Kirby Heritage II Vacuum

How to Identify and Fix Common Vacuum Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced Vacuum Technicians :

Q: It smells like the belt is burning. What is wrong? A:It is likely the belt isn`t turning freely on the brush roll. Flip out the belt lifter handle and turn it clockwise until the green arrows line up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kirby Belts. Why Do I Keep Burning Belts? It is likely the belt isn`t turning freely on the brush roll.
In many cases, the smoke you see is actually mechanical pump oil vapor. Many people tend to think that whenever there is smoke emitting from the pump, it means there is something wrong with the machine. But, oil vapor or oil mist is a natural by-product of creating vacuum in an oil sealed mechanical pump.
If you`re smelling rubber, the belt has either burned out and snapped or the belt has become so stretched out that the roller is not moving and the vacuum belt is getting super heated from the motors RPM.
Kirby vacuum cleaners are made of die cast aluminum where most other vacuums are made of plastic. This makes the Kirby vacuum more durable than other model on the market. This is why the average lifespan of a Kirby is over 30 years.
If an accidental jam or improper height adjustment momentarily causes the revolving brush to stop, a burn spot or a heat blister in the belt may result, causing a burnt rubber odor. In these instances, the belt is most often rendered irreversibly damaged and should be replaced immediately.
Lack of power, a bad power cord, failed drive motor or broken wires in the vacuum hose can prevent the vacuum cleaner from starting. Make sure the electrical outlet that you`re using for the vacuum cleaner works. Try using a different outlet if you suspect that the outlet you`re using is dead.
Blockage – when a vacuum cleaner becomes unusually loud, it is normally because of a blockage of some sort. This is a problem that is easily solved by turning off the cleaner, check for blockages in the pipes, and remove them. You can also check and empty the canister to remove any possible blockages there as well.
Noisy Motor

The motor may be dirty and needs cleaning. Your belt drive may be faulty. The fan may be loose or damaged. Parts in the motor may be wearing out.

Even though you may be diligent about keeping the air inside your home clean when the air is smoky outside, particles from smoke can still enter your home. When you use a vacuum cleaner without a HEPA filter, these particles are stirred up and put back out into the air through your vacuum`s exhaust.
Clog located in the vacuum hose

Turn the unit on and feel the suction at the end of the hose handle. If there is no or low suction, then the clog is in the hose. You can remove the clog by running a long, stiff object through the hose, such as a butter knife, starting at the wall end.

A strong odor from the shellac that coats the copper coil windings is an indicator that the motor is about to or has burnt out. If the motor is still running, even if it turns on and off by itself as it is heating and cooling, you can still run the motor until it gives up for good.
According to experts, a burnt plastic odor could be a sign of worn-out brake pads and is one of the most common causes of a car`s burning smell.
The price of vintage Kirby vacuum cleaners can vary widely, depending on their age and condition. The least expensive ones are probably worth about $100 and high-end models might sell for $2,000 or more. But if you`re looking to buy one that hasn`t been refurbished, expect to spend several hundred dollars.
After years and years of exceptional cleaning performance, their Kirby system still cleans better than any vacuum they previously owned. And with our exclusive Lifetime Factory Rebuild program, rest assured your Kirby system will be running like new for generations to come.
The belt squeals because there is improper tension in the belt drive system. This is usually caused by a worn automatic tensioner, but other causes can include a contaminated belt (oil, belt dressing, etc.) or a belt that is too long or worn out.
This can cause the vacuum belt to slip on the drive shaft which results in your vacuums brush roller turning slower or not at all, which reduces agitation and in turn your vacuum`s overall cleaning power.
Before you spend your time trying to go back over the same areas, hoping you`ll get it all cleaned up the second time around, check out your brush roll and belt. If you`ve cleaned your brush of any sticky stuff and hair, and it all looks fine, you`re likely dealing with a stretched belt.
A typical price for Vacuum Belts is $6 but can range from approximately $4.99 to $26.
The most common problems found in vacuum cleaners are low suction force, excessive noise, burning smell, vacuum not turn on, and overheating. These issues can be fixed by either cleaning the device or replacing some parts of the device. At times, it is best to seek a professional to fix the cleaner effectively.
Overheating usually occurs because the dust bag has not been emptied, filter has not been cleaned or there is a blockage in the floor tool, wand or bent hand piece. If your vacuum shuts down unexpectedly, make sure you turn the vacuum off and unplug it from the wall socket.
the vacuum system may be dirty, the pumping line may be restricted or too small in diameter, the pump may be dirty or with too little capacity, the pumping speed may be restricted due to other causes.
If you listen very carefully, sometimes you can hear a “hiss” sound that is the signal of a vacuum leak. However, the most common way to notice this is when the engine loses fuel efficiency. The reason for this is due to the fact that vehicle exhaust is delayed on exiting the combustion chamber.
Usually, when the leak isn`t too bad, you will hear hissing noises coming from the engine. This may also sound like whining sounds or whimpering sounds. For more severe vacuum leaks, the noise is sucking or suction, much like a vacuum cleaner.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

