Thread Number: 37563
/ Tag: Recent Vacuum Cleaners from past 20 years
how are Kirby bearings grease packed |
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Post# 400646 , Reply# 1   11/10/2018 at 23:09 (1,987 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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Post# 400647 , Reply# 2   11/10/2018 at 23:21 (1,987 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)   |   | |
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That little roller bearing in the case is pressed in. You could press it out and back in... but there's literally no point in doing that unless you're going to replace it. Plus you risk damaging it, unless you actually have a press and proper tools.
Even so, you won't be able to pack it any more effectively whether it's out of the case or in. To pack them, just get a bunch of grease, fill the bearing with it, seal one side of it with a finger, and with another finger, mush the grease into the bearing. After that, use a pen or something else that's clean, and use it to rub the grease into the rollers. It's not a perfect method, but it will do the job. For the other open cage ball bearings, just use your fingers to mush as much grease into the balls as possible, occasionally rotating the inner race of the bearing so that the balls roll into the grease. I'm imagining that the rest of the inside of the gearbox should be liberally greased, but I don't know what it looked like when you first opened it. |
Post# 400678 , Reply# 4   11/11/2018 at 21:23 (1,986 days old) by vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell )   |   | |
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Post# 400685 , Reply# 5   11/11/2018 at 22:54 (1,986 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)   |   | |
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I mean... they literally disassembled the transmission, cleaned it, and neatly organized all of its component parts. This doesn't look like a person who's gonna take 'just replace the whole unit' for an answer. Just saying.
Also, just to add to texaskirbyguy's input, the *motor* bearings are what's called a 'sealed' ball bearing. As in, the sides of the bearing are closed with plastic or metal to stop the grease from getting out, and dirt from getting in. They are considered a 'lifetime part,' or 'lifetime lubricated.' Or in other words, by the time they need to be re-lubricted, they're probably worn out to the point of needing to be entirely replaced. So yeah, don't bother attempting to grease those. Just replace, if needed. The ball bearings in the transmission (that I can tell from the pic, anyway) appear to be 'open cage' bearings, as in, the sides are open and you can see the bearing balls (and the 'cage' that holds them). If they seem to be in good condition, grease 'em. |
Post# 400692 , Reply# 6   11/11/2018 at 23:35 (1,986 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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Post# 400698 , Reply# 7   11/12/2018 at 02:37 (1,986 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)   |   | |
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Post# 400797 , Reply# 8   11/13/2018 at 21:20 (1,984 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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Post# 400800 , Reply# 9   11/13/2018 at 23:16 (1,984 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)   |   | |
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Post# 400803 , Reply# 10   11/14/2018 at 00:33 (1,984 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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Just FYI, Kirby only tells you to replace the entire transmission for liability reasons because they don't want to train employees on how to fix those and have someone screw it up and then Kirby would be held responsible for it. Also so they can make lots of $$$$$$ on those transmission units. It doesn't mean they can't be taken apart and have parts replaced individually.
If he has the skill to take it apart and reassemble it, then he's clearly a pro and knows a fair bit about mechanics and how they work! Sears told me I had to spend $300 on a new computer unit for my washing machine just because it was acting up. I took it out myself and sprayed the whole thing down with circuit board cleaner and polished all the individual contacts. I put it back in, and it's worked for the past 7 months now trouble-free. I guess it was just soap scum buildup. Companies absolutely hate DIY repairmen as it makes them lose money on service calls and labor, so if they can do anything to tell you "you have to replace the entire thing - its not serviceable" they will. I don't know if this will help, but this is a video that I found awhile ago that I had saved to study and watch for when I have to do this task. |
Post# 407197 , Reply# 12   3/25/2019 at 22:59 (1,852 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs)   |   | |
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Post# 407228 , Reply# 13   3/26/2019 at 20:06 (1,851 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)   |   | |
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I would like to know how this rebuild went, also. The tranny (clutches most likely) in my goodwill G6 is providing very little assist in D or R and nothing else is wrong with the machine. When I get time I will tear it down like over here. |
Post# 407231 , Reply# 14   3/26/2019 at 21:14 (1,851 days old) by broomvac (N/A)   |   | |
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I know I sound like a broken record, but I use Mobil 1 Polyrex EM grease in all vacuum cleaner rolling element bearings. For those who aren't familiar, this includes not only ball bearings, but also "needle" bearings like the one you are asking about or the one on the belt-side of a Hoover Concept motor.
Mobil 1 Polyrex EM is specially designed for high speed applications. "EM" even stands for electric motor! :) If you've ever seen blue grease in in a brand new vacuum bearing, chances are it's Polyrex EM. A note about those clutches: It's clear to me that Kirby clutches are of the "dry" variety. The transmission casing has all kinds of holes in it so there is no way that anyone could convince a lubricant to stick around for very long inside there. It seems only the bearings get grease. |