Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

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mark40511 wrote:

Hi Mark,

All vacuum cleaners fare better and perform better and longer in the hands of users who keep maintenance issues in the back of their minds.  Nothing works well if you don't take care of it.  However, a fairly large number of consumers in the market for the ultimate vacuum let sales people who are good at their work (and you have to be to unload goods at $1,400 or more a pop) put stars in their eyes but are sadly awakened by reality not long after buying when they find they are required to do more than just push a switch. 

Your situation doesn't seem to fit the usual scenario.   You have more than one full-sized vacuum so, correct me if I'm wrong, it's likely you vacuum more than once a week.  With the frequent water changes made for your Rainbow (not at all anal when the manufacturer recommends it) I'd think you'd should have a cleaner running machine.  Hoverver, I'd still be curious to see the machines inner workings.

As for too good to be true . . .

Of the older brands I've seen only Filter Queen appeared to live up to claims even before the brouhaha about filtration.  By removing the metal cones on the models I had I found no fine dust beyond them or their secondary filters.  There were carbon emissions from the motor but I think most of that got caught in the muffler ring though then -- not now -- made of very heavy batting.  I checked out Rexairs and Rainbows I've had and found residual dust beyond the "spider" which the separator is seated on. Nonetheless, what both companies may depend on is that most owners of either brand won't bother to look.

The first thing I was taught about doing good work was that it meant not only being thorough but being efficient so that you could finish quickly and get on to the next thing.  That still applies -- no time for dawdling, no time for fuss that can be avoided.  Traditionally vacuums were made to be attractive for use by women who worked in the home all day, not men.  (About the only thing done for "working women" was designing typewriter keyboards to suit the reach of their smaller hands and fingers.)  However things have changed greatly and the best use of one's time -- man or woman's -- is now a near essential.  Due to bulk, weight and the regimen necessary to keep one worth having, Rainbow does not fit the modern day bill.  I'm not saying that them that wants 'em shouldn't have them but that I find it awfully strange the way eBay and Craig's List are full of people trying to recoup on their investment in not only beat-up but near new Rainbows.

Hi Venson

When I bought mine in July 2006, In the manual, it stated that the separator was self cleaning. Initially I just took the separator off when done and rinsed it really well after rinsing the basin and just placing them on a towel to dry outside the closet by where I store my Rainbow. The separator has some kind of material where (unlike the Pre E series) nothing sticks to it. I remember my grandmas d3 separator needed to be visibly cleaned. At any rate.......I took a clean toothbrush and cleaned the small fins of the separator and the toothbrush to my horror was dirty.......Even though Rexair stated that it was self-cleaning.......It really still needed to be cleaned, and at FIRST, I wasn't doing that. Now I just clean it every time after I use it.

For some reason, for a short time when the Gold 2 speed's were sold, they didn't include a brush and called the separator self cleaning.........then they added the brush back...........It must have been at the time I got mine I got one of the (short production runs) where they didn't include the brush and changed the wording in the manual.........

If I clean the separator after every use, there is no dirt at all on the white toothbrush.

I can see inside my machine when taking the hepa filter off........and there is an ever so slight amount of white haze (which is probably dust).........but it's ever so slight and not even worthy of taking apart and cleaning.......

I suspect that had I cleaned the fins each time, this wouldn't have happened.......But even with that, the inside of the machine still smells fantastic and whatever slight amount of dirt that did escape didn't seem to be enough to even clog the hepa filter. Since then, underneath the area where the separator goes, you can see the fan area on the shaft, which had a slight film on it and I wiped that off (perhaps three years ago) .......It's the only part of the fan that you can actually wipe off without taking the machine apart........Since I wiped that off, and have cleaned the fins of the separator each time, that visible area of the fan (near the shaft) has no film on it at all.........So keeping those fins of the separator clean I think are KEY to keeping the fans clean (as well as keeping the water changed)

Do you know how to take an E 2 Gold speed apart and clean the inside?

"Do you know how to take an E 2 Gold speed apart and clean the inside?"

Hi Mark,

I have never taken apart one of the new Rainbows and don't advise any one who isn't "handy" to try it.

However, IF you are mechanically inclined with a reasonable understanding of electrical dos and don'ts its more an issue of common sense.  You put it back together in exact reverse of how you took it apart.  Thus, take very careful note of what you do, step by step, in dismantling the machine AND do not use undue force to get anything apart.  That said, since you've never done this before, try assembling and disassembling an old not much needed canister machine of any type to get yout feet wet and to hone your knowledge and skills.

Very old models of the brand (RexAir Models B and C) were difficult to totally disassemble and put together again but I had little problem getting the "chrome dome" Ds and later models apart and back together again. 

If you decide to give it a go, the best of luck.  However, I do not advise that anyone without a good idea of what they are about should set out to repair or clean any electrical appliance in areas beyond those that are easily accessible.  If such matters are improperly handled, you may be in line for damage to your appliance requiring professional repair, reduced performance and/or electrical shock.

Best,

Venson

No WAY I'm taking it apart! (LOL)

I was just curious if YOU knew how. With mine you can pretty much see inside really well with the hepa out. It really doesn't look bad at all. Really not worthy of taking it apart to clean it. Perhaps years from now if I don't do a trade in which I highly doubt I will.

Just to add:

I did call the local distributor a while back to see what the trade in value of mine would be. I told them it's great condition and wanted to know how much it would be if I upgraded...........I told him that I did not need a demo; I know all about the machine. He said ..........2200.00 AND my Rainbow (but that would be with EVERYTHING) and I said WHAT??????? Really? I only paid 1600 for mine new and you want 2200 for this AND my Rainbow? That's insane! I told him I was sorry I wasted his time but that really I just wanted to know an estimation of the trade in value of mine. He then said he would go down to 1800 AND my Rainbow.  I told him it was a shame these are so overpriced due to the way they are sold and everyone needs to get their cut. I said they are great vacuums but they are NOT worth THAT much! I think he would have gone lower but that's just crazy. I'm not giving them a perfectly good two speed Rainbow only to have to pay full price for a new one. GRRRRRRR

Hi Mark,

It's standard practice that no matter how much you get talked into paying for it -- once you take the appliance of your dreams out of the store the purchase suddenly becomes worthless even to the establishment you purchased it from. Adding insult to injury, I seldom see anything by way of quality to justify the high prices asked. 

Personally, these days I'd never think of bothering to trade a vacuum since there's eBay.  If a vacuum of a popular brand, though used, is in very good condition it probably will go for substantially more on the internet than you'll ever get from a dealer. 

New, nearly new and in great shape Rainbows, Kirbys and other high-end vacs turn up on the market by way of eBay and amazon.com soon enough.  It just takes a little patience to wait for one to come along.  Keep an eye out.  I will mention however that new Kirbys and also Rainbows, I believe, are not covered by warranty if not sold by a seller recognized by the company.

Venson