I need to replace electrial cord attached to machine myself

Sure, take the machine apart. Cut off the bad part of wire. Strip insulation to same as what's inside. Remove old original & wire in the new.

GO TO THIS LINK BELOW INSTRUCTIONS AND PICTURES
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/vacuumcleanerbacgs/bissell-proheat-carpet-cleaner-service-manual.pdf

The power cord should be a standard 3 wire cord. Any hardware store. Just buy the length you want. You will have to remove some covers/plastics to get to where the cord connects inside the vacuum. Look for screws holding panels in place. Once inside, you'll see how the cord is attached. Just replace the old with the new. Not critical which of the flat prong wires goes to + and - but be sure the ground wire (usually copper) goes to the ground screw and not a hot connection.

More than likely you have a short in your power cord. however if you want to know for sure take machine apart until you can put an elec meter on switch where cord is attached. plug machine in and test the end of cord that is attached to switch if you have 120volts at that point its your switch thats bad. if you have no voltage or anything less than 110volts at the switch replace cord

If the unit is a canister, you will have to take the plastic cover completely off exposing the motor and cord reel. The cord reel will come out by gently pulling right side away from the left of the casing. from there the two wires from the cord reel are attached to the PCB board by wire nuts you will find tucked next to motor.

If unit is upright with cord reel you will find the situation to be really similar to the canister, but you will have to remove a few more screws to get the casing off this one.

Check cord on machine. Plug in and turn on wriggle cord near powerpoint and then near machine and all over, if it starts and stops the cord needs replacing

Greetings from GoVacuum,

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.

Please feel free to email me if you'd like instructions on how to diagnosis the switch or carbon brushes, or if you need to purchase a cord for your G3. Also I can send you a parts diagram of the Kirby should you ever need any other part for it. I have all parts for Kirby in stock, and we are the cheapest price online.

If the cord tested ok, then there are a few other things that may have gone bad. I'd be more then happy to try and help you diagnosis the Kirby further. Please just request a repair clarifiaction here on Fixya with further details.

If this helped you figure out the problem, please rate my repair as helpful. I really do appreciate it, thank you.

Chris J.

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

this is common you may have a short in the contacts from the handle to the wand or a break in the cord that goes into the powerhead

just open up the area where the electric cord is attached and make a diagram of which colors go where. Then remove one wire and reinstall one wire at a time.