Thread Number: 37760
/ Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
New Member, new Kirby Generation 3 owner |
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Post# 402611 , Reply# 1   12/14/2018 at 23:29 (1,959 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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As you can tell from my avatar photo, I really like Kirbys. That and Electrolux are my two favorite brands. I especially like Kirbys because they're designed to be serviced and rebuilt. Using them isn't that different from other machines although I still haven't gotten terribly good at taking the nozzle off and putting it back. It always takes me a couple of tries, so I usually just pull out an Electrolux canister for hose-oriented tasks. But as an upright, the thing is an absolute beast. I'm pretty sure any bags that fit the G4 through Ultimate G will fit the G3. I've used bags labeled Kirby G3 in my G6 before.
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Post# 402617 , Reply# 2   12/15/2018 at 02:11 (1,959 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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Welcome to the site! Another 1992'er too! I grew up with both Electrolux canisters, Eurekas, and a Kirby Ultimate G throughout my life, so it's no wonder I became a collector having played with so much variety at a young age.
I think you will love your Kirby, I love mine! Big fan of them (but not their sales methods). Since I became a collector in fall 2017 I made it a point to add more Kirbys to my garage. They are the "only vacuum you ever need" types of vacuums, but sadly people abuse them and ruin them like they are some bagless vac and they get tossed short in their life. |
Post# 402621 , Reply# 3   12/15/2018 at 08:28 (1,958 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 402624 , Reply# 4   12/15/2018 at 08:45 (1,958 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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I bought my G3 brand new in 1991. My collection at home consists of virtually all high-end cleaners (no dirt devils or things like that). I like the really good ones like Filter Queen, Rainbow, Electrolux, Kirby, Miele, Simplicity, etc. As you can see, my G3 is still in excellent shape.
When you rebuild your G3, add the centering spring to the pivot slider. It brings the pivot slide back to center so the machines doesn't run over your foot. Upgrade to the beige suction fan (pretty much unbreakable), and use the HEPA bags in your cleaner (get them from ebay or amazon). Adjust your brush roller so the bristles penetrate about 1/8 inch past the soleplate guard. Use a treaded belt. You can wash your cloth outer bag on delicate cycle (use lots of fabric softener in the rinse so it smells great). I had a chance to see the new A2 model Kirby a few weeks ago. The saleslady talked and talked about all the unimportant improvements they've made to the Kirby over the past 27 years since I bought mine. One thing she didn't mention was the lifetime rebuild warranty. For $199 I can send my G3 back to Kirby and have it rebuilt as many times as I want as long as I'm alive. The factory rebuild service is available to any original Kirby owner for their entire life. You should never have to buy a new Kirby ever - as they will do all the updates during the rebuild at the Factory in Cleveland. Since she was unwilling to sell me a new Avalir 2 for $199 (the cost of rebuilding mine), I declined her low-ball offer of $550 for the new Avalir 2 with my G3 as a trade-in. She started the pricing at $2000. Say "no" and the price falls.
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Post# 402654 , Reply# 6   12/15/2018 at 19:17 (1,958 days old) by hmc1981 (St. Augustine, Florida)   |   | |
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Focusing on restoration, the Mothers works very well, but you sometimes need extra elbow grease and sometimes a wheel buffer. 0000 steel wool can be super helpful as well. Once you post some pictures, it’ll be easier to see what you are dealing with. Again, welcome! Email me if you have any questions: trajemoi25@aol.com
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Post# 402763 , Reply# 8   12/17/2018 at 17:41 (1,956 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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Post# 402776 , Reply# 9   12/17/2018 at 20:03 (1,956 days old) by Ah2692 ( USA)   |   | |
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I sure hope that I am able to save it and make it look new again :/ the bag just came out of the wash on a gentle cycle and the logo partially faded away. Double:/ I have no idea what the best way to get the mold off is |
Post# 402849 , Reply# 14   12/19/2018 at 15:23 (1,954 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa)   |   | |
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Post# 402850 , Reply# 15   12/19/2018 at 18:00 (1,954 days old) by Ah2692 ( USA)   |   | |
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She lives!!! This little thing got a bath today and got cleaned up real well. I haven't polished yet but will be doing so soon. |
Post# 402855 , Reply# 16   12/19/2018 at 20:49 (1,954 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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The G3 is cleaning up nicely. Another suggestion for the aluminum body is Barkeeper's Friend. It's a minimally abrasive scouring powder (much more gentle than Comet or Ajax) that will take the oxidation right off. I have a G5 that looked like it was made out of lead and Barkeeper's Friend, followed up with Mother's gave it a nice satin sheen. It wasn't exactly the original mirrorlike finish, but it was definitely good for a couple of hours' work.
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Post# 402949 , Reply# 18   12/22/2018 at 12:16 (1,951 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Yes, the Tech Drive is amazing in how it makes that behemoth move like it weighs nothing. I actually used the machine's bulk to my advantage at a thrift store one time when I saw a nice G6 with all its accessories but couldn't immediately decide whether to spend the $50 for it. Just for pure bedevilment, I parked it with the Tech Drive pedal in the 'D' position, which of course made it next to impossible to move. I came back a couple of hours later to find a couple looking at it. The wife experimentally pushed it back and forth and said to her husband, "I can't use this thing; it's way too heavy!" and they moved off to examine some plasticrap Dirt Devils. Without giving them a chance to reconsider, I swooped in, clicked the pedal to 'N' and headed for the checkout. On my way there, an employee who had been watching the couple and me grinned and said "You knew exactly what you wanted, didn't you?" I just grinned and nodded. Like my earlier G6 dumpster rescue, the machine just needed a bag and a belt and was good to go.
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