I got a Rainbow SE for free!

[universaldave1]

I'm so excited to finally have a working Rainbow! But cleaning it up wasn't easy. The power nozzle was full of vomit and as you can imagine it absolutely reeked. I took the nozzle completely apart and scrubbed it with hot soapy water, and it's all good now. The machine wasn't that bad, I just cleaned it real good and I'm getting ready to throw some Novus on it. Amazingly, it still had the spare belt in the nozzle. It needed a belt desperately. The hose was all duct taped up, but it was a super easy fix - I just slid the hose back around the metal wand inside the handle. The fun part was getting all the sticky from the tape off. Goo Gone is amazing at getting it off. It dissolved the residue in seconds.

As you can see, it's missing all the accessories. If you have any and you're open to trades, let me know.

 

[fantomfan57]

Great find. So...., my PN might have an extra belt. I will check some time. I have found Oreck's and Kenmore Progressive Uprights have them as well...hidden, but there.

 

[universaldave1]

When I used this machine for the first time, I was absolutely amazed. Even with a severely worn brushroll, this Rainbow has just as much, if not more vibration than my Synergy. I started to give it the Novus treatment last night. It didn't make it look new, but most of the scratches are gone.

 

[suckolux]

Congrats! Glad it found you!

 

[universaldave1]

Does anyone know the purpose of these little doohickeys? They fell out of the nozzle when I took it apart for cleaning and I can't figure out where they go.

 

[electroluxxxx]

Those go in the power nozzle neck

 

[dysonman1]

They are the pivots for the power nozzle neck. You need them in there, or you'll have terrible suction loss.

 

[kirbylux77]

Congratulations! That is a excellent find! Especially since it is the D4 SE Performance Edition, that powerhead is a lot better than the long narrow powerhead they first introduced on the D3.

For your powerhead, if you have any Kirby uprights that use the 301291 knurled belt, when they get worn out, save them. If you measure them compared to a new Rainbow belt, they are EXACTLY IDENTICAL dimensions & length, so if you save your used Kirby belts you won't have to buy any. Also, since your machine is from the mid 90's, & you don't know it's history & how it was used, I would suggest ordering a new gasket & changing the carbon brushes in the motor. It is going on 20 years old now, & likely due for new ones.

Rob

 

[universaldave1]

I'd love to, but

I don't have much experience working on Rainbows. I tried taking apart a D2 years ago and I ended up putting it in a box and never getting it back together. So unless the D4 is way easier to take apart, I won't attempt it. Some step by step instructions with pictures would probably help. This machine is extremely high hours and I imagine the inside is all kinds of filthy nasty.