I just

[kirbyloverdan]

had to buy the new and improved Rainbow E Onyx Black power nozzle .
The belt is now located on the end instead of the middle . It`s about
time they changed it now it has a bit more cleaning w/out the belt in the middle.

They look identical until you flip it over see the pictures . I have yet to try it out I am just to busy selling homes

Dan [this post was last edited: 4/12/2013-22:06]

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Another

pic

Dan

 

[kirbyloverdan]

And

another of the side belt new and improved .Comes with a spare geared belt that's a first .Brushes off set like Kirby Sentria II .

Dan

 

[kirbyloverdan]

And

the old style middle belt.

Dan

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Another

side by side. Edge brushes are thicker on the improved PN on left I like the cord guard too.

Dan

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Look

identical here .

Dan

 

[ralph123]

Should help with CR testing

By moving the belt to the side and removing the dead spot in the middle, this should help quite a bit with the Consumer Reports testing. It's nice to see Rainbow listening to the feedback they get from forums such as these and making appropriate corrections.

 

[tolivac]

The new sidemount belt will allow the belt to last longer-not so much in the dirt path.This powernozzle is better than the previous one-think both of these "whisker" powernozzles are better than Rainbow had before.

 

[tolivac]

The new sidemount belt will allow the belt to last longer-not so much in the dirt path.This powernozzle is better than the previous one-think both of these "whisker" powernozzles are better than Rainbow had before.

 

[williamr1248]

I Just

Dan,
Thanks for posting the pictures. It looks like I will be able to just upgrade the power nozzle on my black Rainbow.
I have had no complaints with the first one and have never had to replace the original belt but I like the new design of the brush.
I have enjoyed the whisker brush for getting right into the corners and doing the carpeted stairs. I find I do not even need the crevice tool for the corners of the stairs.
What do you believe the price range will be for JUST the new power nozzle? Do you think it would be worth the expense to make the change?
Thanks again for your pictures and input.
Rob

 

[williamr1248]

I JUST

Dan,
I am glad to see they left the rug guards on the bottom plate. That is one thing that is a terrible design on the German made power nozzle that came on several high end canisters. It has has wide opening and no rug guard so every time you come close to the end of a rug, it sucks it into the chamber and will both damage the rug and stall the power nozzle and cause the overload switch to trip.
I also noticed the larger diameter of the brush roll on the Rainbow does not tend to get threads and hair wrapped around the rollers. My Hyla and Dysons were particularly bad in this area. I was always having to stop and clean the brush roll.

 

[pr-21]

I am going to get one of those...

Thanks Dan, I am with Rob, I am going to have to have one of those. I have not had any problem with the original, but this looks like it would have a better airflow channel without the belt in the middle.

Thanks for showing the new nozzle.


pr-21
Bud

 

[williamr1248]

I just

Dan,
I also noticed they have retained the same outer finish on the upper part of the power nozzle housing which is easier to keep new looking after serious use.
This power nozzle is one of the only ones I have ever owned that NEVER falls over.
I hope they did not change the design so that it will lie COMPLETELY flat and maintain the correct contact with the carpet.
I just love it when ANY company makes improvments that benefit the user and are not just done to cut costs.
Thanks for showing the top of the nozzle too.
Rob

 

[kirbyloverdan]

It is

identical to the old one just improved with the side belt.

I don't understand why everyone thinks you can just keep using a belt until it breaks . Belts MUST be changed at least every six months . I have always changed regular rubber belts every three months. They do stretch and wear out and are not meant to be left on for ever or until the break .

Sorry to go on but that's my biggest pet peeve being a former vacuum shop owner and vacuum nut for 40 years

I paid $194.00 for just the PN some Rainbow stores wont split it up and you have to purchase it plus the hose and wands. It`s worth every penny to me because I must have the latest and greatest .

Dan

 

[dysonman1]

Actually, Rexair never listens to the buying public. The consumer is NOT their customer - the distributor is. The model Power Nozzle with the poly V belt was one of three new power nozzle designs that were patented several years ago. Rainbow distributors did not want to give up the flat belt, as it was the only thing the ultimate customer would really need to buy (and so, the customer would have to go to the distributor to buy a new one). Finally, the distributors voted (at their annual distributor meeting) to go with the Poly V style belt nozzle. There are two other shampooers that have been designed and patented. One is a stand alone model not attached to the canister unit. But the shampooer is 'given away' for leads - so the distributors want to keep that cost as low as possible. Hence the reason the shampooer is so inexpensively made.

 

[williamr1248]

I Just

Dan,
I know what you are saying about replacing the belt. I usually can tell by the sound and I take mine off and compare it to the size of a new one. I almost never have to replace the Rainbow belt or the cogged Electrolux belts but some machine just seem to eat belts. Not an issue for me anymore.
I don't just have to have the latest but I think that price is reasonable and the new design of the brush might prove to give better results. I sent my Rainbow man an email. I believe he is a member of the club too.
I will use one upstairs and the other on the main floor as I already bought an extra basin and electric hose. All I would need to carry is the machine itself.

Tom,
That is interesting information and it makes perfect sense because the end customer has no need to keep in contact with the distributor to buy bags,filters
etc.

Thanks to both of you for all the information. It sure makes the thread more interesting.

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Rob

the geared Electrolux type belts can stay on until the break .

It`s the regular rubber belts that do stretch and should be replaced at least twice a year . They only cost around $2.00-$3.00 so its not a big expense at all and it really does keep the performance at factory specs.

I never compare the old belt to a new one , automatically at three months off the old belt goes and on a new one then back to cleaning I go .

I am just that crazy in love with vacuums and every time something new is introduced with any high end machine I MUST have it and always buy it .

Dan

 

[electromatik]

I like that new design. The middle mounted belt was one of the things I didn't care for on the Rainbow. It looks like the fan shaped dirt channel is partially blocked by the motor housing, does that affect cleaning at all on that side? Did Rainbow increase the power of the motor recently? Thought I read that on here. Someone above mentioned that the new side-mounted belt might help with Consumer Reports testing. Not very likely as long as CR continues using talcum powder which isn't water soluble and clogs HEPA filters rapidly. The problem with the CR results isn't the Rainbow, it's CR's substitution of real-world soil with sand/talcum powder. High-end vacuums with highly sealed filtration lose airflow quickly, especially those with "paper" bags. Don't let Consumer Reports get you down, just go with your own eyes. If you can keep your carpets goodlooking, you have a good cleaner that's removing soil effectively.

 

[gsheen]

Could not agree with you more Dan. I am amazed at how many people will throw away a vacuum because its not sucking mean while the belt is stretched beyond itself.

The best was a customer who came and bought a new vacuum from us this week and traded in a fairly high end vacuum saying it was not sucking. I asked if she wanted us to have a look at it and she said no she just wanted a new one. A few days later my tech comes to me and he has sorted it out and cleaned it so we can resell it, all it needed was a new belt, He fitted one of the two that were still on the back of the unit in plastic.

I agree change belts every three months