I was gifted a rainbow d3c serveral week ago. The person that gifted it to me bought it at an auction several years ago. It runs and sounds good just alittle bearing noise and has all attachments. I decided to tempt faith and take the motor apart for a good cleaning. Hardest part was breaking the hourglass spacers loose. Not bad just dirty till i got to the first stage. From then on RUST. First stage and fan bearing plate and metal motor housing rusted. Didnt go past bearing plate cause those screws are rusted and i was disgusted. From looking at the outer plastic motor housing it looks like it was upset while it was running. There alot of black crud on two the the plastic housing sides. My question is is a rainbow d3 worth the money to put a new motor in it?
Rainbow D3
- Thread starter chris
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dysonman1
Well-known member
Hard to believe the D3 is as old as it is. I sold my first D3 in April, 1980. I still have a brand new one. When cared for, it was an awesome and quiet machine.
It is very quiet
Even with a little wind down bearing noise and a rusted motor this thing is very very quiet. Only thing you basically hear is the powerhead running. Cosmetically its in very good shape. Water pan looks to have seen very little use. Brushroll looks fairly new to. Pivot neck was replace at some point also. Cleaned the top cap of main unit and resealed the powerhead and oiled brushroll bearing and this thing is a beast. Really clamps down to my carpet more than my d4. Going to use it as is( what little I plan on useing it) and maybe someday ill get a new motor and put in it. Question though the red powerhead light only comes on when you push reset button. It looks likes it wired right. No big deal powerhead works as it should just wondering.
Even with a little wind down bearing noise and a rusted motor this thing is very very quiet. Only thing you basically hear is the powerhead running. Cosmetically its in very good shape. Water pan looks to have seen very little use. Brushroll looks fairly new to. Pivot neck was replace at some point also. Cleaned the top cap of main unit and resealed the powerhead and oiled brushroll bearing and this thing is a beast. Really clamps down to my carpet more than my d4. Going to use it as is( what little I plan on useing it) and maybe someday ill get a new motor and put in it. Question though the red powerhead light only comes on when you push reset button. It looks likes it wired right. No big deal powerhead works as it should just wondering.
Same person(cousin in law) that gave me the d3 gave me my aunt's D4. This d4 was a big part of my childhood. Couldnt wait to go to aunt's for a weekend or two in the summer. I put alot of hours on this rainbow. My cousin in law got a couldnt pass it up deal on a srx and didnt want these anymore. Question on the d4. Both powerhead and water pan have manufactured year of 1988 on them. Dont know if anyone knows but wouldnt the 50th anniversary lable only have been used in 1986 when the d4 came out. It even still as original dealer sticker on it. Thats back when dealer would make regular rounds to customers homes for service. He even came around when the electric hose came out and upgraded the d4 to make it more user friendly. Sadly he closed many years ago.
