Thread Number: 33854  /  Tag: Recent Vacuum Cleaners from past 20 years
Kirby G6 Skipping Finally Solved After 1 Year!
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Post# 367569   2/26/2017 at 19:25 (2,586 days old) by wyaple (Pickerington, OH)        

wyaple's profile picture
Hi All,

For about 1 year, I've had this G6 give me fits because it would constantly skip on carpet. A few days ago, I finally found the solution and it turned out to be very simple and inexpensive. The final solution was arrived at after attempting the following fixes:

1) Brand new transmission (actually two, because the skipping didn't stop after replacing the first one....or the second one)
2) New brush roller belt
3) Two different oblique brush rolls (one brand new, one slightly used)
4) Replacing both sets of front and rear wheels
5) Greasing previously said wheel axles
6) Adjusting the front/rear bias on the handle spring assembly
7) Adjusting front/rear speed via transmission hex head screws
8) Installed Kirby transmission upgrade kit (with black/grey gear and belt)

THEN I noticed that the skipping/hopping actually occurred when the nozzle was all the way up (not touching the carpet). Mmmm, I have a G4, G5 and Sentria II and none if those machines skip at all.

When I observed the machine jerking and bucking by simply pushing it around (again nozzle not on the carpet), it struck me that some mechanism must be able to damp the nozzle "push back" when transitioning from a stationary state to a moving state. The only two things that could possibly do that would be:

1) the centering spring, located under the slide assembly or
2) the roller bearing assembly

So I removed the centering spring altogether and obviously the Kirby "drove" pretty funny, but something told me the spring idea would lead me nowhere. Then I removed the pristine roller bearings and wondered how to keep them operating smoothly all the while "slowing them down" significantly.

In all the Kirby YouTube videos I have watched over the years, I have only seen vac shop owners and hobbyists use very light/thin clear oil on those bearings but I was at my limit and ready to try anything.

So I used the heaviest/thickest grease I have on hand...wheel bearing grease! And I slathered those bearings up. VIOLA! All skipping, juddering, nervousness, etc. while the nozzle was either properly adjusted to the carpet or all the way up was 100% eliminated!

Hoping this solution wasn't a fluke, I vacuumed over a thousand square feet of carpet over the next few days and I can say confidently that my issue is finally, completely gone. And because of the transmission upgrade, the typical early G series transmission whine is gone too.

I would love to know your thoughts and if someone actually has a service guide that can shed light on the correct grease to be applied to the roller bearings.

Bill



Post# 367570 , Reply# 1   2/26/2017 at 20:40 (2,586 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Bill,

Excellent problem solving!

I am not so sure if, when I finally wake up my 1991 Kirby G3, that it will need extensive attention regarding the Tech Drive, but I will let you know if I ever fix that and get it running in the future.

~Ben


Post# 367588 , Reply# 2   2/27/2017 at 10:48 (2,585 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

human's profile picture
Very interesting. I've not experienced that with either of my two Gsixes or my G5, which is mechanically identical to a Gsix. If any of my machines develops that issue, I hope I can remember that tip.

Post# 367595 , Reply# 3   2/27/2017 at 12:37 (2,585 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

sptyks's profile picture

Where in the machine are these bearings located? Under handle spring slide assy?

 

 


Post# 367626 , Reply# 4   2/27/2017 at 19:05 (2,585 days old) by wyaple (Pickerington, OH)        
Stan,

wyaple's profile picture
Look at part #14 for the location.

Bill



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