All of this talk lately about Rainbows... I just couldn't stand it!  Most people who talk about their Rainbows absolutely love them.  I have a D2 that's in OK shape, but wanted something a bit newer to actually use for a while.  While I would love to purchase a brand new Rainbow, that's just not in the cards right now. Eventually, definitely. But just not now. I found an e-series a few months ago, but I'm missing too many attachments to justify spending the time rebuilding it. When I find a suitable set of tools, I'll invest the time and energy.

So, in the meantime, I've been browsing here and there.  Craigslist, eBay, etc... waiting for something to come along.  Something finally did that I thought would be good to follow up on.  It looked pretty complete, and had one of the boxes -- so that at least meant that they cared enough about it to keep a box.  More than most people do. 

So, after a few emails, I was on my way to pick it up last Sunday.  I was excited, and knew that I was going to need to tear into it sooner than later.  I did plug it in when I got it home, and it squeeeealed when it turned on and off.  Had a bit of a whine to it while it was running too.  So I knew it was going to require the full "tear-down and rebuild" that I would be giving it regardless. 

So, $50 later, I got myself a Rainbow D4C SE (but no cat)!

The spread!

The machine.

Manuals & Mini-powerhead - I'll rebuild that at a later date...

Not un-fixable...

So, on Wednesday, the 4th -- it was really nice, but HOT out.  Robert wanted to spend some time outside, "sunning" himself.  I wanted to keep busy with a project.  So I grabbed the Rainbow, a hand-full of tools, a few towels, a bottle of water (to remain hydrated) and pulled up outside for the initial tear-down.  ((We also had a blueberry pie in the oven -- that's what the timer is for!))

Away we go!

Top cover off!

Motor!

Of course, I got really into taking it apart -- so this was the last picture I got while taking the motor apart.  Sorry. 

Now through the Dishwasher!  I ran about 4 loads, some of the really dirty parts (like the fans, and motor stages) went through a few times.

Everything's been run through and given a wipe down with a microfiber cloth.  Back outside drying!

Here are the bearings... can we guess which one was the lower motor bearing, closest to the water?

Here's the garbage pile.

I ordered many new parts -- everything that's in the picture below, and other items...including new bearings (ya think?)!  I placed my order on the 4th, got shipping confirmation on the 5th along with tracking info -- parts should arrive on Monday.  Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of re-assembly and its maiden voyage! 

Oh, here's the Blueberry Pie!  :-)  It was delicious.

One word for this website.  Amazing.

No parts for models as old as the D2 though... I want to tear that one apart, too.  I'm working up to it!

You got a great deal!  It's so much fun to tear stuff down, clean everything, and then rebuild it.  I was afraid to run the main housing through the dishwasher because of the decals, but yours stood up to the challenge.  For those parts, I've been hand washing with laundry detergent and bleach.  But I think I'll give it a try in the dishwasher!  Parts for the D2 are a little more challenging to find, but not impossible.  Here's one site I've used.  Like goodvac.com, they are very reliable and ship quickly. 

Here's another site that I've found reliable and helpful.  The D2 used two different motors during its production.  Parts for the newer motor are still available.  But I don't know if they are interchangeable. 

Fred, when you run your parts through the dishwasher, do you use the heated wash and rinse options?  I know you said you don't use the heated dry (which makes sense).  Also, the pie looks great!  Wish I could have a piece. 

Well, no -- the machine doesn't "heat" the water, there's no need for that.  I just bleed the tap, to make sure the water is as hot as it can be from the water heater... it's an "extra" dishwasher that we picked up just for running vacuum parts through, nothing fancy.  If parts are super dirty, I'll run them through multiple times.  I also give everything a wipe-down with a microfiber cloth when it comes out, before laying out to dry.  I do hit the "energy saver dry" button -- so no heating element to potentially melt anything, although in a Vintage KitchenAid, that would never happen. 

Thanks for the compliments, Brian... Parts should be here tomorrow; hopefully I'll have the energy to start re-assmbly after work and my personal training session. 

Thanks for the comments, everyone.  So, the parts did arrive yesterday...  But I hit a bit of a hurdle (to be explained...)

To answer the Dishwasher question -- I just use regular Cascade powder.  We also have some phosphates which I run as well -- as DW detergent is no longer phosphated.  But that's a whole other discussion.

So, here are all of the new parts I ordered.  I'm a sucker for a long hose, so I absolutely had to order the 12' hose.

Everything laid out on the dining room table ready to go back together...

There was some grease residue behind the bearing retainer, so I decided to put some grease in there after all (if you don't know what I'm talking about, see this thread -- regarding grease in the slinger ring).

So, I get it all back together, and when I tighten the nut on the spider, the spider doesn't turn freely.  In fact, the whole motor doesn't turn.  I don't remember if it did turn freely, but based on the fact that the separator needs to ride on top of it, I deduced that it needs to spin freely.  I also went and checked the D2 upstairs, and the spider spins with the motor. 

I'm 100% sure that I didn't miss anything, as far as parts/spacers go... so back apart the motor comes again. 

I would imagine this is the problem.  Maybe I tightened it too much, and it broke?  I'm pretty sure it was probably at least cracked before I put the motor back together, but am not 100% sure.  I do recall the nut on the spider being tight, and taking some force to get off when I initially took the motor apart.  That nut is also essentially what holds the motor and fans together, so it needs to be tight, doesn't it? 

Well, this upper fan housing is the one part I didn't order.  So, I placed another order for that housing and some other items I had wavered on getting the first round, but now decided to get. 

Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion when I get my next parts order... hopefully yet this week.

