Rexair - Model B & C

[hillbillydan]

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

I just have a small collection, but I like old vacuums. I recently joined the Vacuumland forum and this is my first post.

I have a Rexair Model B, Rexair Model C, an Airway model 55, and an old Tornado shop vacuum.....I believe the Tornado may be the first model.

I have restored literally a few hundred machines in my time as I am a 71 year old retired shop teacher and started working on machines like Lawn Boy mowers when I was about 7 years old. My father was one of a 6 man team that developed the first Lawn Boy 2 stroke motor. The last couple of decades or so my interest have involved mainly the restoration of old wood and metalworking machines, vintage fans/ circulators with cast aluminum blades.

Some 33 years ago I designed and built every "stick" of a 28'x36' 2 story gambrel roof or midwest barn type structure in our back yard that I call my shed and that is where I am usually found havin more fun than I can stand restorin old "stuff"...ho ho!

I am currently in the process of restoring a Rexair Model B and had a question about the internal "fan" parts. Is their a drawing or parts list for a model B that is online?

Thanks ~ Dan

 

[dysonman1]

I have rebuilt many models A, B, and C Rexair. When reinstalling the fans, the eddy plate goes in first, followed by the flat disc washer. The revolving fan goes in next, with the small hole facing you (facing the water when reassembled), followed by another disc spacer. Then the steel tube spacer. Then the non-revolving stage, followed by a disc washer, the next revolving fan, etc.

 

[hillbillydan]

Thanks Dysonman1,
I really appreciate your help. I am not familiar with the terminology you used such as the eddy plate, etc. but when I get the entire fan assembly apart I will try and post pictures and ask more questions. I built a puller to get the lower plate (where the bottom bearing is located) off the main shaft, but I slowly working on the spacer tubes with Kroil penetrating fluid before I force them off.

Being a novice at the terminology ....... there seems to be 3 fans and fan shrouds the fans revolve in ........ are the fans held in place by "compression"?

Thanks ~ Dan

 

[bikerray]

If this helps here is a cutaway view from a model B owners manual

Just as a warning - There is a left hand thread bolt in the upper end of the armature that holds the upper bearing in place. Be careful when you take this out as you can break off this bolt if you use too much force turning it the wrong way. This bolt is under the metal cap with the two screws that hold it to the bearing bridge.

 

[hillbillydan]

Thanks Bikerray for the manual, but I could not get much clarity when I enlarged it to look at the fans and their shrouds (again I am probably not calling out the terminology correctly). A few days ago when I was looking into the bearing condition of the top bearing I did pick up on the bolt under the cap being left hand threads and already have it out in good condition, but concerning further disassembly ..... I am working from the bottom end upwards to attempt to maintain the integrity of the very light aluminum fans and shrouds.

I will ask more questions tomorrow when I get back on this project.

Thanks again ~ Dan

 

[hillbillydan]

Bikerray,

If you get a chance could you please take an enlarged picture in focus of the middle of the left or cut-away side of the vacuum where the "bracketed arrows" shows what I would call the fan assembly. I can't make this area out, but the words look something like the words "power water lift"??? would be a guess.

Thanks ~ Dan

 

[bikerray]

The eddy plate which goes at the top right under the motor is dished in with holes all around the top of the chamber, the top fan fits into this fan housing.

Next there is a washer, then a fan with the opening of the fan facing away from the motor, then another washer, then a spacer

Next the second fan housing then there is a washer, then a fan with the opening of the fan facing away from the motor, then another washer, then a spacer

Next the third fan housing then there is a washer, then a fan with the opening of the fan facing away from the motor, then another washer, then the small spacer

Then the rubber gasket in the groove around the base of the motor housing

Then the bearing plate which will have a groove around it to match the rubber gasket. The rubber gasket also mounts to the base with the outer body holding it in place to support the motor assembly.

Hope this helps

 

[hillbillydan]

bikerray,

Ironic......I just came back to make a post saying that I have the motor apart and then found your post. As I pulled the last fan and shroud out I looked and there was a plate with holes in it that I surmised was the "eddy plate" and it's name suits what it creates....an eddy ......anyhoos I carefully laid the parts out in the order that I need to assemble them. Most of my problem was gettin the collars/spacers and washers unstuck from the motor shaft, but as I found out several decades ago when an aircraft mechanic gave me my first can.......that Kroil is absolutely the best commercial penetrating oil out there.....I have nothing to do with the company, but as mentioned ......it is the best. There are some homemade substances that have promise, but their shelf life is lousy so that is why I use the Kroil. I used PB Blaster on the outside of the fan shrouds that had more "clearance" but on the tough stuff with very little (only a few thousandths) the Kroil again proved to be effective.

OK so much for that rant........I gather that the fans are driven by the compression of them with the large nut on the outside of the lower bearing plate...???

Thanks again ~ Dan

 

[dysonman1]

You are correct, they are compression fit.

Just an FYI from someone who has taken apart and restored hundreds of Rexair cleaners, the fans and stages are dishwasher safe. Use a powdered detergent instead of liquid, which is mostly bleach.

Be careful with the rubber mounting ring. Just gently wipe it off.

The lower bearing (nearest the water) should be replaced with a new one. The original bearing was a New Departure bearing and had metal bearing shields that did not come off. The new bearing you can buy today has plastic shields which do come off to regrease the bearing.

Good luck.

50 Power Water Lift means it will pull fifty inches of lift on a water lift gauge. Pretty good for a motor that was designed in the mid 1930's. About what an Electrolux model 12 had, which was the current model when the Rexair was designed.

Rexair did not change the motor design for 19 years, as they were able to fly through UL when the machine was first submitted (it didn't use water then). After the water was added, Rexair knew they would have trouble with UL listing them since the machine is not grounded. By not changing the motor at all, they could continue to use it without further UL listing certification even after the water was added in 1937. They made that motor until 1955.

 

[hillbillydan]

dysonman1,

Again thanks for all of the information you have provided. I won't have time for a day or 2 to get to the clean up, but I cautiously proceed with that task.

I just live down the road from you at Carthage.

Thanks ~ Dan

 

[dysonman1]

Dan

If you ever want to see the Vacuum Museum, please feel free to come by. We are across the street from Applebees, right before you turn into Wal-Mart, in Rolla.

 

[bikerray]

If you need bearing numbers the small bearing at the top is an 88500, the large bearing at the bottom is an 88502

 

[hillbillydan]

I forgot to mention that you have some great looking Rexairs and I really like the Airway. I have a model 55 that is light blue and it is my favorite vacuum at this time. I taught design and drafting back in the early 70s as part of my teaching block and have really grown to appreciate Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, etc. forms/styles of design and the many derivations of this era of great styling which still effects our lives on occasion. In my opinion the Airway 55 is a great example of outstanding......pleasing to the eye design.

I don't get up that way too often, but it sounds like I just need to plan on coming up in the next few months. I have thought about it before, but I would surely like to see the museum. I talked to a gentleman at the museum back in 2015 about my Airway but at that time was the museum located in a different town, but I could be wrong ......... at 71 I tend to forget a lot of info..... ho ho!

Thanks for the info on the bearings, but I already have some spotted to order. Given all of the wood and metalworking machines I have restored over the years I have several sources for bearings.

Thanks Again ~ Dan