Changing belt on Kirby Classic 1972

Actually it can. If the machine has a defect but the good news is that is has a 3 year warranty. Take it to a Kirby authorized repair shop not a vac and sew and they will fix it right up....I am a factory authorized service tech for the Kirby co.

The belt driving the brush roller in the power head is slipping. It is really just a big thick rubber band. Where it wears out it slips and burns due to friction.

Look at the bottom of the power head. There is a cover plate held with 2 to 4 screws. Remove the plate and you will see the roller and drive belt. Slip the roller out and remove the belt.

Go to your local vacuum dealer and get a replacement.

Installation is the reverse of removal.

1)First, you turn the square belt lifter on the front of the power nozzle until the red arrows line up (belt off)
2)Remove the power head from the front of the machine. Now turn the belt lifter the other way and line the green arrows up again. This releases the tension on the belt
3)Turn it upside down and release the two clips that hold the metal baseplate on and remove the baseplate.
4)Grab the brushroll and pull it out of the power head. Slide the new belt onto the center of the brushroll. It will hang loose...it doesn't have to stretch around anything yet. MAKE SURE THAT THE BRUSHROLL SPINS FREELY!! If it doesn't, you'll burn all new belts quickly due to the added strain on the belt.

You can get a replacement belt here:

Kirby G5 Replacement Belt

1)First, you turn the square belt lifter on the front of the power nozzle until the red arrows line up (belt off of the Kirby's driveshaft but on the "hook" inside the power nozzle) 2)Remove the power head from the front of the machine. Now that it is off the Kirby, you can turn the square belt lifter until the green arrows line up. (Belt on, which means on the driveshaft on the front of the Kirby when the power nozzle is on the Kirby which makes the brushes spin. Now that the power nozzle is off of the Kirby, the belt isn't actually resting on anything but the green arrows will still point to belt ON ) This removes the belt from the "hook" so that it can be slipped off the brush roll. 3)Turn the power nozzle upside down and release the two clips that hold the metal baseplate on and remove the baseplate. 4)Grab the brushroll and pull it out of the power head. Slide the new belt onto the center of the brushroll. It will hang loose...it doesn't have to stretch around anything yet. MAKE SURE THAT THE BRUSHROLL SPINS FREELY!! If it doesn't, you'll burn all new belts quickly due to the added strain on the belt. 5)Look at the ends of the brushroll. The brushroll has three height settings..you should see notches AND NUMBERS on the sides of the brushroll's end caps. ONE notch (also #1) FACE UP on BOTH sides is the first setting and should be used when the roller is new. Three notches is the last setting used before a new roller is needed and should be used if the brushes are short and worn. Put the brushroll back in, making ABSOLUTELY SURE sure that the SAME NUMBER of notches and the same raised number on the edge are FACE UP on BOTH sides. This is important, as the brushroller will be unbalanced if inserted wrong. Also, one end cap of the brushroll is larger than the other and will only fit onto the larger notch in the power nozzle. 6)Replace the baseplate by fitting the front clips into place and then push it down in back and secure it with the two rear swivel clips. Make sure it fits securely down over the bumper on all sides with no suction leakage. 7)Turn the belt lifter to where the RED arrows line up, making sure that the inner "hook" grabs the belt and stretches it up while you are turning it. Once you have the belt stretched up, put the power nozzle back onto the Kirby and lock it in place. 8)NOW...turn the belt lifter back to GREEN. If the little green light on the power nozzle lights up when you turn it on, CONGRATULATIONS!!! The brushroll is spinning!!

1. Remove the 4 screws holding the bottom plate.
2. remove roller and old belt
3. install new belt on motor spindle first and then on roller.
4. pull roller, stretching belt, set into roller cavity.
5. turn roller by hand to center belt.
6. reinstall bottom plate.& screws

Step 1: 
UNPLUG YOUR KIRBY VACUUM CLEANER. Before you go any further, take your time with this belt change. It's not that difficult, just a little different than most other vacuums. These belts are very easy to find on the internet. Step 2: 
You should be facing the front of your Kirby vacuum. The height adjustment lever will be on your right. Push the lever all the way down. Lift the light hood with your left hand. Turn theKirby vacuum belt lifter counter-clockwise with your right hand. Unlock the accessory lock. The accessory lock is located under the light hood. Move the lock to the left to disengage it. Remove the front of the vacuum cleaner.
Step 3: 
Turn the vacuum belt lifter all the way clockwise until the belt drops down. Unlock the roller plate by releasing the two latches on the rear. Pull the roller plate up slightly and then off.  
Step 4: 
Bend one end of the roller bracket just enough to remove the roller. Remove this end of the roller. If you need to replace the roller take it all the way out. Remove any carpet fiber, string, or hair from the roller with a scissor.

