Kresge(KDS) Model 322 Handheld Vacuum

Some of you may have seen this on eBay, it was very very rough. It came in the mail today, and I was able to bring it back to fully functioning condition. I tested it as is, and amazingly, it worked and actually sounded decent. I did however need to replace the cracking rubber cord. This vac was definitely left outside as the bag was a couple scrap inches of "cloth" stuck to the clip and connector, and the front and screws were horribly corroded. The wire bag holder thing is amazingly still in good shape, but I have no idea how to make a bag for it so I put a spare Premier handheld vac bag on. It is the same color and matches well enough. The only other private label Kresge hand vac I have ever seen was the straight suction model in very nice condition, which got taken off eBay 12 days before the auction for this ended.

A few other things I intend to do are de-rust the outer screws, buff out the scratches from the 00 steel wool with 0000 steel wool, and maybe fix the brush roll clip. Part of it is broken, so to wedge the roller into the 3/4 of the clip I folded up a business card and jammed it in there. I don't want to drill out the rivets holding it in so I am putting it off for now. Works well for now though.

The original roller works, but the bristles are worn so later I will swap it out with the one from my GE. There is currently a folded yellow rubber band powering the roller, I would like to replace it with a proper belt, what style fits these hand vacs?

Does anyone else out there have one of these? I cannot find another with this head and badge style, it is almost a cross between KirbyCollector's older model and newer model. Also, the handle is the shape of the larger model 97's handle, compared to the smaller, more bulbous handle every other Premier Pic Up style vac has. The bottom plate was swapped out with a spare, as there was rust going through the plating on the old one.

Here is the sold listing, so y'all can see exactly how I got it: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114796573034QUE...

One of the rating plate holders is a cut to fit nail gun nail, the original nail thingy broke off when I was removing it. Both need to be removed in order to take the stator out.

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 8 View Full Size


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Post# 441908 5/17/2021 at 17:14 (1,075 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Some of you may have seen this on eBay, it was very very rough. It came in the mail today, and I was able to bring it back to fully functioning condition. I tested it as is, and amazingly, it worked and actually sounded decent. I did however need to replace the cracking rubber cord. This vac was definitely left outside as the bag was a couple scrap inches of "cloth" stuck to the clip and connector, and the front and screws were horribly corroded. The wire bag holder thing is amazingly still in good shape, but I have no idea how to make a bag for it so I put a spare Premier handheld vac bag on. It is the same color and matches well enough. The only other private label Kresge hand vac I have ever seen was the straight suction model in very nice condition, which got taken off eBay 12 days before the auction for this ended. A few other things I intend to do are de-rust the outer screws, buff out the scratches from the 00 steel wool with 0000 steel wool, and maybe fix the brush roll clip. Part of it is broken, so to wedge the roller into the 3/4 of the clip I folded up a business card and jammed it in there. I don't want to drill out the rivets holding it in so I am putting it off for now. Works well for now though. The original roller works, but the bristles are worn so later I will swap it out with the one from my GE. There is currently a folded yellow rubber band powering the roller, I would like to replace it with a proper belt, what style fits these hand vacs? Does anyone else out there have one of these? I cannot find another with this head and badge style, it is almost a cross between KirbyCollector's older model and newer model. Also, the handle is the shape of the larger model 97's handle, compared to the smaller, more bulbous handle every other Premier Pic Up style vac has. The bottom plate was swapped out with a spare, as there was rust going through the plating on the old one. Here is the sold listing, so y'all can see exactly how I got it: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114796573034QUE... One of the rating plate holders is a cut to fit nail gun nail, the original nail thingy broke off when I was removing it. Both need to be removed in order to take the stator out. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 8 View Full Size

Post# 441910 , Reply# 1 5/17/2021 at 17:20 (1,075 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)
Checkrate/Likes Forgot to mention, both motor bearings and brush roll bearings were greased and the commutator was polished. If anyone is having trouble with re-assembling the motor bearings in a GE/Premier/Kresge/AMC hand vac, let me know, I will provide pics on how they both go together. I've rebuilt several and had trouble each time.

Post# 441915 , Reply# 2 5/17/2021 at 19:55 (1,074 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)
Checkrate/Likes *Bag* If you make your own the bag collar if you use an F&G bag holder that's pretty close to being really tight. Sew or have seen make a bag. Just go to a seamstress show her the spin n span premier bag say can you duplicate this.