Hi, I am restoring a Kirby 560 and I took the belt lifter apart so I could buff the metal part on my buffing machine. Well, now I can't figure out how to get the clip back in to hold the plastic piece in the lifter. I have done this in the past years ago and I can't remember if I ever successfully got the plastic piece to stay in or if I just found another lifter that was still together. Can that metal clip be reused or once its removed, you have to install a new one? This same design is used on the models up through the Dual 80.
I had trouble too putting the metal clip back on a D50 belt lifter cap, but got it on eventually. I reused the same clip, since it wasn't broken, however sometimes they can break when you remove them if they are rusted. You need a small tipped screw driver so you can push the tip of the curved piece on the metal clip underneath the little notch at the top of the inside of the belt lifter. There is a page in the service manual that I have which shows you how to put it back. If you want to see it send me a message with your email and I can send it to you.