Must be something in the (Rainbow) water...?

[vinvac]

Fred,

I wish I had your talent...I can tear them down, but when it comes to the motors...I chicken out...LOL

That pie looks wonderful!

It has been too hot here to work on anything. I started taking a lux powerhead apart yesterday..was soaked clear through in about the time it took to take out the two screws...so I cam back in the house.

Morgan

 

[eurekastar]

D2 Parts

Here's another site that I've found reliable and helpful.  The D2 used two different motors during its production.  Parts for the newer motor are still available.  But I don't know if they are interchangeable. 



http://www.usavacuum.com

 

[rainbowd4c]

That's a good model Fred. I have a RainbowD4C that I use for everything almost everyday. The only difference is that my powernozzle hose are a different configuration. I have the old old school where the cord is strapped to the outside of the hose and it's one long cord that pluggs directly into the unit. I just recently bought new hoses that look a lot nicer. I hope you enjoy your new Rainbow. I love mine.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Looks like the parts came out great. That's the same model Rainbow that the guy demonstrates on Matlock by dumping sawdust on the carpet. LOL Didn't know those had a mini powernozzle.

 

[reginafan]

Fred,
Your skills are amazing! And that pie looks fabulous!

 

[williamr1248]

There Must Be Something in the (Rainbow) Water

Fred,
Thanks for sharring the pictures of the tear down!
That is the same mchine I have, although I don't remember you ever using it at the house.
Please don't judge the performance of the Rainbow on the old SE. There is really no comparison with the much stronger suction and air flow. Also the new machine is worlds apart with the single longer electric hose,direct connect wands and new power nozzle,new dolly system,new design of the hose handle and off/on/lock on control and suction relief.
Of course you will get the famous air breathing floor brush,sofa tool and the power nozzle is very easy to push. My old SE power nozzle was doing a better job than I thought but with the Rainbow it is all about no loss of air flow.
I cannot even imagine you using anything but a HOOVER! Oh my!
Rob

 

[goadie12]

Wow Fred I must say you got a good deal with that machine it is actually very clean considering it is an older model rainbow, the previous owners obvsiouly took very good care of it. Keep us posted on your progress thanks. Zach

 

[eurekastar]

Fred, when you run your parts through the dishwasher, do you use the heated wash and rinse options?  I know you said you don't use the heated dry (which makes sense).  Also, the pie looks great!  Wish I could have a piece. 

 

[raycarter]

Very Nice!

A friend of mine for whom I used to clean house had that same model. She had the full-sized power nozzle, but not the miniature, which would have been a great help in getting her pomeranian's hair off of her carpeted stairs! Looks like you really got your money's worth on that deal (and I certainly would have made an offer for the cat. He looks like a real sweetie!)

 

[briguy]

Fred, thanks for sharing your teardown process photos. I always enjoy seeing the process step by step & older machines given a proper thorough cleaning. On my next teardown & rebuild, I am going to try running parts thru the dishwasher. I usually wash parts down outside or in the bath tub. Been a little hesitant to use the dishwasher, but I guess as long as the heat dry cycle is not used then they should be fine?? Excited to see your reassembly photos when you post them!

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Fred, when you run your parts through the dishwasher, do you

Well, no -- the machine doesn't "heat" the water, there's no need for that.  I just bleed the tap, to make sure the water is as hot as it can be from the water heater... it's an "extra" dishwasher that we picked up just for running vacuum parts through, nothing fancy.  If parts are super dirty, I'll run them through multiple times.  I also give everything a wipe-down with a microfiber cloth when it comes out, before laying out to dry.  I do hit the "energy saver dry" button -- so no heating element to potentially melt anything, although in a Vintage KitchenAid, that would never happen. 

 


Thanks for the compliments, Brian... Parts should be here tomorrow; hopefully I'll have the energy to start re-assmbly after work and my personal training session. 

 

[goadie12]

Quick question Fred what kind of detergent do you use because since every one else is running the vacuums through the dishwasher I had to try but mine didn't come out very clean at all thanks? Zach

 

[floor-a-matic]

I don't know why the "cup style" Spider isn't made anymore? Or are they only available through a Rainbow service center?

 

[mark40511]

God that pie looks good! Blueberries are and always will be my favorite fruit....... I put frozen blueberries in the blender for my shake every morning for breakfast. I can't remember the last day that went by that I didn't consume blueberries. Fresh is best, but frozen is still good.

 

[pdub]

Great thread Fred

I really enjoyed seeing this Rainbow get torn down. I have always been fascinated by Rainbow's but have not bit on one yet. I got to play with one at Marty's in Palm Springs and it was so cool to see the dirty water when emptied. This came from carpet that had already been vacuumed too!

Thanks for sharing the pictures. Now craving fresh blueberry pie!

 

[floor-a-matic]

I have yet to give the D4SE (the one my parents bought new) a spa treatment soon.

btw, I use Mr. Clean to hand wash the parts, since I don't have a dishwasher.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.  So, the parts did arrive yesterday...  But I hit a bit of a hurdle (to be explained...)


 


To answer the Dishwasher question -- I just use regular Cascade powder.  We also have some phosphates which I run as well -- as DW detergent is no longer phosphated.  But that's a whole other discussion.


 


So, here are all of the new parts I ordered.  I'm a sucker for a long hose, so I absolutely had to order the 12' hose.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Everything laid out on the dining room table ready to go back together...

 

[hoovercelebrity]

There was some grease residue behind the bearing retainer, so I decided to put some grease in there after all (if you don't know what I'm talking about, see this thread -- regarding grease in the slinger ring).

 

[hoovercelebrity]

So, I get it all back together, and when I tighten the nut on the spider, the spider doesn't turn freely.  In fact, the whole motor doesn't turn.  I don't remember if it did turn freely, but based on the fact that the separator needs to ride on top of it, I deduced that it needs to spin freely.  I also went and checked the D2 upstairs, and the spider spins with the motor. 


 


I'm 100% sure that I didn't miss anything, as far as parts/spacers go... so back apart the motor comes again.