Water separator squeaks

Had it been mains powered I would have said give it at least a fortnight in the airing cupboard with the filters, dust container, etc. removed. The lower voltage of cordless appliances mean there is less potential for moisture-caused short circuits, motor damage, etc.

The trouble with something like a vacuum cleaner is water drawn into the motor and then it is immediately switched off, the interior of the vac becomes an enclosed space. Placing the unit somewhere warm could evaporate the water but because there is little or no throughput of air that trapped moist air simply condenses into air and water droplets when the warmth is removed and overall improvement is minimal.
You could fit the battery and switch on now and there probably would be no damage but if it was mine I would partially dismantle it and give it another couple of days somewhere warm...

probably too late
water and electrics do not mix and the water will have gone through the motor causing the motor to burn out
you can try leaving it open and out in the sun for a few days but I think that a new motor will be the fix , or a new unit
if the amount of water was small, the dirt in the bag may have saved the motor
if it was running after the water was sucked up then it may be ok but if it stopped then as I said probably too late to save

squeeks in a hardwood floor most times are caused by the hardwood separating from the underlayment (board) and hence it piviots on a nail and you got a squeak !! , there are a few ways to fix this "

if the squeak is located in a spot that is accessible from under the floor , see if you can determine what hardwood and underlayment thickness is , look around behind a floor casement or around a doorway trim with flashlight , find a wood screw that is 1/8 less than this number (two added together ) also locate a drill that is just size of screw shaft you found , drill hole from under the floor (underlayment) just deep enough to penetrate the underlayment (3/4 inch or so) use tape on bit as a gauge , don't drill into hard wood then drive wood screw into hole , the idea is that screw will pull hardwood down to underlayment , screw cant grip underlayment due to hole so this is piviot point . a shot of wood glue on screw threads helps it from coming out too !!


now if space under squeak isn't accessible this is a bit harder but not impossible to do , there are a few special items to get first , one is a glue injector needle !! this typically is used making wood furniture but I have seen a meat basting syringe used in a pinch too, locate the spot close to squeak from top , using a small drill dril down at seam (not in middle of board) just deep enough to hardwood Not underlayment , load up your syringe with wood glue and force it down into hole with needle takes some force to do this , wipe off spilled glue and set a heavy object on this spot for 24 hrs object can be a lg pile of books or I use cement blocks (4) set on a piece of butcher paper (not cardboard) after 24 hr remove blocks and ck for squeak if none use hard setting tinted wood filler to plug hole you made and top off with a dot of varnish to seal it when dry and flat if you still detect the squeak then move over a board or two and repeat process till squeak is gone

It's probably stuck in place by dried-on fine dirt...if the nut has been removed,don't pry it, as it's made from light material to enable the high RPMs. Lightly spray soapy water around the edge, WHILE HOLDING IT WITH THE SEPARATOR DOWN so that the water won't run into the motor. Once the dried dirt's wet, it should be removable with a gentle twist or tap. Then clean the separator with a brush and soapy water and wipe down the bowl and canister, and dry it all with a soft cloth.

Clean your water separator. That is the thing that spins around in the water pan, that it attached to the motor. It is a bunch of slots around it. Like a strange fan of some sort. The nut holding it on is half ench. Use a tooth brush, if you do not have the separator brush wrench. It is stored rite there on the bottom of your vacuum, by the warter separator, in a little slot for it.

