Rainbow Issue?

[aarons1584]

Hey all, I had purchased a Rainbow E2 new, and my mother fell in love with all the bragging I did about it, but she could not really afford a new Rainbow. I found her one on Ebay, a complete system, Its the E2 12 Gold colored *I have the blue*, The vacuum was pretty dirty, the seperator was horrible. I cleaned it up the best I could and got it all together. The vacuum sounds and sucks VERY good on high, but on low, there is this strange kind of high pitched whining noise,,, its kind of hard to describe. I know I read that the gold colored units are louder than the blue ones, but this noise is pretty loud. I will try to get a video on youtube so maybe someone can hear and explain it.. maybe I am just used to my blue one being so quiet? haha. I did check to make sure the Hepa was clean * I cleaned it and ordered a new one* Checked the sperator and cleaned it out.. Any other ideas? Thanks a bunch! Aaron

 

[aarons1584]

I wanted to add the vacuum does still suck lightly while on low the air flow feels totally correct, maybe even a little more than my blue E2 while on low

 

[aarons1584]

went ahead and shot a video.. also like if I cover up the intake on the vacuum, the noise stops.. so strange....

 

[tolivac]

The Rainbow "Hurricane" SR motor always had the loud hi pitched wine to it.The current machine must have insulation in it to suppress and muffle the sound of the SR motor.Switched Reluctance.these motors have no brushes-sort of like an induction motor.Were you able to clean up the machine OK?A customer brought a "Brown" E2 into Greenville sew and Vac-the custoemr owns a small aprtment complex-someone abandoned it in an apartment-he wanted to have it fixed up-both mike and I suggested he replace the HEPA exhaust filter in it before trying to use it.Mike did not have the Rainbow filters.He would have to go to the Rainbow dealer in town to get one.The price was righton the machine,though,FREE!I have a Brown E2 and compared it to the current E2B machine-the new one is much quieter-least half as loud.

 

[aarons1584]

Hello, the noise it is doing I guess is almost more like a Whistling noise... like the air is doing soemthing weird. It stopped for a while last night but is doing it again this morning. Also another strange thing, to me at least. I have never seen a Rainbow without a brush to clean the seperator and remove the nut. This particular one does not even have a place on the bottom of the machine to put this.

 

[mark40511]

Aaron

ON low speed, my Gold 2 speed does the SAME thing. I know what you're talking about. It is a whining noise. I never use the Air Clean feature and it's not an issue for me since I pretty much get most all the dust when I vacuum from top to bottom.....But mine does that too. The only time I use low speed is if I stop vacuuming for a few minutes and water is in the basin.

 

[aarons1584]

Ok, so maybe its the normal thing for these, but damn, its annoying!! its like the darn thing is whining/whistling.... and it seems like the noise goes away when the later level gets a little lower in it? haha!! Mark, does your Gold on have the brush on the bottom of the vacuum? I am still puzzled about this one not having the brush, or even a slot for the brush!

 

[mark40511]

It's hard to tell from the video if mine is the same noise, but I've always thought it was a strange noise too. I couldn't handle it being run 24/7 if I were in the same room with it. I did run it 24 hours once in another room with water and the next day the water was still clear.....But I had just cleaned everything really good. I never really thought there was enough air movement on LOW speed to do much of anything.....Now on high speed, different story.

 

[mark40511]

Aaron

I forgot to mention, not sure if you would want to do this...The local distributor here charged 65 dollars to completely disassemble the Rainbow and sanitize all the parts and put it back together and they charge 65 dollars...Not sure if you have a distributor close to you but they may do that if you ask them. One that's done, if she takes care of it it probably wouldn't need to be done again for a LONG time.

When you bought this Rainbow for you mom off Ebay, did the seller say that it was rebuilt and or cleaned thoroughly or was it just a private party selling a used one?

 

[aarons1584]

it was just a private seller. I will call my local office and ask how much they charge if it is only 65$, I just may go have that done!!

 

[aarons1584]

Ok, so I have a theory on this noise... I may be 100% wrong... but.. to me it feels like the unit pulls in more air while on low speed than the newer E2's do. The noise it makes, you can kind of hear in these 2 speed motors when they fire up. I am thinking maybe this Gold E2's may turn more RPM while on low. and its kind of making the motor make that noise?

 

[kirbykid63]

It most likely needs a good servicing

I just finished two rainbow E series machines and the first thing you need to do is replace the motor filter that is under the dome it is most likely caked with dirt. also change the hepa filter and motor seal this is just routine maintenance for these machines,unfortunately the filters are not cheap.

Richard
new2youvacuums on eBay

 

[kirbykid63]

Utube video

There is a well made utube video of how to tear down a E-2,watch it and you will see how dirty these machines can get inside and that you can save lots of money and service this machine yourself.

Richard
new2youvacuums

 

[mark40511]

Kirby kid.....That is for ONE speed Rainbows.....not two speed.

Two speeds have a computer on board and are different

I'd be happy if someone made a video of a two speed Rainbow tear down, but I have yet to find one.

 

[aarons1584]

we would both be happy Mark

 

[rainbowjoel]

my mine doesnt do that noise. check it out.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfxSg7rk6Ck

 

[mark40511]

It's so hard to tell if it's the same as mine listening to it on audio instead of being there......

For the guy above. The 2 speed Rainbows do not have a motor filter (the round thing that looks like a car motor filter is only for ONE speeds.

 

[tolivac]

For the 2 spd Rainbow E2 machines-the separator brush-wrench is in a small compartment on the bottom of the powerdome where it fits over the water bin.the end just barely sticks out of the cubbyhole its in.Push lightly on the end and it pops out-like a James Bond Thing."Q" would say-"this is your Rainbow vacuum.Use it on your next mission-you will need to clean the separator underneath the unit-its brush and wrench pops out from this little compartment under the powerdome just above the water bin!"I cleaned out my separator this time after my machinesabout 4th use.Was dirty.Good wash off-and its now white again.

 

[aarons1584]

This Gold one, does not have a compartment for it. I have two E2-12 Blue vacuums they both have it, this one does not, it is so strange, I think I have the reject vacuum! haha