Any advice in the meantime, on how tight the spider is supposed to be would be much appreciated.

Fred, sorry about that.  It's very frustrating when that stuff happens.  Glad to know that I'm not the only one who has those mishaps.  About the nut --  I don't remember in what direction it tightens.  But if it has left handed threads, I don't think it needs to be too tight.  I think it will continue to tighten up as the motor spins. 

The parts arrived on Thursday -- they were waiting for me when I came home for lunch on Thursday.  So I grabbed a super fast sandwich so I could get as much done as possible while on my break.  Here are the parts I ordered on my second round of ordering parts.  I almost didn't order the parts for the Rainbow-Mate mini powerhead, but am glad I did.

I realized pretty quickly that I was in fact doing something wrong.  Everything seemed to make sense -- everything was in the exact order as in the exploded parts diagram.  For some reason, I had it in my mind that the metal plate with the 8 screws (one of the last items you put on when reassembling the motor) went on before the spider.  I could swear that's how the machine came apart.  Well, duh, it goes on after the spider.  I don't know why I didn't notice that on the parts diagram -- I think because I was sure the spider went on last.  Well, sure as I was, I was wrong.  The spider spins underneath this ring. 

So, once I got that figured out, everything else went together in a snap.  I got it mostly back together, but had to get back to work.  I came home that night, and finished up.  Hit a bit of a snag, when I realized the new switch had wiring that was different from the old switch.  So, a bit of googling, and I was set.  Switch in, new cord in, I glued the gasket on, and clamped it to the water basin.  I wanted to let it set overnight before exposing it to water.  Here's a picture from that night...

One more day until I could reap from the fruits of my labor...

So, here's the final product, all back together  -- ready for some closeups!

Ta daa!

Attachments...

New Cord!  The attachment caddy/cord wrap is kind of cheezy, but it works, and is somewhat handy.

That stupid &$#@&^ spider, under the retaining plate where it belongs... 

Cool picture.  I think the "493" means it was made in April of 1993?  Does anyone know what that number means?  The serial number is stamped on the other side.  The motor had "DEC 93" stamped on it.  So that 493 = April 93 doesn't make sense then...  Unless the motor was replaced?

Another cool picture.

I think it may feel a bit out of place?

Oh well, it got a hose stuck in it and I put it to work!  I should have had Robert take a picture of me using it... I vacuumed the whole downstairs and did some dusting with it.  Tomorrow.

I had also used it on the carpeting upstairs, Friday during my lunch break.  Not sure about that powerhead.  Something may not be quite right with mine... I'll have to take it apart again and give it a look-see.  It doesn't sound like it's really doing much.  I know Rainbows use airflow to its advantage -- so is it not supposed to suck tight to the carpet?  I guess I'm just not used to that.  It also runs kind of rough/noisy, may need a new motor at some point.

Really glad I got those parts for the Rainbow Mate as well.  That works really well, and was perfect for the stairs.  I'm also super glad I got both of the longer hoses... Love leaving the Rainbow in one place and not having it constantly at my ankles!

Very, very nice!

I'm curious about the loss of suction and airflow with the longer hose.  I guess it's not significant; otherwise, Rainbow wouldn't offer it. 

Too late, Rob!  I already want one.  But I'd order mine with the longer hose.  :-)

I'm really itching to get my e-Series up and running now... I need a powerhead and powerhead wand for that one.  It also could use a new set of regular wands and a bare floor tool.

I'm excited to use the SE again! 

To those of you who have one of these, how wet is the gasket supposed to get?  I feel like when I'm done, and empty the machine, that gasket is a little damp.  Not sopping wet, but damp enough.

I'll have to check that out the next time I use one.

I vacuumed tonight with a D4 and afterwards checked the gasket.  It was slightly wet on one side.  That made me curious so I latched an empty water basin onto the motor unit and did a visual inspection.  What I found was that the mouth of the water basin doesn't line up perfectly with the gasket.  There's just a little overhang and that's where the gasket was wet. 

Used it again tonight... I needed to unwind after a long day at work.  I'm continually impressed with the constant airflow of this machine.  It's nothing I didn't know about (the fact that Rainbows have great airflow) -- I just haven't really ever used one over any regular length of time before.  It's quiet (which Robert appreciates), and just feels like a quality vacuum when you're using it. 

I put a bit more scent in it tonight (I got a 3 oz bottle of "Fresh Air" to try) -- so we could actually smell it this time.  ;-)

I took it upstairs, to vacuum the carpet.  I had adjusted the gasket on the bottom plate of the powerhead a bit.  It seems to groom the carpet a little better than the other day.  It's still has a little "rattle" to it, and is still a bit on the noisy side.  But I do think it's doing a better job of cleaning than I think it's doing.  That powerhead really does vibrate the floor.

Got Robert to snap a picture of me using it... (with proper Rainbow form, of course!  The machine behind me, hose held in my right hand, coming around my back and letting the tools do the work!)

Here's the gasket after I was done using the machine.  Not dripping wet, but pretty damp.  I don't think it's anything to worry about.  It dries quickly. 

I do have to say, also -- I'm amazed with how dirty the water is.  It really gets pretty nasty, pretty quickly.  I'll be interested to see if the dirtyness subsides after a few uses. It is kind of a pain to fill up and empty, dump out, rinse, then wipe dry.  But it's also part of the process, so I don't mind it too much.  I like seeing what I pick up, and I like that it's not airborne again when I empty it like there is with a dry bagless machine.  I usually empty those outside. 

Both clips that hold the water pan on are starting to crack.  Something else that i need to order... hopefully that will be it for a while!