Church's Kirby G3 Rebuilt

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(I'm posting this here although I guess the G3 is kind of "on the cusp" of being vintage.)

There was a grotty old Kirby G3 at my church sitting in a corner of the print/production room. I never saw it moved, never saw anyone using it in all the years I've been playing the organ there. It really was a mess and I hardly ever gave it more than a glance because I had no interest in it.

Well, a few weeks ago the Pastor sent me an email after I rebuilt the little old lady's 561 (the secretary ran some photos of it in the church newsletter!), asking me if I could "take a look" at the G3.

So I dragged it home -- DAMN, those beasts are heavy!!

Fortunately, it didn't need any major repairs, just about an hour of cutting and pulling carpet ravelings off of the brush roll. There was also a lot fine thread and stuff that looked like dog hair trapped around the ends of the brush roll, preventing it from spinning freely.

When I returned the machine, I suggested that the pastor please tell whoever uses it to be mindful of carpet strands, ravelings, string, thread, long hair, etc. I said it's pointless to try to sweep these kinds of materials into an upright vacuum: All that happens is that it wraps around the brush roll, clogging it up and preventing it from spinning freely, thus not cleaning efficiently. It also puts a strain the motor and can cause belts to break more quickly.

Also, when I took the bag jacket off, it looked like someone had at some point been using it without a disposable bag inside, or they didn't install the disposable bag correctly, or they tried to reuse a disposable bag by dumping it out and then putting it back in. The entire interior surface of the jacket was coated with a heavy coat of dust and dirt. There was a disposable bag inside which I threw out and replaced with a new one.

I also told the pastor that it's not good to EVER use the Kirby without a disposable bag, as doing so traps air flow, reducing suction and putting a strain on the motor. It should always be used with a paper bag -- and never try to reuse one, as the pores of a dirty bag are clogged with fine dirt which will impede air flow.

I also put in a new belt and gave the housing a quick going over, and wash and disinfected the bag jacket. The G3 didn't get the "spa treatment" that Miss Earlean's machine did ... it may not look brand new but runs like new!

I forgot to take any "before" photos but wish I had. This was one of the most tarnished Kirbys I've ever seen. The housing was so dull it looked like dark gray paint from a distance!

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 9 View Full Size


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Post# 286586 6/28/2014 at 22:26 (3,588 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes . . (I'm posting this here although I guess the G3 is kind of "on the cusp" of being vintage.) There was a grotty old Kirby G3 at my church sitting in a corner of the print/production room. I never saw it moved, never saw anyone using it in all the years I've been playing the organ there. It really was a mess and I hardly ever gave it more than a glance because I had no interest in it. Well, a few weeks ago the Pastor sent me an email after I rebuilt the little old lady's 561 (the secretary ran some photos of it in the church newsletter!), asking me if I could "take a look" at the G3. So I dragged it home -- DAMN, those beasts are heavy!! Fortunately, it didn't need any major repairs, just about an hour of cutting and pulling carpet ravelings off of the brush roll. There was also a lot fine thread and stuff that looked like dog hair trapped around the ends of the brush roll, preventing it from spinning freely. When I returned the machine, I suggested that the pastor please tell whoever uses it to be mindful of carpet strands, ravelings, string, thread, long hair, etc. I said it's pointless to try to sweep these kinds of materials into an upright vacuum: All that happens is that it wraps around the brush roll, clogging it up and preventing it from spinning freely, thus not cleaning efficiently. It also puts a strain the motor and can cause belts to break more quickly. Also, when I took the bag jacket off, it looked like someone had at some point been using it without a disposable bag inside, or they didn't install the disposable bag correctly, or they tried to reuse a disposable bag by dumping it out and then putting it back in. The entire interior surface of the jacket was coated with a heavy coat of dust and dirt. There was a disposable bag inside which I threw out and replaced with a new one. I also told the pastor that it's not good to EVER use the Kirby without a disposable bag, as doing so traps air flow, reducing suction and putting a strain on the motor. It should always be used with a paper bag -- and never try to reuse one, as the pores of a dirty bag are clogged with fine dirt which will impede air flow. I also put in a new belt and gave the housing a quick going over, and wash and disinfected the bag jacket. The G3 didn't get the "spa treatment" that Miss Earlean's machine did ... it may not look brand new but runs like new! I forgot to take any "before" photos but wish I had. This was one of the most tarnished Kirbys I've ever seen. The housing was so dull it looked like dark gray paint from a distance! Photos... < > Photo 1 of 9 View Full Size

Post# 286588 , Reply# 1 6/28/2014 at 23:08 (3,588 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes That's one of the reason I love the Kirby brand. They can be put through all kinds of abuse and with a little TLC be brought back to live! Great work!