Ralph

Your Rainbow might have been damaged. It would be advisable to take the machine to a shop and have them do a cleaning on it. The water is the filter, and there is a separator between the water and the motor. The separator only prevents the water from entering the motor. The dirt that goes in the water is no longer airbourne, so it cannot enter. Without water, the dirt is still airbourne and some of it could have entered. I am sure that most of what was picked up landed in the basin. Is the separator(the little nut on the bottom of cleaner holds this in) full of fluff? Take off the separator nut(there should be a wrench/toothbrush tucked in under the cleaner that is used to remove separator and clean it.) Is there fluff visible up in the machine? If so, definitely take it to a shop. The separator must be cleaned after every use. Never store water in the basin. Those are the 2 main rules for care and use of your Rainbow. Well, good luck with your Rainbow. They are truly great vacuums. Let me know if this helped you. Thanks Rene(the VAcuum Doctor)

Yes, but just the D4 variety, not D2,D3, or E

The main thing to remember about this great vacuum you have is to always dry out the bowl or at the very least keep the bowl separate from the vacuum (top). The D4 motor was and still is the biggest and best motor EVER put in a vacuum, but if you let the moisture sit on this motor by not drying the bowl then what will happen is the spring loaded carbon brushes that make contact with the motors armature will ever so slightly 'stick to the armature. Then when you go to turn the vacuum on the motor will not even have the needed chance to begin it's rotation.Electricity in a motor has to move it's counterparts or it will instantly short circuit. Now believe it or not, as powerful as this motor is, if it can't move it will short. Ironically, you can do one thing ritualistically each and every time you use you Rainbow so that what I just described will never happen:
Under the top part f the vacuum you will see a pot pie shaped thing with a nut in the center. This is the heart of the Rainbow and it is called the separator. Very simply grab it and give it a spin. That's it! Now you have done the one and only thing to be sure the motor is not going to stick. Yep it was that simple, but if I didn't explain it's importance you would never know why they quit making this great vacuum and instead make the latest and supposedly greatest 'brushless' model E2. Stupid in my opinion. All they had to do was put a message on the top somewhere saying, " Before operating, unplug 110V plug, flip top and spin separator by hand to be sure it is free"

http://geeksquad.fixya.com/ThreadView.aspx?prdid=19674&thid=576894
Older Rainbow Noisy
Posted by Capt_Troll on May 06, 2008
I Have an Older Rainbow (i think it's a d4)
my Old roommate ran it once without water.
it Still works now (with water), but
it's Very noisy on start up
Also I Can't seem to remove the separator (no instructions) but the nut at the end of it appears to free spin the motor when i try to turn it.
Can I Take this apart and Clean/lube it? And if so how? Or is this thing on its last legs? Thanks


Hello,
I would advise you to ALWAYS to FIRST UNPLUG YOUR VACUUM before beginning any service procedure. Rainbow E Series Canister Wet/Dry Vacuum. The Rainbow D4 is an older Rainbow Vacuum and the part where the separator is part of the armature, the separator should be able to be removed and that might be one of the things making noise. As normal maintenance the separator should be removed and cleaned after every use and re-installed, then place a newspaper or towel under the motor unit and turn on the Rainbow and spin the moisture out of the motor unit. This should be done every time you use it. Other wise the Rainbow has 3 fans in the bottom of the motor and if they are weak they will make noise from the motor unit as well. Watch out… the repair of the Rainbow D4 may exceed the cost of a new motor of which will solve your problem of noise and separator --- compare the cost and the labor and make a decision. If you have further questions please feel free to contact your local vacuum cleaner dealer. . So if you need further assistance, please feel free to contact your local vacuum cleaner dealer in your area or in the yellow pages, or contact the factory phone number or website to further assist you with your questions.
The Rainbow / RexAir Factory phone number is listed below:
http://rainbowvacuum.com Customer Service
1-248-643-7222 Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST
Thanks, Don the Vac Man
Go Ahead. Use Us.

Try spraying something like WD40 around the shaft, then if you have to, use 2 small flat blades that will fit under the edge of the separator and keep working it until it pops loose. It is just crude and calcium from water that is keeping it on.

Take off the water tank, remove the screw, should be four, that will separate the 2 pieces, remove the rubber seal, remove the screws, 8 If I remember, disconnect the wires to the motor, it should pull out. Replace motor, hook up the wires, screw it back together, glue the water seal back on.