Step 5:
After you have removed the old belt, slide the new one back on the middle of the roller. If you're Kirby vacuum cleaner has a belt indicator light, the roller will have a magnet built onto one end of it. It's very important to install to install a roller with a magnet on the same side as the indicator light. The roller actually will only fit into the roller plate one way.
Step 6: 
Place the roller back in the roller bracket. Place the roller bracket back and lock it into place with the 2 latches. Rotate the vacuum cleaner belt lifter counter-clockwise. You should feel the the belt catch. Look inside to make sure the belt is being stretched onto the vacuum belt lifter. Reassemble the machine. After you have reassembled your Kirby, turn the belt lifter cockwise, releasing the vacuum belt onto the vacuum motor shaft.

http://geeksquad.fixya.com/ThreadView.aspx?prdid=0&thid=814340
Generic problem for all Vacuums
Replace the roller on my
Posted by tlourene on Jul 21, 2008
Replace the roller on my Kirby Vacuum Generation 3
Hello,
I would advise you to ALWAYS to FIRST UNPLUG YOUR VACUUM before beginning any service procedure. In order to replace the brushroll on the Kirby G3 you need to dial off the belt and then release the lever to remove the bell housing, then there are 2 levers that you need to open then you can get @ the brushroll --- take out the brushroll and replace the brushroll and a new belt – make sure you change the belt every 4 to 6 months for the best cleaning. Make sure when you put the new belt in the housing that the screw heads are facing down – then you can replace the bottom plate, dial the belt on to the belt pulley and replace the bell housing. If you need further help please refer to a local vacuum cleaner dealer in your area. So if you need further assistance, please feel free to contact your local vacuum cleaner dealer in your area or in the yellow pages, or contact the factory phone number or website to further assist you with your questions.
http://kirby.com/
Customer Service – U. S. & Canada
1-800-494-8586
Hours 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
Mail To: Consumer Relations
The Kirby Company
1920 West 114 Street
Cleveland, OH 44102
Thanks, Don the Vac Man
Go Ahead. Use Us.

http://geeksquad.fixya.com/ThreadView.aspx?prdid=0&thid=767761
Generic problem for all Vacuums
I don't know how to
Posted by mcwalworth on Jul 10, 2008
I don't know how to change the brush. HELP Kirby Legend II vacuums

Hello,
I would advise you to ALWAYS to FIRST UNPLUG YOUR VACUUM before beginning any service procedure. To change the Kirby brushroll is to dial the belt off of the fan pulley and unlock the head to the bell housing, the head will come off. Then you turn the head over and remove the bottom plate by 2 levers the brushroll will be attached. Remove the brushroll and replace it with the new one with the screw head facing down to the carpet. Replace the bottom plate and install a new belt. The belt install on a Kirby is to raise the height adjustment to the highest level and then dial the belt off counter clockwise so it is loose and not on the fan pulley, release the top lever on the bell housing, then remove the bottom plate and unhook the brushroll on one side, slide the old belt off and then slide the new one on, replace the brushroll with the screws facing the carpet and re-hook the bottom plate on the Kirby. Then take the bell housing and hook that back on to the Kirby and lock it down. Then dial the belt on clockwise all the way and the belt should be on the fan pulley. The belt should be ready to go, plug in your Kirby and then do the step down on the vacuum height adjustment until the tone changes, then try to see id it picks up, if not go one more height adjustment and that should be the correct setting.
http://kirby.com/
Customer Service – U. S. & Canada
1-800-494-8586
Hours 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
Mail To: Consumer Relations
The Kirby Company
1920 West 114 Street
Cleveland, OH 44102
Thanks, Don the Vac Man
Go Ahead. Use Us.

likely a broken belt. turn vac over and see if roller turns free. if it does the belt is broken. turn the handle on front of vac. turn latch under headlight and remove head. open bottom plate and return handle to normal position. belt and brush roll will lift out. reverse procedure to install. directions are usually printed on the head of vac under headlight.
J

On the front of the power head is a knob with the KIRBY name on it. Rotate this knob in a counter clockwise direction and it will "lift" the belt off the motor spindle. Release the head lever, only one direction it will turn and remove the head. Turn the head over on its back, turn the KIRBY knob to release the old belt. Remove the brush guard by turning the two release fixtures. Remove the guard. Pry the brush out of the head. Remove the old belt. While the brush is out remove any build up of hair and lint off the ends that's where the bearings are. put a few drops of 3 in One oil on the ends. Put the new belt over the brush and re-install the brush into the head. the brush will go in only one way. With your finger pull the belt into the housing and rotate the KIRBY knob until the pawl inside grabs the belt. Re-install the brush guard by engaging the two metal pieces into the front of the head and pull down backwards over the head and rotate the holding clips back horizontal. re-install the powerhead on the machine, lock it in place and rotate the KIRBY knob clockwise. You should be all set!