Kirby vacuum motor repair

[gazdkw82]

I have owned a kirby for the last 10 years and love it. Iv replaced a few parts in the past as they are generally maintenance friendly. However, the machine started making a strange rattling noise the other day. Took it apart and noticed the commutator is missing a tooth and look very warn. I'm guessing the brushes have warn out too.

My question is, how easy is it to repair this sort of thing? You can buy the motor assembly with new commutator etc but they are nearly £100. More than I'm willing to spend.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[UNG]

Nearly £100 doesn't sound to bad for a motor given that Kirby vacuum cleaners usually come at a stupidly expensive price that makes anything else on the market look cheap. I doubt a motor rewind shop would repair it for less than that so the question then is how much would you spend on a new vacuum cleaner

 

[Avo Mk8]

Don't know which model yours is, but the going rate for working used domestic motors on fleabay seems about £33
eg

KIRBY G5 MOTOR WITH SWITCH ASSEMBLY FRONT PLATE & FAN | eBay

KIRBY G5 MOTOR WITH SWITCH ASSEMBLY FRONT PLATE & FAN 220/240 VOLTS. REMOVED FROM A KIRBY G5. FITS ALL GENERATION MODELS. THOSE WITH A BLACK OR GREY TECH DRIVE GEAR ON THE BACK OF THE MOTOR WILL NEED IT SWAPPING OVER.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[telectrix]

Kirby G3 G4 G5 G Six Motor Armature - 114789 for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kirby G3 G4 G5 G Six Motor Armature - 114789 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Technically, as @telectrix indicates, you probably just need a new armature and a pair of brushes. But if speed of repair is important and you can get a motor at a good price it is easier to swap the whole thing.

Before the advent of throw-away appliances it was routine to change a vac armature rather than a complete motor and repair shops would keep the common types in stock. In the museum stores I actually have a few dozen spare armatures for various things, although not Kirby vacs.

Commutators have 'segments' (or 'bars' especially when referring to larger ones) rather than teeth.

 

[Avo Mk8]

Kirby G3 G4 G5 G Six Motor Armature - 114789 for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kirby G3 G4 G5 G Six Motor Armature - 114789 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

I think that's the 110V version, but good idea to go for just the armature.

 

[gazdkw82]

Technically, as @telectrix indicates, you probably just need a new armature and a pair of brushes. But if speed of repair is important and you can get a motor at a good price it is easier to swap the whole thing.

Before the advent of throw-away appliances it was routine to change a vac armature rather than a complete motor and repair shops would keep the common types in stock. In the museum stores I actually have a few dozen spare armatures for various things, although not Kirby vacs.

Commutators have 'segments' (or 'bars' especially when referring to larger ones) rather than teeth.

Thanks. Im not that familiar with motor terminology.

I think I might just have to suck it up and get a replacement assembly. Like you say, it can be repaired but I dont have the knowledge or parts to be able to do it.