20 Most Recent Kirby G5 Bagged Upright Vacuum - Page 6 Questions & Answers

Not to question your description of the problem, but are you sure the suction has dropped? Kirbys don't usually lose suction unless there is a mechanical or electrical problem. When you turn the machine on does it fill with air and expand? If so, then you probably have enough suction. If the bag doesn't fill and expand and your machine is extremely noisy then the fan may be broken and need to be replaced. If you see excessive sparking near the bottom of the handle then you may have a motor problem like stuck or too short carbon brushes or a bad armature. On rare occasions, with Kirby owners who live close to a beach area and vacuum large amounts of sand, the sand actually wears down the vanes of the fan enough to make it useless. To check the fan; first unplug your Kirby from the electrical outlet, remove the brush roll nozzle, slowly spin the fan/belt pulley while observing the surface of the fan, look for cracks or breaks. The fan vanes should be about 3/4 of an inch deep.
If none of the above fixes your problem, look at the brush roll and belt. If your belt has not been changed in the last 12 months, install a new belt. If this is the original brush roll, install a new brush roll.

There is no fuse or circuit breaker in your G5. However, here's a basic check list to follow: did you check the cord for continuity with an ohmmeter? Bad cords on Kirbys are fairly common. Your Kirby has 2 safety interlocks that stop it from running; first is the mini-emtor interlock (the mini-emtor is the thing thst looks like a shoe at the bottom of the bag assembly). Make sure it is fully locked in place on the exhaust port. It should be completely flush against the body. Second interlock is the nozzle body (brush roll and housing in front), make sure the nozzle body is locked in place.
If these 3 things are not the problem, then you have something wrong inside. It's either a bad switch assembly, carbon brushes stuck or too short, or a problem with your motor. This will require a complete disassembly of your machine by a qualified mechanic/technician.

Hi There,

First for your Shampoo attachment, all Kirby generation models came with this carpet shampoo attachment. It really does do a nice job at cleaning carpeting and rugs. In terms of how you use it, here's two links for you, the first is written instructions on how to use it, and the second is a video that shows you how to attach it to your Kirby and use it. In the video it's actually the Kirby Sentria that they use, but the procedure on converting it from a vacuum into a carpet cleaner are the exact same for the Sentria as they are for your G5.

Written Instruction Manual For Kirby Carpet Shampooer

Video Instructions On How To Install & Use Kirby Carpet Shampooer Attachment.

Now in terms of the other part that you were asking about. I believe the part your asking about is called the Intake Guard. I think this is the part that you're asking about, here's a picture of the Intake Guard:


The Intake Guard is connected to the front of the machine only when you want to convert your Kirby from a vacuum cleaner into a blower. This protects anything from going into the fan while it's being run, as well as pushing the safety switch that allows the machine to turn on.

I really hope that this information was helpful to you. If you have any follow up questions, or need further help with your new Kirby G5, please don't hesitate to add a comment here on the Fixya repair page, and I'll be more then happy to answer any and all of your follow up questions.

If you found my repair helpful to you, please be so kind and rate my repair helpful, or leave feedback. This is greatly appreciated by the Fixya community.

Thanks again,

Chris Jones
GoVacuum.com

I have the same problem with our G5. I check the cord and it's good. Changed the switch, but that actually wasn't the problem. I've tracked my issue down to the motor brushes. When is does run, sometimes blue sparks are seen on the right-side of the motor near the right set of brushes.
I was able to rotate the motor spindle simply by turning the front attachment belt lever (the thing on the front to take off the vacuum head). This rotates the motor just enough to get better contact with the motor brushes.
I'm next going to replace the brushes and see if that fixes my g5. Good luck.

Hi There,

Here's a very helpful video that we've shot showing you exactly how to replace the belt on a Kirby Generation series, including your G5. The video also shows you how to perform basic maintenance on your roller brush to prolong the life of the belt as long as possible. If you haven't already purchased a belt, and need to buy a new one, here's a link to the exact belt that's used on your repair:

Kirby Generation Belt:
http://www.govacuum.com/kir184.html

Here's the video:



If you have any follow up questions, please feel free to use the comment section on this repair page, I'm always happy to answer follow up questions.

