work with so far.
Let me know if you still have any problems.


Post# 399806 , Reply# 21   10/20/2018 at 09:10 (1,985 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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TexasKirbyGuy, great news for everybody as well I got the old fan off with a big pair of pliers along with a pin shaped screwdriver and installed the new fan!! 😁

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Post# 399871 , Reply# 22   10/21/2018 at 22:00 (1,984 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Hey

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If you can get part of vacuum off maybe change carbon brushes. If you look on ebay or Amazon they have led lights. My first g series was a g4. The e carbon on brushes were bad. It would give you piece of mind. I dont have any videos but you had vacuum tore down in a picture. If your that far surprisingly easy to change.
The g3 i had bag had spaghetti on it. The vacuum had permanent marker. It had rust in nozzles also. The bag i soaked for a half day washed in washer. It came out nice. The marker i used isopropyl alcohol it came right off. The rust marks i used clr and a copper sos brillo pad. I tgen used steel wool and blemishes came off. The deep cuts on nozzle by bpi sensor you have to sand. Where bli sensor is either take off while sanding. They polish up nicely. Good job so far.
Les


Post# 399881 , Reply# 23   10/22/2018 at 01:13 (1,984 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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Lesinutah, SPAGHETTI?! PERMANENT MARKER?! ON THE G3?! Those people are trashy animals!!!!! It sounds great you gave that G3 some major TLC!

Post# 399917 , Reply# 24   10/22/2018 at 21:02 (1,983 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Hey

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Yes I did. I gave it to an employee who didn't have a vacuum. It wasn't too bad. I was surprised how the clr worked. I wash every bag and this one came out really nice. She was so happy to have it. I bought hose and attachments.
It came out great. You would think it would be hard. Marker came off easy. Sos pad made short work of stains. It came out good. It had a green cord i didnt know was original. I got ultimate g cord. It matched vacuum better.
Les



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