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Thread Number: 5279
Kirby G3 Restoration |
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| Post# 58842 1/22/2009 at 13:02 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
I have a friend at work who I am restoring her 1990 Kirby G3 for free. She is just paying for the parts. A 55" front heavy TV fell over on top of the Kirby, smashing the handle right in half. I'll take after pictures of the restoration once it's complete. Note the transmission has a cogged belt that snapped, which is why it no longer works. I don't think you can buy the internal belt, so I just ordered a used transmission from ebay for $12. I will be replacing the handle assembly, new bag fill tube, new brushroll, new fan, new transmission, new lightbulb, new hubcap for rear wheel, and polishing to restore shine. Parts total will be around $112.
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| Post# 58843 , Reply# 1 1/22/2009 at 13:05 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58844 , Reply# 2 1/22/2009 at 13:05 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58845 , Reply# 3 1/22/2009 at 13:06 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58846 , Reply# 4 1/22/2009 at 13:07 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58847 , Reply# 5 1/22/2009 at 13:08 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58848 , Reply# 6 1/22/2009 at 13:09 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58849 , Reply# 7 1/22/2009 at 13:11 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58850 , Reply# 8 1/22/2009 at 13:11 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58851 , Reply# 9 1/22/2009 at 13:12 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58852 , Reply# 10 1/22/2009 at 13:12 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58853 , Reply# 11 1/22/2009 at 13:15 (5,566 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 58854 , Reply# 12 1/22/2009 at 13:16 (5,566 days old) by vintagehoover () | ||
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Wow! Snapped right in half like a breadstick! I see Max is keeping an eye on things ;p | ||
| Post# 58876 , Reply# 14 1/22/2009 at 19:03 (5,565 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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Transmission
I tore the transmission apart because it was a good reason to. Since I am replacing it, I was curious to know how it worked inside, otherwise I would not have done it. And believe it or not, it's not hard to put back together. I already reassembled the transmission. If I had not already purchased a replacement transmission, and knew where to get the internal cogged belt quickly, I could restore the original transmission.
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| Post# 58877 , Reply# 15 1/22/2009 at 19:40 (5,565 days old) by kirbyotronic () | ||
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Where to get geared transmission belts... They're easily available on eBay. Good luck with the restoration! CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbyotronic's LINK on eBay | ||
| Post# 58891 , Reply# 16 1/22/2009 at 20:24 (5,565 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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2 different belts
There is a second wider, bigger geared belt inside the transmission casing that I would need in this case. When I took out the 3 screws and pulled the transmission casing open, the geared belt inside was laying of course it had broken. The geared belt between the transmission and motor, that is exposed, is fine.
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| Post# 58892 , Reply# 17 1/22/2009 at 20:58 (5,565 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada) | ||
Always a surprising nugget to be panned on this site.
Brave work Andrew, cracking a Kirby Transmission. Alex, What a terrific resource that link turns out to be. Yes, I know he's located more than halfway across the continent but the prices for parts and international shipping seem reasonable to me. The G5 I got a while back has a makeshift headlight lens cut from a flat sheet of clear plastic and the lower cord hook has been broken and sawn off the back plate...this fellow Kent at Vacuum Needs has both these individual parts as well as all kindsa colors of cords and hubcaps and oh my... Dave 
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| Post# 58941 , Reply# 18 1/24/2009 at 09:42 (5,564 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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Polishing
I bought an 8" Bench Polisher last night, been wanting to get one anyway. This was the result of 45 minutes of work. It was not too messy, but when I took my shower the water from my hair was grey. Feel sorry for the guys who have to do this for a living at Kirby! Anyway, here is the results after the first polishing. I plan to do another with a finishing compound. And yes, I'm sure you are all wondering, I only about tore my arm off once using the machine. Scary.