Post# 286592 , Reply# 2 6/28/2014 at 23:40 (3,588 days old) by firebirdman55 (Owensboro Kentucky)
Checkrate/Likes Great post! Ironic that I just got a G3 for free yesterday. But its missing the rug nozzle so I can't use it

Post# 286671 , Reply# 3 6/29/2014 at 21:20 (3,587 days old) by sleepdoc (St. Louis, MO)
Checkrate/Likes 6 It's nice to see a Kirby brought back to life. They are such fantastic machines that so often don't get the care and maintenance that can keep them functional and beautiful for decades. I have a suggestion: Kirby makes a pet hair brush roll that's specifically supposed to reduce tangling. They might put one on their G3. It probably could use a new brush roll by now anyway.

Post# 286704 , Reply# 4 6/30/2014 at 12:21 (3,586 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes . . Thanks for the suggestion, but there aren't any pets roaming around in the church! And the brush roll was actually in very good condition. It looked hardly used, in fact. My guess is that it was a replacement, given the age and overall condition of the machine.

Post# 286710 , Reply# 5 6/30/2014 at 14:23 (3,586 days old) by sleepdoc (St. Louis, MO)
Checkrate/Likes *Pet brush roll* That brush roll has gaps between the tufts to prevent tangling. I think it might work on fibers other than pet hair. The brush that was on it looked pretty tangled.

Post# 286764 , Reply# 6 7/1/2014 at 03:35 (3,586 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes If there is that much carpet strands tangled in the brush---looks like NEW carpet is needed!Was that Kirby donated to the church by another church member after they got a new Kirby or other vacuum?

Post# 286783 , Reply# 7 7/1/2014 at 12:18 (3,585 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes . . I don't know the back-story on the Kirby. All I know is that it had sat in a corner of the print-production room for as long as I can remember. That particular room has carpeting in the color of the tangled mess on the brush roll so that's probably where it came from. Most likely, a small bit of the nap got snagged and then the Kirby just pulled and pulled and pulled until the strand broke. As to the stuff that looked like dog hair, who knows?!

Post# 286790 , Reply# 8 7/1/2014 at 13:16 (3,585 days old) by Gr8DaneDad ()
Checkrate/Likes Commercial loop carpeting and brush rolls are not a good mix. Most commercial carpet manufacturers specify suction only cleaning only. When I used to manage facilities for one of my former employers, line 1 of each new bid cycle was a requirement for them to submit photographs or mfg specifications for the equipment to be used, and before award of contract, an in person inspection and approval of said equipment. Fastest way to get eliminated was to show me a Sanitaire...

Post# 286817 , Reply# 10 7/1/2014 at 18:45 (3,585 days old) by Gr8DaneDad ()
Checkrate/Likes all depends on the carpet and how well it's made. But catch one loop and watch great big sections of it disappear if it isn't of higher quality and heat set. Loved the snark.

Post# 287233 , Reply# 11 7/4/2014 at 13:06 (3,582 days old) by portapower (BRUNSWICK)
Checkrate/Likes *Firebird,* I've seen G3 rug nozzles for sale on e-bay recently.

Post# 286814 , Reply# 9 7/1/2014 at 18:26 (3,585 days old) by ornery (Northeast Ohio)
Checkrate/Likes *My Poor Carpet!* I had no idea commercial loop carpeting was so fragile. One shop I worked at, had the same carpet in the offices, that I have in my kitchen. It was there for almost all the twenty years I worked there, vacuumed by Hoover or Eureka uprights. The shop I'm in now had the same carpet in its offices, vacuumed with a Royal 1030 for the ten years before I got there. Stains were the only issues I ever saw with those carpets. I've had the same carpet for 30 years in this house, vacuumed with Riccar, Sharpe and now Royal uprights. Is it going to start disintegrating soon? View Full Size