EPIC RAINBOW SCORE!

[universaldave1]

Last night, as I do most nights, I was searching Craigslist for some scores. I always like to search "rainbow vacuum" to see what they're going for. To my great surprise, I saw an E2 Gold two speed for only $150. Right then and there, I called the seller and told him I'd be there at noon tomorrow. I went there today and pointed out some problems, and I was able to get him down to $120. It wasn't exactly brand new though - the power nozzle and wands were horribly stopped up. I gave it a much needed spa treatment this afternoon, and now it is brand new once again.

 

[dysonman1]

Sweet. Congratulations on your great find.

 

[universaldave1]

Thanks, Tom

I know you said that the Rainbow is one of your favorite machines, and I am quickly developing that opinion as well. I cleaned the HEPA filter last night per the manual, and I was disgusted at how dark the water was that came out. It was nearly pitch black the first 10-15 times I rinsed it. I'll be buying a new one in time, but I'm $100 in the hole from buying the Rainbow in the first place.

 

[mark40511]

Dave

cool! I'm not sure how experienced you are at tear down's and cleaning of Rainbows. I have a gold two speed as well that I bought in 2006 brand new and it's still in excellent condition even though I use it regularly. Based on how nasty it was the person/s using it probably let the water get too nasty and didn't clean the separator enough, which will cause the inside fans to get coated with filth. It can be made like new again but I have no clue how to tear one down and put it back together, but others on here have done that. In the future you might take it to a Rainbow dealer and ask them to do it and they will. I know there is a video on youtube of a tear down of a one speed E series, but this will be different from a 2 speed, but you get the idea of how nasty they can be inside

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjpak0bGN3I

 

[universaldave1]

Mark,

Yes, that is one thing that bothers me about used Rainbows. I did a teardown of my E2 one speed a couple weeks ago, but I only cleaned the interior plastic. I did not go into the motor. I haven't even taken the new two speed apart yet. I would love to clean the fans on this thing, but I don't want to risk breaking it. It works great, and it doesn't smell bad. So I'm not too concerned with it.

 

[universaldave1]

I posted a video of my new Rainbow on Youtube.

http://https//youtu.be/5ul7HLZlN-U

 

[universaldave1]

Serial number

Doee anybody know how to decipher Rainbow serial numbers? I'd like to know the age of my machine. The bottom three digits are 206 - February 2006?

 

[mark40511]

Cool!

I have only changed my rainbow hepa filter once and I honestly don't even think it needed it. Here is a pic of a 5 yr old hepa I tore apart to see how dirty it was.

I find this is the best place to buy a rainbow hepa. These are generic, but high quality and free shipping. They are not a genuine part thought, but they look/fit exactly the same.

http://www.crucialvacuum.com/rainbow-rexair-e2-oval-filter.html

 

[universaldave1]

Rebuilding

I have decided that I'm going to completely take apart and clean the Rainbow motor unit. I took a look behind the filter today, and I was appalled by the horrid buildup of dirt. I watched a very well done "how to" video on Youtube, and I believe I'll be able to handle it, no problem. This would make it the most I've ever paid for a vacuum, plus the first Rainbow I ever took completly apart. Now I just need to get good at the old ones.

 

[mark40511]

Do u have a link to the video?

I would like to see it. Keep in mind, 2 speeds are MUCH different than one speeds. I haven't seen someone take apart a 2 speed, so I'd like to see it.

 

[universaldave1]

Here is the link.

http://https//youtu.be/RP7j6TGjbW4

 

[mark40511]

Very cool

Watching it now. I had to pause it for a minute to come write this. My God - would you look at that nasty rainbow! I can see why you decided to take yours apart to get it back to like new after watching him take the hepa off that first rainbow.....Once you get it to like new, if you take care of it (which I know you will) it will never be in that shape again, no matter how frequently you use it.

I hate to say it, but this is probably more typical than not with Rainbow users

If yours if Feb 06 - that's the same year I bought mine brand new, summer of 06.

 

[universaldave1]

I did a little more research on the Rainbow date codes, and I have determined that it was made the 2nd quarter of 2006. April, May, or June. It is acting ever so slightly strange, though. When I use it on the low speed, after about five minutes, it starts sounding strange. It's hard to explain, but it sounds like it's pulsing instead of a constant hum. And two times now, I went to turn it on low, and as I pressed the switch, it hesitated to start up. Please God don't let the controller be going out...

 

[marks_here]

I took my black onyx motor apart, cleaned it & put it back together with no trouble at all. Just be careful not to force anything apart or together & if your not sure you can manage then leave it alone.

 

[universaldave1]

I did it

I am in the process of tearing apart my Rainbow (CAREFULLY). I am taking lots of pictures, so it lessens the chance of me screwing up. I'm just going to take the fan housings apart and clean all the crust out and put it back together.

 

[mark40511]

Oh yea,

not sure if I understood. You said fan housing - those fans need cleaning too. Were you able to get to them? If you're not brave enough to do it, I fully understand. Mine has never been taken apart since I don't want to change screwing anything up that's working perfectly. I was able to take a pic of my fans somewhat. It's ten years old last month

 

[mark40511]

forgot-

typo Change=chance

About your Rainbow Pulsing - The only similar thing I can ever remember happening was once I was cleaning and one of the latches wasn't latched, causing my Rainbow to turn off / on. At first I thought something was wrong or my Rainbow was dying, until I discovered I hadn't latched one of the latches.

 

[universaldave1]

Fan housings

I took the entire motor apart and had the armature in my hand. Everything is spic and span now. And get this! It still works!

 

[mark40511]

Ugh my gosh

I'm so glad you did that. I know there are so many people who buy used Rainbows and have no clue it can be that bad inside them if they aren't taken care of, which is usually the case -

Basically, you just make your rainbow like new again, as long as the electronics are working correctly - did you figure out what caused the pulsing on low speed?