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| Post# 59035 , Reply# 20 1/25/2009 at 12:38 (5,563 days old) by kirbyotronic () | ||
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Wow! I had to put on sunglasses just to see it! Looks great. ~Alex | ||
| Post# 59037 , Reply# 21 1/25/2009 at 12:41 (5,563 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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Thanks! | ||
| Post# 59374 , Reply# 23 1/28/2009 at 12:41 (5,560 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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Internal Belt | ||
| Post# 59671 , Reply# 24 1/31/2009 at 21:24 (5,556 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59674 , Reply# 25 1/31/2009 at 22:35 (5,556 days old) by luxg () | ||
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Andrew you have done a great job on the G3, it looks like brand new. | ||
| Post# 59679 , Reply# 26 2/1/2009 at 07:57 (5,556 days old) by vintagehoover () | ||
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Hey! Looking great! Andrew, when you're done, can you give me a make-over, please? ;P | ||
| Post# 59764 , Reply# 27 2/2/2009 at 20:10 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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Final Pics
I finished the G3 today after work. Overall, it turned out very nice! I am sure Barb will be very surprised how much better it looks. The transmission I got for it works perfectly. It's actually easier to push than my G7 Diamond Edition, probably because the handle does not have the self centering spring in it. The lightbulb on the G3 is so much brighter than on the G7 also! Hope you guys enjoy the pics. The G3 will be going back to it's owner tomorrow. Total of all parts was $100, and it's ready for another 20 years!
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| Post# 59765 , Reply# 28 2/2/2009 at 20:11 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59766 , Reply# 29 2/2/2009 at 20:13 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59767 , Reply# 30 2/2/2009 at 20:14 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59768 , Reply# 31 2/2/2009 at 20:14 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59769 , Reply# 32 2/2/2009 at 20:15 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59770 , Reply# 33 2/2/2009 at 20:16 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59771 , Reply# 34 2/2/2009 at 20:18 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59772 , Reply# 35 2/2/2009 at 20:19 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59773 , Reply# 36 2/2/2009 at 20:21 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59774 , Reply# 37 2/2/2009 at 20:22 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59775 , Reply# 38 2/2/2009 at 20:24 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59776 , Reply# 39 2/2/2009 at 20:25 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59777 , Reply# 40 2/2/2009 at 20:26 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59778 , Reply# 41 2/2/2009 at 20:26 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59779 , Reply# 42 2/2/2009 at 20:28 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59780 , Reply# 43 2/2/2009 at 20:29 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59781 , Reply# 44 2/2/2009 at 20:30 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59782 , Reply# 45 2/2/2009 at 20:30 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59783 , Reply# 46 2/2/2009 at 20:31 (5,554 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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| Post# 59793 , Reply# 47 2/2/2009 at 23:08 (5,554 days old) by electroluxkirby () | ||
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Wow, what a remarkable job, it looks brand new. Can I send you my Legend II, she needs a good makeover. | ||
| Post# 59795 , Reply# 48 2/3/2009 at 00:46 (5,554 days old) by bimmer740 (Long Island, New York) | ||
Keeping the shine  | ||
| Post# 59813 , Reply# 49 2/3/2009 at 12:22 (5,554 days old) by kirbysthebest (Midwest) | ||
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Very Nice Job Now tell the owner not to use it like it were a swamp buggy. Does anyone else wonder why people treat their machines so badly? I mean really, if you had a Rolls would you go mudding in it. If you want to clean a wet basement, then use a shop vac. | ||
| Post# 59834 , Reply# 50 2/3/2009 at 21:34 (5,553 days old) by kirbyvacuum (Long Island New York) | ||
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G3 Hi Andrew What a wonderful JOB. Nothing like a g series to clean the rugs. I have a G3,4,5,6 Wonderful vacuum. Doug | ||
| Post# 59858 , Reply# 51 2/4/2009 at 00:41 (5,553 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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Thanks | ||
Post# 59860 , Reply# 52 2/4/2009 at 03:52 (5,553 days old) by chestermikeuk  (Rainhill (Birthplace of the Railway),England, UK.) |
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Re-build
Great restore there Andrew, all shiny & ship shape, make sure your friend tells all her work mates n friends!!! could have a nice little side line there and one you enjoy doing as well!!! What is it with those schnauzers always getting in on the act...LOl, thats until you switch the beasts on!!! Question: "Why shouldnt you take a Kirby transmission apart"??? | ||
| Post# 60333 , Reply# 53 2/12/2009 at 02:14 (5,545 days old) by kirbyman89 () | ||
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WOW!! That looks MAN-tastic!!! HAHA All you need to do now is replace the bumper on the rug nozzle and it really would look like a NIB Generation 3. I have a Diamond Edition and LOVE IT!! | ||
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Post# 61844 , Reply# 54 3/6/2009 at 22:03 (5,522 days old) by a007kirbyman (--->> Originally My Mom <<--- (now Wisconsin)) |
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Belt inside tranny...
