Rainbow Performnce

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Miss Mercy

Miss Mercy

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
211
Location
Jefferson County, Missouri, USA
Hey guys!

I've recently gotten my hands on a 1997 Rainbow D4 SE and I have absolutely fallen in love with it! I got it for $40 and it came with the AquaMate still new in the box. However, I live in a two story house and I want to purchase a second Rainbow. I'm thinking about getting a new one, but I want to know what your opinions are between the performance of the first 1998 E Series model and the new E4 Black. I love how the water basin has LEDs in it and illuminates the water. Also, I'm glad that the new PN has the edge cleaning brushes and LEDs as well. Please share with me your thoughts and I'm sure they will help me make my final decision.

Thanks!!

Adam Mercer

adambomb++10-12-2012-21-47-51.jpg
 
My experiance tells me

Hi Adam,in my 13 years of working on rainbows I would say that the d4 Se is my favorite rainbow.This model has a twin fan motor that is easy to service ,my advice is remove the motor and give the fans a good soaking to remove all the dirt build up and replace the bottom seal.You may also want to repack or replace the lower bearing this is the one that gets corroded.

Enjoy your machine
Richard Groski
new2youvacuums on Ebay.
 
Adam

Im shocked that you got one . Manly becuase you told me you didnt like them . Becuase you had one your teacher gave you hated it . But i can see not anymore . Congrats
 
...

Hey thanks guys! I think I'm actually going to purchase a new one. The Rainbow E4 Diamond Edition (Black). Josh I did have a Rainbow several years ago but it wasn't a complete one like the one I have now. I was missing all the attachments, PN,and the dolly. I did hate that one, but the one I have now cleans beautifully. I'm so anxious to try the new one though.
 
@adam

I have the one after. The se . When i bought mine i had the the choice between the se and the eseries which is the one i own . The guy was selling both but i only went with the e becuase the se had the old style power nozzel . And mine was a little up to date . And mine also had the shampooer. But now i want a Hyla
 
Dan:

If the current black Rainbow E4 is so good, then WHY is there talk that it's replacement is coming out soon?!

Besides a new hose handle, wand, lighted powerhead, lighted basin & dolly, it's pretty much the same as the other E-Series models. And maybe I am being too skeptical here, but IF, in the unlikely event I changed my mind & bought a Rainbow, I would be purchasing the first E-Series, as it uses a motor with carbon brushes & the HEPA filter isn't a Washable HEPA filter, like today's models are. I'm not willing to invest money in a switched-reluctance motor when the technology hasn't been proven long-term to be reliable.

As a matter of fact, a good reason to get an older model E-Series is that you could put any powerhead you want with it, perhaps a Wessell EBK340 or Eureka Express powerhead, & get rid of the Rainbow powerhead if you wish. All you would need to do is install the Rainbow powerhead cord on the new powerhead.

Rob
 
What else can be done to improve the Black Rainbow? They've pretty much addressed most everything I can think of.

As far as the washable hepa filters and switch reluctance: The hepa filters past the E series one speed can either be washed and or replaced the same as a one speed. Mine is the Gold 2 speed and I have had no trouble with the motor.

I will mention ONE thing they can improve upon. Those little clips on the end of the hose that snap into the main unit. Those need to be made of something unbreakable. One day I was carrying the hose over my shoulder walking into another room and the end of the hose tapped the side of the wall in such a way that it broke part of the clip off. It was the non electric hose
 
Mark

Well, for starters they need to go back to making the HEPA filter non-washable. The FIRST E-Series E1 models apparently call for a different HEPA filter that is non-washable than the second E-Series E1 models that switched to the Ametek motor with carbon brushes. And they need to DRAMATICALLY improve the waterlift & airflow ratings!! Seriously, both the E-Series & E2 Gold machines with switched reluctance motors I have tried, I have been unimpressed with....I think even the D4 had better suction than they did! And I'm not a huge fan of that new powerhead....they need to come up with a better design.

By the way, speaking of the powerhead....this is what I have heard is the cause for the re-design & release of a new model. I have heard they are having problems with the new powerhead.

Rob
 
I bought a new Rainbow a couple of months ago and so far I am very pleased with it. I have deep pile carpeting and the power head works very well although I think the side rotating brushes could extend further out. Because of the weight of the power head, it feels solid, unlike the FQ power head Just having one hose, the quick connect wands and the lighted water basin are great features.

Gary
 
I sure like mine....

The only thing I noticed was on the goodvac site. They have changed the belt a few times. I am still on my original belt with no problems and have had the machine for about 3 months or so...The width is the only difference if you read the goodvac website. I did purchase a few that goodvac said was the latest, however when I bought my Rainbow, I got a few extra belts and they were identical to the ones I bought from Goodvac. This is by far the best power nozzle since the ones that looked like Eureka power nozzles.


Sincerely,

Bud Mattingly
PR-21
 
I have heard of NO problem with the Black Rainbow at all. I know several people who have had them over a year. If you do run into problems, they have very LONG warranties. Rainbow pays MUCH attention to detail. That's ALL they make are Rainbows in the Michigan plant. Do not worry. Buy the Black Rainbow, take care of it and you'll be happy! Trust me.

Just be aware they take a wee bit more to get used to as you already know. Once you get into the groove, it's not a problem. And the suction may not be 100's of inches of water lift, but at least it's constant, 100 % as if you just put a fresh bag in the entire time you ever vacuum with it.
 
Rainbow's Warranty

puts Kirby's warranty to shame!

