A Kirby is a machine people repair rather than replace, and the armature is the part that decides whether that is still true for a given unit. It is the rotating core of the motor - the shaft, the windings and the commutator the carbon brushes ride on. When a Kirby starts running rough and loud, throws sparks at the brushes, smells hot, or simply stops turning, the armature is usually what has failed. This is Kirby part 114789, supplied with the rear bearing already installed, for the 110-volt Generation series uprights.
Use Cases
- Rebuilding a burned motor. A shorted or open winding shows up as a machine that will not start, trips a breaker, or runs hot and weak.
- Fixing a failed rear bearing. The noise that starts as a whine and turns into a growl, often with vibration you can feel through the handle.
- Restoring a used machine. Refurbishers buying Generation series units to resell almost always price a new armature into the job.
- Commutator wear. Grooved, pitted or burned commutator segments that eat brushes and spark badly, which is a replace-the-armature repair rather than a dress-and-hope repair.
- Vacuum shop bench work. A standard stock item for shops that service Kirby machines.
Why the pre-installed bearing matters
Fitting a bearing to an armature shaft is a press operation. Done by hand with a hammer and a socket, it is very easy to load the bearing through its balls instead of through the inner race, and a bearing damaged that way runs quietly on the bench and fails within weeks in service. Buying the armature with the rear bearing already fitted removes that step, removes the press, and removes the most common way an otherwise sound rebuild goes wrong.
Doing the job properly
While the motor is apart, replace the carbon brushes. Brushes and commutator wear together, and putting worn brushes onto a fresh commutator wears the new surface unevenly and wastes the repair. Check the fan for cracks and chips at the same time - a Kirby fan that has ingested something hard is a common companion failure, and it is far cheaper to fix while the machine is already open. Inspect the field coil for discoloration or a burnt smell, because a failed field will destroy a new armature.
If the machine was pulling hard and running hot before the failure, look for the cause before reassembling. A blocked hose, a packed bag, a jammed brush roll or a badly worn belt all make the motor work against a restriction, and the restriction outlives the armature you just replaced.
Specifications
- Kirby part number: 114789
- Component: motor armature, rear bearing installed
- Electrical: for 110-volt machines
Fits
Multiple independent parts sources agree that this armature covers the following Kirby models:
- Generation 3 (G3)
- Generation 4 (G4)
- Generation 5 (G5)
- Generation 6 (G6)
- Ultimate G
- Diamond Edition
- Sentria
Some sources extend the list to later Generation series machines, but they do not agree with one another, so we have stopped at the models above. Confirm fitment against the model number on your machine before ordering.
What is not included
Published sources do not state whether the field coil, the fan or the carbon brushes are supplied, so we are not claiming them. Treat this as the armature and rear bearing only, and plan on reusing or separately replacing the brushes and any other motor hardware your rebuild needs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know the armature is the failed part?
Typical signs are heavy sparking at the brushes, a burning smell, a machine that runs rough and noisy, visible scoring or burning on the commutator, or a motor that will not turn at all. A shop can confirm with a growler test; most owners diagnose it by symptoms plus a visual check of the commutator once the motor is open.
Should I replace the carbon brushes at the same time?
Yes. Brushes and commutator wear as a pair. Fitting worn brushes to a new armature scores the new commutator unevenly and shortens the life of the repair, and brushes are inexpensive compared with doing the job twice.
Does it come with the bearing already on the shaft?
Yes. The rear bearing is installed, which is the point of this part number. It removes the press fit and the risk of damaging a new bearing during assembly.
Will this fit my G7, Ultimate G Diamond or Avalir?
Sources disagree beyond the models listed above, so we do not claim those. Check the model number on your machine and call us with it if you are unsure - we would rather confirm it than have you fit the wrong armature.
Is this a repair a competent owner can do?
It is a bench job requiring the motor to come out and apart, with attention to reassembly order and brush seating. Owners who are comfortable with small motor work do it routinely; if you are not, a vacuum shop can fit the part in well under an hour of labor.
Discount Cleaning Products stocks Kirby motor parts and supports the order from the United States. Send us the model number off your machine if you want fitment confirmed before you buy, and we will check it against the sources we have.
