I have an old Kirby vacuum cleaner that will not start unless the brush roll is manually spun. Once started it runs fine. I also noticed that the motor will start and run if the brush roll is disconnected so there’s no load on the motor. Any ideas on what to look at first to fix the problem?
Comments are closed.
NO, it is NOT the capacitor. It is the brushes worn down. The motor will start on no load with very worn brushes. Leave the capacitor out of this. You have no idea what happens when a capacitor goes short; it blows up like a hand grenade. Capacitors are and open circuit device used to store charge. A vacuum cleaner is far too small a motor to have a capacitor fitted.
Honey, have new brushes fitted; they only cost a few pennies.
XX (retired Electrical engineer)
YES. It’s the capacitor that’s what gives it its voom on startup. It is usually on the side of the motor and round almost like a roll of 35mm film case. 1.5" diameter x maybe 2-3"long.(replace it with the same (micro feret rating, it’s a number like 25,000 with M and a horseshoe next to it. )
I thought Kirby machines had a lift time guarantee.
the bearings or bushings in the beater bar need a couple drops of oil.