The belt inside the tranny, (...& not the one down on Bourbon Street), is not even a part available for sale thru Kirby . It is only provided for the initial production of the transmissions. They are not even a serviceable item thru a Factory Authorized service center. One of the very few items not available to be serviced. It is amazing to see the insides of one though. (At least I was intrigued (LOL) with the design when I saw it years ago.) Sometimes I am easily amazed though. Have a Gr8 wknd allllllll !!! Bill | ||
| Post# 362875 , Reply# 55 11/28/2016 at 23:20 (2,698 days old) by brycerivers (Atlanta,GA,30273,United States) | ||
Absolutely Beautiful | ||
| Post# 362889 , Reply# 56 11/29/2016 at 11:29 (2,698 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina) | ||
A thread worth reviving | ||
| Post# 362894 , Reply# 57 11/29/2016 at 14:13 (2,697 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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Post# 404691 , Reply# 58 1/27/2019 at 10:41 (1,909 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA) |
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My 509 & D80. | ||
| Post# 404737 , Reply# 60 1/28/2019 at 08:19 (1,908 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY) | ||
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| Post# 404749 , Reply# 61 1/28/2019 at 14:42 (1,907 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina) | ||
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Has it really been that long...
...since TV sets were monstrously heavy?
Look at the date of when this thread originated. It's a decade old. Back in January 2009, when the OP took that G3 in to repair it, analog TV signals were still being broadcast—although they'd be gone within a year—and newfangled flat screen sets were hard to find with price tags much below $1,000. Many people, including myself, were still using older TV sets with CRT (cathode ray tube) screens; in fact, they had only just stopped selling them in stores. Just about any CRT set with a screen size larger than about 20 inches required two people to carry it safely. Those sets were also very front heavy as the glass screens were about an inch thick and there was nothing in the back to act as a counterweight. Drop one of those suckers on a Kirby and you'd be lucky if all that got broken was the handle. Drop it on a modern plasticrap vac and you'd need a Kirby to sweep up what little was left. | ||
| Post# 404751 , Reply# 62 1/28/2019 at 15:35 (1,907 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY) | ||
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| Post# 405800 , Reply# 63 2/22/2019 at 10:49 (1,883 days old) by vacfanatic (Omaha, NE) | ||
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I haven't been on here for ages and was surprised to see my old thread dug up.
The internal clogged belt inside the tech drive had snapped, and they are not replaceable, Kirby does not sell them as a spare part, so I had to source a used transmission. I took the old one apart to see how it worked :) I don't know what brand TV it was, but it was a very early model rear projection I think and it was in a wood enclosure, it definitely weighed over 150lbs I'd say. It didn't survive whatever the hell they did to tip it over either. This is something similar to what it looked like from what I remember over at her house a few times, before they demolished it. The screen was so dim anyway, and it had this huge yellow dot in the middle of it so the thing was ready to go anyway.
View Full Size
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| Post# 420202 , Reply# 64 2/18/2020 at 20:54 (1,521 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
vacfanatic
That is a rear projection TV, an early one. It uses a series of 3 separate electron tubes/projector bulbs in red green and blue and then casts them through a focused mirror to make a complete color signal onto the front of the screen from behind.
Over time the coolant oil in the guns gets dirty from dust and being old and it clouds up the lenses and they cannot project anymore. The dot you are seeing was likely the green and blue lenses trying to work and display the picture. Here's a photo I found online from a newer rendition.
View Full Size
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| Post# 420259 , Reply# 65 2/19/2020 at 21:11 (1,520 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY) | ||
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| Post# 420262 , Reply# 66 2/19/2020 at 22:49 (1,520 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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