[richardc1983]

Hi there,

been offered a Kirby Tradition (1979 model) vacuum cleaner from a friend who restores vacuums for £60.  This has got a wooden brush roll which he says is working ok.

Hes supplying it with the standard toolkit and it has only had one previous owner.

He says the motor is in top condition and he has just serviced it and all is running well.

Im wondering at whether or not i should go for this vacuum cleaner, this is to clean my rather large flat.  Im quite strong so i think the fact it doesnt have tech drive isnt going to be a problem for me.

Are these really good at vacuuming carpets, cant find any reviews anywhere?  How good edge to edge cleaning are they or will i find it is will leave areas untouched?

Only information i have found is that the design hasnt really changed over the years and that some people seem to rate them highly.

Currently i have a hoover turbopower dirty fan design which picks up well but im looking to sell this.

Any information greatly received.

Heres a pic.

[glenda hollis]

These are a dirty fan cleaner too so the usual rules will apply: great suction as upright, poor to mediocre when using the hose, filtration not brilliant. there is another Kirby related thread on this forum from a few days ago you can see what people think there. £60 is a good price for a rebuilt kirby cleaner. i dont really get on with them but thats my opinion.

[richardc1983]

Thanks Glenda am reading through the post now.

[Joe H]

Does'nt go edge to edge - falls short both sides so you will need to put the hose on but with practice that comes easier.
Really good at cleaning carpets - had mine in a care home yesterday pre carpet cleaning. Glad I had the TechDrive though but if you eat 2 Weetabix for breakfast you will be OK - saves going to the gym and paying their fees!
At £60 if its recon you have a good buy.

[richardc1983]

Yeh hes given it a good going over, no parts needed replacing though just new brush roll and belt etc.

This is the one with the metal fan on it still so its strong.

Im going to pay one of those service centres though £45 for a proper service of the motor etc.

[robert stubbs]

To be safe get it p.a.t tested at that sort of age.



 Regards Rob

[richardc1983]

YEh its already had a new cable fitted is this what u mean.  All been checked,

[glenda hollis]

To be safe get it p.a.t tested at that sort of age.



 Regards Rob

You wouldnt belive the things i've seen pass a PAT test in the past  . I agree that fitting the hose gets easier with practice, its not hard, but when you are doing domestic cleaning and by that i mean you've been sent in to clean the house and not wet-clean the carpets, the hose is on, then its off, then its on, then its off, you may just as well pile the furniture to the middle and do the hose cleaning with a powerful cylinder before using the kirby on the in-fill. Joe you are spot on about it missing the edges. I also dont like the way the head pulls off the floor on the reverse stroke.
Richard if you buy this cleaner see how you get on with it before you spend money on a Kirby service. The only part of the motor that is likley to fail is the fan, there will be little else they can do to it in spite of what they may or may not say. If it is working well now then i doubt a service will do much to it. see how you get on first.

[richardc1983]

thanks for that.

The way i do carpets is i clean all the edges and skirting with a cylinder vac (henry) and then hoover with a upright.