Premature celebration: Second Rainbow D4SE rebuild spits water

[DrSteve]

Well, as stated in another post, I recently finished an overhaul of a Rainbow D4SE. It was filthy! After reassembly it ran like a top and I thought I was the proud owner of two fully functional Rainbows. Well, this second one spits water from the bottom of the vacuum unit housing, just above the tank.

I should note that the gasket is not new, nor cemented down. The other Rainbow sealed properly during testing without having to glue the (admittedly new) gasket in place, so I thought that would work for this vacuum as well. Also, I've tried both tanks and it spits water with either one.

Here are a few pictures. The first is a panorama of the disassembled motor unit. The second gives an idea of how dirty this poor thing was. The third shows where the vac is spitting the water.

Has anyone encountered this before? Is this simply a case of needing a new gasket?

The wine was good though...

Cheers--Steve

 

[super-sweeper]

I'm no expert, but it sounds like a seperator problem! 


 


 


Has the rainbow cleaned up any wine spills lately? Perhaps the vacuum was just intoxicated when it spat water, or perhaps it's rejecting the water in favor of more wine? 

 

[bikerray]

If the water is coming from beneath the internal plastic shroud around the fan housing and the water basin I would say it is the rubber seal that is leaking or there is a crack or chip in the top of the tank.

If the water is coming from on top of the internal plastic shroud (where the wires are) then I would say it is a problem with the fan housing or the separator.

If I remember correctly the fans exhaust out on top of that internal shroud and the shroud directs the air to vents around the base just above the tank or to the blower port in the back.

The easiest is to go for a new rubber seal first, glue it down the the spider flange and see if this takes care of the problem. Also check the top of the tank where it meets the rubber seal.

 

[ultralux88]

Its spitting water out the exhaust.

So, that limits the problem a bit, which is good. First, get some rubber cement and glue those gaskets in! I don't think that is the issue here however. First check the separator out really well, make sure its not damaged or warped in any way, then check the spider as well. Also check the flange (the ring held in with 8 screws) for damage of any kind. And if all else fails, run it and let a bit of water leak out, then get into it and follow the water, then come back with what you find.

 

[DrSteve]

Thanks everyone! The flange was very corroded--I cleaned it up with my dremel with a wire wheel attachment but it's far from the condition of the flange on the other Rainbow. I'll order a new flange, seal, and maybe a separator.

This rainbow certainly deserved some wine, or maybe even something a bit stronger!

 

[electroluxxxx]

the problem is not the gasket, I have been in this position before and have realized that upon assembly there is a metal piece between the spider and the fan housing. if the piece is missing it allows water into the fan housing causing it to spit out the sides and exhaust of the machine. so basically if you remove the spider you should see the metal piece.

 

[electroluxxxx]

I found a parts supplier, it is called the air deflector

kinda looks like this

 

[electroluxxxx]

website



http://www.rainvac.com/rainbow-vacuum-parts/d4se-pa/d4se-main-unit-pa

 

[dysonman1]

One other point to remember. The water in the pan must be COLD. If warm, or hot, the machine will spit water from the exhaust. The colder room air, forced to mix with warm or hot water, is evaporated very rapidly - spitting out the exhaust side. When I was a kid, I tried it with my mother's model D, filling the pan with HOT water - was very surprised by how much water droplets blew out of the machine.

 

[DrSteve]

Update (or Thread Resurrection): All is well!

Well, between the holiday season and a long trip for work I just finally got around to the Rainbow. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! Here's what I found:

- The flange was very corroded, to the point that water might pass. Replaced it and its screws.
- The air deflector was in even worse shape, and was slightly warped. Replaced it.
- The spider appeared to be OK, as did the separator. I reused them.
- And finally, I cemented the gasket down.

The vacuum now works perfectly. Which one of these fixed the problem? I don't really know. That air deflector was in pain, to be sure.

Anyway, now I have two fully functional rebuilt Rainbows in my stable, with one still to go! :-D

Time for a glass o' wine...Zingara Sangiovese I think...

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Good job

Enjoy your Rainbow

Dan

 

[floor-a-matic]

"The water in the pan must be COLD. If warm, or hot, the machine will spit water from the exhaust. The colder room air, forced to mix with warm or hot water, is evaporated very rapidly - spitting out the exhaust side. When I was a kid, I tried it with my mother's model D, filling the pan with HOT water - was very surprised by how much water droplets blew out of the machine"


 


Then how do U use the AquaMate with warm or hot water?  When my parents bought the SE new, I used hot water with the AquaMate for shampooing carpets or squeegee (conected to AquaMate) for washing linoleum