kirby 516 vacuum, vintage kirby vacuum.

[@electrolux333]

Very nice Kirby 516. I love my kirby legend 2. I reconditioned my kirby maroon legend model using my vacuum cleaner skills when I used to work at a vacuum repair shop many years ago. I upgraded the suction fan, new motor brushes and hepa filtration bags. Just like any upright machines its hard to vacuum in tight spots. The kirby cleaners dont have to be used as an upright cleaner all the time as I find the hose, wands and suction direct floor tool does a great job. I use the deep cleaning upright head on my shag pile rugs using the toe touch control to adjust the correct brush roll head height. I think the legend 2 design is a winner by design for generations of Kirby vacuums before the first tech drive generation 3 came out. The Kirby legend 2 was the kirby's vacuum farewell model that stood the test of time, due to its slim lime design. My advise to all kirby owners that you got to read the instruction book to cover to cover to get the most out of your kirby and use it propley. People need to wake up and spend time studying the booklet instead of shoving their kirby in the basement etc for years unused because people cant be bothered learning the true value of a high class of cleaning machine produced by Kirby. I over come this and I now love my kirby

[@mattjones7621]

Love it! I rebuilt a 518 and used the same upgrades that you did. I bought a brand new Heritage 2 outer bag, fill tube, top adapter and mini emtor. I replaced the cord, fan, carbon brushes and repacked the bearings. I wound up selling it to a coworker friend and she loved it.

[@psdesert7907]

Does adding the H2 bag cut down air flow? I heard it does on the older machines

[@rovertv7902]

Totally false! It helps air flow. The original bag has great airflow but only for a short time. The pores of the bag clog and suction is compromised. The h2 bag stays clean due to the hepa interior bags. Therefire no loss of suction from the outer bag, naturally the disposeable bag will clog but once it's changed you have 100% suction again.

[@mattjones7621]

The 'bojack' outer bags reduce airflow by a lot. When I say 'bojack' I mean basically a Eureka outer bag with a Kirby adapter. They use Eureka F & G bags, which filter better than a shake-out, but your airflow will diminish quickly as the bag fills. You lose a little cfm with the Heritage/ Legend set up, but not much. The HEPA bags move more air and filter the best. When they start to clog, you don't lose airflow like you do with the Eureka bag set up.

[@stevenhoelderich9490]

Hello, what kind of, fan do you have In your Kirby?

[@rovertv7902]

It's a Kevlar fan.