Thread Number: 27643  /  Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
Kirby Tradition found at Goodwill today
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Post# 309105   12/17/2014 at 21:39 (3,389 days old) by sonnyndad ()        

After years of searching, I FINALLY found decent Tradition! I had one 4 years ago, but it had some problems, so I parted it out and I don't regret it. I put that good armature in my Omega that I restored. This Tradition runs strong and it's very quiet - no bearing noise. As found, it had a (completely clogged up) paper bag setup, but I changed it to shakeout. Much more airflow. Tomorrow or this weekend, I will give it the spa treatment and give it a mild polishing. And the best part is, it only cost me $10.09.

Post# 309107 , Reply# 1   12/17/2014 at 21:50 (3,389 days old) by Firebirdman55 (Owensboro Kentucky)        
Beautiful Tradition!

firebirdman55's profile picture
They are such attractive machines. I actually own 4 Traditions. And like you, I too opted for the shake out bag versus the disposable setup. The bag kills the performance and I just love the look of the shakeout bag. Take care of her and she'll last forever...just like any Kirby! And congrats! Always exciting to find a "new" vintage machine!

Post# 309110 , Reply# 2   12/17/2014 at 22:08 (3,389 days old) by kirbybag (topeka ks )        
nice

kirbybag's profile picture
very nice kirby tradition

Post# 309117 , Reply# 3   12/18/2014 at 00:01 (3,389 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Nate (firebirdman55),

Of those four, which of them has the locking headlight cap and metal fan?

~Ben


Post# 309143 , Reply# 4   12/18/2014 at 10:08 (3,388 days old) by Firebirdman55 (Owensboro Kentucky)        
Locking headlight cap...

firebirdman55's profile picture
Ben,
Unfortunately, I don't own one of the early Traditions. I've befriended a guy locally who works for Kirby and I buy his trade-ins from him. Two of the Traditions are in great shape, the other two have issues. One has a broken handle spring assembly and one has bad bearings. I would love to find an early Tradition, but I highly doubt he will come up with a machine that rare for me.


Post# 309195 , Reply# 5   12/18/2014 at 16:42 (3,388 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Nate,

Those early examples also had the speed switch inside the headlight cap. That seemed to be misunderstood by many Kirby users.

~Ben


Post# 309198 , Reply# 6   12/18/2014 at 16:49 (3,388 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

sptyks's profile picture

Ben, do you have a closeup picture of that safety switch in the headlight cap?

I have never seen one before.

 


Post# 309201 , Reply# 7   12/18/2014 at 16:57 (3,388 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Stan,

I wish I could show you one but I do not have one. I will have to make a drawing of it.

~Ben


Post# 309211 , Reply# 8   12/18/2014 at 22:43 (3,388 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Stan,

Here you go: a picture of the early two-door speed switch from the early Tradition.

~Ben


  View Full Size
Post# 309212 , Reply# 9   12/18/2014 at 22:59 (3,388 days old) by sonnyndad ()        
The Tradition got

A mini spa treatment and a mild hand polishing. I'll be getting it a new fan and brushroll.

Post# 309247 , Reply# 10   12/19/2014 at 09:50 (3,387 days old) by jfalberti (Visalia, CA)        
Wow.

jfalberti's profile picture
Nice Tradition. It's hard to think of the Tradition as being a vintage machine because I sold that model new when I was with Kirby. It literally seems like yesterday. Where does the time go?

Post# 309307 , Reply# 11   12/19/2014 at 19:34 (3,387 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

sptyks's profile picture

Ben , thank you for that photo of the Tradition safety switch.

 

What do you suppose was Kirby's reasoning to move the safety switch up there? 


Post# 309312 , Reply# 12   12/19/2014 at 20:11 (3,387 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Stan,

They originally relocated the speed switch to the headlight cap so that when you use the Kirby to shampoo rugs (with the Rug Renovator), there wouldn't be any moisture on the speed switch.

Then, when the speed switch returned to its old location (on the fan case below the intake opening) in early 1980, Kirby initially put a blue rubber cover around it, again to keep moisture out of the switch when using the Rug Renovator. This didn't work well in the long run, either, as the plastic covering sometimes caused the speed switch arm to "jam" and remain locked downward in high speed mode (for hose use).

~Ben


Post# 309313 , Reply# 13   12/19/2014 at 20:26 (3,387 days old) by adambomb (Undisclosed )        

Very nice Tradition! I own 2 Traditions. One is brand new 1980 still in the box never used and the other is a 1979 Tradition that has the original metal fan and a fully functional headlight locking switch. It's quite amazing to see them side by side. Enjoy your Tradition and Merry Christmas!

Post# 309366 , Reply# 14   12/20/2014 at 10:13 (3,386 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

sptyks's profile picture

Thanks for that explanation Ben. It all makes sense to me now.


Post# 309426 , Reply# 15   12/21/2014 at 02:27 (3,386 days old) by vacuumdanny ()        
2 speed swtich

Wouldn't it be beneficial to lock the kirby into high speed mode for better cleaning with the brush roller mode? Also you were saying the disposable bag hurt performance a bit so wouldn't bumping it to high speed all the time make up for the restriction of the disposable bag? Doesn't any dust you clean up just blow right through the shakeout bags? Every time I fire up a vacuum with the shack out bags a big cloud of dust blows out of the bag!

Post# 309434 , Reply# 16   12/21/2014 at 04:39 (3,385 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO)        

beekeyknee's profile picture
Can't a Heritage paper bag set-up be installed in Traditions to fix that small bag tube with the reduced air flow problem? Somehow in the back of my mind I was thinking this was possible or am I imagining things?

Post# 309467 , Reply# 17   12/21/2014 at 11:06 (3,385 days old) by portapower (BRUNSWICK)        

I also have a Tradition with the locking headlight cap. Never knew what it was for.
Now I know. Thanks for the explanation.


Post# 309878 , Reply# 18   12/25/2014 at 17:33 (3,381 days old) by vacuumkid47 (Sibley, IA)        
Kirby Tradition

vacuumkid47's profile picture
Wow, what great Tradition! I own one, but the Bag is too hard to hook over the Sani-Emptor lip.......


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