If this video helped you, please be so kind and rate my repair, or leave feedback for me. This is greatly appreciated.

Chris Jones
GoVacuum.com

Take it to a vac shop. you can't fix this yourself

either that, or it was pulled so hard, it came disconnected from the vac switch. stepping on a cord rarely affects power. so, check vac switch and outlet to make sure the outlet has power.

(if you know an electrician or if you feel comfortable disassembling the vac i would look at the point that the cord enters the vac and trace it to the switch looking for obvious breaks)

Hi There,

Here's a helpful video that we recorded showing you exactly how to replace the belt on the Kirby Generation vacuums, step by step. This video will also show you how to do the basic maintenance on the roller brush to prolong the life of the belt as long as possible.

If you need to still purchase the belt for your Kirby G5, here's a direct link to our website to the belt that your machine uses:
Kirby G4 & G5 Vacuum Cleaner Belt. Kirby Part # 301291A

Here's the video repair presentation:


Please feel free to ask any follow up questions if you need help, I'm always more then happy to answer any question you may have. If you found this helpful, please be so kind and leave feedback, and / or rate my repair helpful.

This is greatly appreciated, and keeps Fixya experts continue posting free repair advice here on Fixya.

Thanks so much,

Chris Jones
GoVacuum.com

Hi There,

Here's a link to a very helpful video that explains step by step the exact procedure to convert your Kirby into a carpet shampooer.

If you ever need to purchase the dry foam shampoo made specifically for Kirby vacuums, we have a great selection and prices (free shipping both ways):
Kirby Carpet Shampoo's & Cleaning Products

Here's the videorepair link:
http://kirbywhq.powweb.com/videos/Carpet_Shampoo.mov

I hope this was helpful to you. If it was helpful, please be so kind and leave some feedback, thank you.

Chris J.
GoVacuum.com

Hello,

Thanks for the clarification. I have never seen this problem previously in a Kirby. I wonder if the belt keeps sliding off because it's been stretched out? After about 1-2 years, the belts on the Kirby will stretch out to a point where there can possibly slide off the motor shaft. Have you tried just replacing the belt on the unit first?

If you're sure that it's not the belt that may be stretched out, and you'd like to replace the motor shaft, you certainly may do this. The only problem with this is the motor shaft is not sold by itself as a separate part. The only way to purchase this motor shaft is to purchase the entire fan assembly, which includes a new fan, and the hardware necessary on the fan assembly.

Here's a parts diagram that shows you the motor shaft is sold only in a completely assembly:
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/vacuumcleanerbacgs/kirby-generation-parts-diagram.pdf

If you haven't already purchased the motor shaft, here's a direct link to the motor shaft and fan assembly on our website:
Kirby Generation Fan Assembly With Motor Shaft and Hardware

In terms of installing it, we've actually recorded a video repair on how to replace the fan assembly, which involves removing the motor shaft in order to get the fan off. Since you have to purchase the fan assembly anyways in order get the motor shaft, you may want to go ahead and replace your fan assembly at this time also. Even though your fan may not be broken, on Kirby's the fans can become coated with dirt and fine dust, which can sometimes lead to the Kirby exhausting a bad smell. If you'd rather not replace the fan, you may remove the motor shaft without disassembling the entire machine, you'll just need to secure the fan somehow so that the fan doesn't spin while you're using a nail to turn the motor shaft off.

Anyways, here's the video repair that we recorded. I hope that this helps you. If you found this helpful, please kindly rate my repair helpful by clicking the thumbs up icons in the top right hand corner of the repair. This is really what keeps Fixya repair professionals continue to give free repairs online.

Here's Part 1 of the video:




Here's Part 2 on Replacing the motor shaft and fan:


If you have any follow up questions, I'd be more then happy to answer them for you, please just add another comment here on the repair page, and I'll be more then happy to answer any follow up questions that you have. Thanks again for rating the repair, I greatly appreciate this.


Chris Jones
GoVacuum.com

Hi There,

We've created a great video demonstration on how to replace the belt on Kirby generation vacuum cleaners. This will walk you through step by step on how you can replace the vacuum's belt, as well as do the basic maintenance on the roller brush to prolong the life of your belt.

I hope that this video helps you! If so, please be sure to rate my repair by clicking the 4 thumbs up icons in the top right hand corner of the repair.