My Vacuumm kirby hertiage made a funny noise and started to smoke and doesn’t work.
ANSWER : Remove the cover and change the belt it may have got a rock stuck in the beater bar(brush)

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Kirby Sentria Hi, I have a new Sentria & used it for the first time today. It was going fine & then I could smell smoke & it started to make a loud noise so I turned it off quickly. If I turn it on it immediately starts making the noise again & I can see it is all lit up inside like something is burning or sparking. I have checked the roller & it is moving & I have checked the fan which is moving & doesn’t appear to be damaged in anyway. This product is from the US & we are in the UK & we are us
ANSWER : Sounds like the motor burned up. not sure if travel adapters will handle a large load like a motor, around 8 or amps. power needs in US are 110 volts ac, 60 hertz.
I believe UK is 220 volts and 50 hertz.
usually when a vac is brought to europe you must change motor.

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Terrible noise My dyson was working great then started making this horrible noise. I cleaned the bar but noise is still there. I discovered the beater bar went around three passes then froze and started horrible noise again. my husband got the bar turning but after 2 swipes vacuuming it did it again. Can it be fixed or is it time to retire it and buy a new one. Wendy Kiser
ANSWER : That noise is the clutch. A very expensive part and very hard to replace. When a problem with the clutch happens it’s generally not worth the time and money to replace.

I suggest getting a different type of vacuum, maybe a Miele or Sebo. With the money spent on one of those vacuums, you wont have problems like you would with a Dyson. And the cleaning power is so much more powerful than what any Dyson can offer.

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The headlight on my Kirby doesn’t work!
ANSWER : A few problems exist in this situation.
.A. Is the bulb you put in a genuine kirby part?
.If not it is probally not the correct anperage.
.B. Are the little medal pieces on the end lined up correctly? If not adjust and retry.
.C. The socket the bulb fits into is bad. In that case call 1-800-948-1358 mon.-fri. 9am-6pm est
.sat.9am-2pm est and ask for josh or buck to order the socket.

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My Kirby 2HD has started making an odd roaring noise but still works fine. I have taken the front assembly off and cleaned and adjusted the roller and checked the belt. The noise seems to come from the motor housing. I have tried to wiggle the main shaft at the front (bearings?) and it seems tight. Can’t seem to get the other housings apart. Any ideas? Thanks, John
ANSWER : It is quite possible, it just needs lubed. The motor comes in direct contact with dirt so, you have to make sure the front bearing has a drop of oil on it from time to time. If it starts to scream at you within one month, after oiling, the bearing needs to be replaced.

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Hi folks,
my beam vacuum makes a very loud roaring noise quite often.
the problem started when i was vacuuming up a quantity of vermiculite from my chimney.
i think i overloaded the vacuum i think and it made this loud roaring noise.
the vacuum tends to make thos noise when i am hoovering after 5 minutes or so.
any ideas?.
thanks in advance Tom….
ANSWER : If the filter bag is bad and didn’t trap all of the dust, then it got into your motor, so you may have a problem with your motor now.

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I have only had my shark steam mop for about a month and only used it twice. I tried to use it yesterday and it would not work. The green light came on and it worked for maybe ten seconds, then it completely shut off. I tried switching outlets and draining the water but nothing worked. It still doesn’t work today either. What do you think is wrong? Does this product have a warranty?
ANSWER : Yes has warranty call Shark/europro.

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We have the Kenmore progressive direct drive (bagless) and have had it for about 3 years. We have taken good care of it, and paid quite a bit for it hoping that it would last for a good long time. It has started making a noise that seems to be an overflow air type of noise coming out of a bottom air outlet opening for when the air flow is blocked. We have looked into clogs, changed filters, and the whole works, to no avail! Quite Frustrating since I love this purple vacuum! The machine started
ANSWER : There has to be a clog or block somewhere – if the motor works, it should work did you try a wire coat hanger to go up in further where you cannot see?

Bets regards
Ck

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