New Kirby Sentria II - Three Year Limited Warranty

New Rainbow Black - 8 Year Warranty, the first 4 cover it bumper to bumper!

Kirby should have done that a LONG time ago, since they're so reliable.
 
I am not liking

The new Rainbow or any of the E2. They are loud and and feel cheaply made. Kirby is a better vacuum then a Rainbow . The E2 will not out last any kirby . Kirby is the only company that can say this the last vacuum you have to buy. Now thinking back i should have went with an older Rainbow. I find the Hepa filter a little too much . Isnt water spose to do its job and filter well like they clam . I never liked having another filter besides the water. So if i buy another Rainbow i will be an older Rainbow.
 
To be honest.

Since I brought the Heritage 2 and using a lot. I can smell difference on air with Rainbow and Kirby, The bag started to smell and it not full and it feels empty. I am using The white HEPA Bags. I still love my Kirby Heritage2 but I think time use rainbow. I have been lazy using the Rainbow. lol I wish I had the money buy the newest rainbow but I am happy with mine. Like Mark said It may not have suction of 100's of inches of water lift but it has full time suction never lose suction unlike bagless vacuums. lol I wish Rainbow do bristles much stiffer like Hoover Convertible for my Power nozzle.
 
There are choices of brushes for Rainbow PNs; U can choose a stiff bristle or soft bristle w/beater bars.

@joshdonnell
If U don't like the E-Series Rainbows, I may be willing to trade my old D4SE for the E?

I had a fire ant infestation in my house; & the Rainbow came to the rescue before the exterminators sprayed the outside & inside of the house. Bugs DON'T stand a chance with a RAINBOW!
 
Joel:

You bring up a VERY GOOD point when you mention Waterlift ratings....and for me, along with the filtration, it's a primary reason NOT to buy a Rainbow. When you use a new canister vacuum with 100" waterlift, like any Miele after 2004 with the Vortex motor, Sebo D4, Perfect metal canister....the list goes on from there....Yes, you WILL lose suction using the HEPA cloth bags, no doubt about it. BUT, if you filled up the bag over a month's time doing weekly or twice-weekly vacuumings, & then changed the bag when it was full & suction was low, before you put your next bag in, put a waterlift gauge on it. Chances are VERY GOOD that vacuum will be pulling AT LEAST 65-70" Waterlift through the hose. In other words, that bagged canister vacuum would still be cleaning as well as your Rainbow, & before that when the bag was new, it would be signifigantly outcleaning the Rainbow.

As for the smell from the Kirby bags- well that's just a natural advantage ANY bagless vacuum has,regardless of whether it uses water or not. You're disposing of the dirt each time you vacuum, empty the bin & clean your primary filter, assuming this is a filtered bagless vacuum & not multi-cyclonic or water filtration. Plus, the one advantage HEPA Cloth bags have over ANY bagless vacuum that uses a HEPA filter for the exhaust is the fact that every time you change your bag, you get a new filter. And for those vacuums that use both a HEPA Cloth bag & True HEPA exhaust filter, the HEPA Cloth bag is what's doing the majority of the filtration. As long as you're changing your bags when you're supposed to, you shouldn't be having a problem with smells, & if so, you can always look into scent tablets or perhaps pick up a little bit of carpet deodorizer.

I never have been, and never will be, convinced that Water Filtration vacuums are best. What convinced me is when I owned my Rainbow D4 Performance Edition many years ago....actually seeing the dirt on the Separator, it just makes no sense that the Water Filtration is doing the job it claims. Even if it does filter ok, it's just a good alternative to using filtered cyclonic vacuums & not cleaning a messy pleated primary filter, or having to deal with a dust cloud that can happen with dry bagless vacuums. The E Series models also have the disadvantage of using a Washable HEPA filter, which NEVER filters as well as a True HEPA disposable filter, & DOES lose it's efficiency with each washing. I will always believe that a bagged vacuum, either HEPA Cloth or paper bags, along with a HEPA exhaust filter on canisters, is the best approach to achieve superior filtration results.

Rob
 
Kirbylux - I don't know what to tell you. How can the water not be filtering the dirt if I have a white hepa and clean smelling (on both sides) filter and clean fans on my Rainbow after over six years? After I'm done cleaning, I do clean the separator, but there's never any dirt on it when I do clean it........I've had those bagged vacs with super strong suction and I like them, but I do have to say that after cleaning top to bottom with the Rainbow vs the bagged vacuum, there is a difference. Can't explain it, but there is......I've never owned an SE Rainbow......Improvements perhaps over the years?

I do not have buyers remorse and I have not convinced myself that it's an awesome vacuum just because I paid so much for it. I would completely admit to that if that were the case. But after using it and being the super clean freak that I am, can tell you that it is an awesome vacuum..But it's not for everyone...There's NOTHING wrong with bagged vacuums. They are great, I love my Epic 6500....I just read so many negatives about the Rainbow and most of them have not been true at all and it URKS me.

Joel - You know what you can do to keep the bag from smelling? Take some Rainbow D&A (green) and soak a cotton ball with it and suck it up. There is something in it that kills bacteria and the bag won't smell for a long time! I think there's this stuff Kirby sells someone was telling me about called Odorific or something like that. I'm guessing it is the same thing. Both should work.
 
I learned changing the water more than what i used to. I don't see the separator dirt anymore since. I used to let the water get so dirty and the separator get dirty. Mark i did that on Lux I soak the cotton and suck it to bag. but the cotton soak the bag. Maybe because it's oil? How u do? Do u soak the cotton and let it dry?
 

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