Thanks again,



Chris Jones
GoVacuum.com

Hi,

This definitely sounds like your cord is bad. The reason that I specifically think that it's your cord is because the cord is actually connected into the handle, and is attached to the handle in the back. This would make sense why the machine was cutting off every time the handle was moved.

Also the cords are notorious on Kirby's for going bad, and are usually the only thing that goes bad on a constant basis.

Here's how you can check to see if your cord is bad or not:

Greetings from GoVacuum.com,

Unfortunately there is no fuse on a Kirby Generation model. In my 10 years of repairing Kirby's as well as other vacuums I will tell you that 9 times out of 10, when a Kirby Generation doesn't turn on, it's the cord that needs to be replaced. This is by far the most common problem that we see on Kirby repairs.
The Kirby motor is very well built, and usually has a life of 30+ years (G3 is about 12-15 years now). The only other problem it could be on the Kirby would be carbon brushes, or the switch assembly.

I would first try testing the power cord, I think this will solve the problem for you. To test a cord on a Kirby Generation (all Generation models are the same machines, just different colors) first follow where the cord goes into the Kirby at the bottom. To access this cover easier, first remove the "boot" at the bottom of the outer bag. This is the plastic part at the bottom of the outer bag that connects onto the Kirby. You will see that there is a plastic cover over the cord. You will need to remove the screw that holds this cover on.



Now after you have removed the cover, pull the plug out of the machine. Once you have the cord disconnected from the machine, you can now test it to see if there is a short somewhere in the cord. You will need to purchase an inexpensive continuity tester from Home Depot, Radio Shack or most other electronic stores. This will tell you if there is power running through the cord, or if the cord is bad. With the continuity tester, plug the cord into the wall outlet, then put the positive, and negative testing rods into the female end of the cord that plugs into the machine. You will then be able to tell if the cord has continuity going through it. The tester will indicate if there's continuity or not.


The picture here shows that the cord is good. If your tester does not light up, or indicate that there is continuity, you'll simply just need to purchase a new cord. As I stated earlier, this is the most common reason that a Kirby won't turn on.

If however your cord tests OK, this indicates that the machine either needs a new motor (or carbon brushes in the motor) or it needs a new switch.



Chris Jones
GoVacuum.com

best thing to do is take the bag and turn it inside out the best way you can.
take it to a local self serve car wash and soap it down without rinsing. hang it up to dry and the smell should be gone

www.goodvac.com/Articles.asp?ID=153

best most detailed explanation I have found anywhere.

Good luck and I just did mine and the rooms look **** and span

Greetings,

I have shot an excellent video repair on how to replace the belt on Kirby Generation Vacuum Cleaners including your Generation 5 (G5). The belt change procedure is the same for Kirby Models G3-G10 Sentria. The video is below in an easy to follow, and understand video. Feel free to use the pause controls to pause the movie as you're fixing the belt on your Kirby.

I hope this video was able to teach you the exact process of how the Kirby belt has to be installed in order for it to work properly. Please, if you have any questions just request a clarification of the repair and I'll be more then happy to help you further, I'm always happy to answer any questions. If you found this video helpful, please kindly rate this repair solution as helpful also. I really do appreciate it, thank you.

Thanks for watching!

Chris J

Greetings,

If you click the link below it will take you to a video demonstration that explains step by step what you need to do to convert your Kirby into a carpet shampooer. The vacuum in the video is the Kirby Sentria, but the procedure is the EXACT same as it is on your Kirby Ultimate G, just as it is with Kirby Generation 3, G4, G5, G6, etc. All Generation models have the same process of converting the vacuum into a carpet shampooer.

Instructional Video On How To Attach The Kirby Generation Series Carpet Shampoo Attachment:
http://kirbywhq.powweb.com/videos/Carpet_Shampoo.mov

I hope that this video was helpful to you. Please feel free to request a clarification if you have any further questions about the installation, I'm always more then happy to answer any question, seriously.

If you did find this video helpful, please kindly rate my soltuion as Helpful by clicking the Thumbs Up Icon at the the bottom right hand corner of this page.

Thanks for watching!

Chris

how can i use my shampoo sysemfor my kirby??