I found a gem at the Flea Mall!

If you're replacing the bearings

The nut that is on top of the spider needs to come off, then take the spider off. You will be able to get to the lower bearing. Most likely you will have to push the bearing out from the motor side unless it is loose in the casting (Highly unlikely)

The upper bearing is mounted in a bearing plate under the fan assembly. To get to this you will need to take the top fan housing off so it will be easier to get to the nut that holds the fans on. This nut is a left hand thread. Once you get the nut off then you can take each fan and spacer off. When you get to the bottm fan underneath that is the bearing plate held on to the motor housing by several screws. The bearing plate will slide off the armature.

You can either
(1)get a new bearing plate with the bearing
or
(2)drill out the rivets and replace the bearing then pop rivet the bearing retainer back on.

Then you can put it all back together.
I've done several of the D, D2 and D2A series.
Have fun playing in the mud.


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Post# 276697 4/17/2014 at 13:56 (3,654 days old) by sonnyndad ()
Checkrate/Likes Yesterday, I went to my favorite flea mall, and I found this lovely Rainbow D4. It works, but it doesn't sound too good. And I have no experience working on Rainbows. The dolley and top plastic pieces are broken. If someone could point me in the right direction, that would be great.

Post# 276698 , Reply# 1 4/17/2014 at 13:57 (3,654 days old) by sonnyndad ()
Checkrate/Likes Oops. Model D not D4. Stupid mistake.

Post# 276709 , Reply# 2 4/17/2014 at 14:21 (3,654 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Isn't it a model D2 if it has the electrical connection for the power nozzle and a model D without it? Gary

Post# 276739 , Reply# 3 4/17/2014 at 15:53 (3,654 days old) by sonnyndad ()
Checkrate/Likes *Not a D2* It is definitely a Model D. The plate says so.

Post# 276780 , Reply# 4 4/17/2014 at 18:44 (3,654 days old) by kenkart ()
Checkrate/Likes *Better get!* An EXPERT to rebuild this...probably one of the most difficult machines to work on ever made....good though!

Post# 276784 , Reply# 5 4/17/2014 at 19:55 (3,654 days old) by sonnyndad ()
Checkrate/Likes *A little lost...* Could anyone give me some assistance?

Post# 276791 , Reply# 6 4/17/2014 at 20:15 (3,654 days old) by BikerRay (Middle Earth)
Checkrate/Likes If you're replacing the bearings The nut that is on top of the spider needs to come off, then take the spider off. You will be able to get to the lower bearing. Most likely you will have to push the bearing out from the motor side unless it is loose in the casting (Highly unlikely) The upper bearing is mounted in a bearing plate under the fan assembly. To get to this you will need to take the top fan housing off so it will be easier to get to the nut that holds the fans on. This nut is a left hand thread. Once you get the nut off then you can take each fan and spacer off. When you get to the bottm fan underneath that is the bearing plate held on to the motor housing by several screws. The bearing plate will slide off the armature. You can either (1)get a new bearing plate with the bearing or (2)drill out the rivets and replace the bearing then pop rivet the bearing retainer back on. Then you can put it all back together. I've done several of the D, D2 and D2A series. Have fun playing in the mud.

Post# 276792 , Reply# 7 4/17/2014 at 20:18 (3,654 days old) by BikerRay (Middle Earth)
Checkrate/Likes By the picture it looks like you alread have the outer plate that holds the spider in place loose. The plate just needs to come out of the rubber basin seal.

Post# 276797 , Reply# 8 4/17/2014 at 21:02 (3,654 days old) by sonnyndad ()
Checkrate/Likes Is it possible to repack the bearings with White Lithium Grease? This is my first Rainbow teardown, and I DON'T want to screw this this up permanently. I'm used to working on Old Kirbys.

Post# 276866 , Reply# 9 4/18/2014 at 08:21 (3,653 days old) by BikerRay (Middle Earth)
Checkrate/Likes If the bearings are open face, yes. If the bearings have a plastic or metal cover over the balls of the bearing, not unless you want to try and get the protective cover off of the bearing. There will be a metal piece over the bearing with what is called a slinger, it kind of runs in grease and is there to keep water out of the bearings. By the way, if it helps, if you go to Rainvac's web page you can download a schematic for the D/D2.