1

Rainbow SE motor cooling fan has a reverse thread. You will need to turn it CLOCKWISE to take it off and COUNTERCLOCKWISE to install it back.

When installing - be careful not to damage the thread in the plastic cooling fan.

2

Remove wires from Rainbow motor brush terminals.

3

Lift brush holder clip over the bump on the brush holder. Note where the clip attaches to the bridge. You will need to install it exactly this way.

4

Remove 2 screws holding the bridge.

5

Pull the Rainbow bearing bridge off. It may not be very easy but it will come off. Avoid using any tools as this plastic may chip. Use a screwdriver handle to push out the old bearing.

6

Now you can remove the motor field.

7

On older units it is an orange rubber "O ring" on newer it is a metal tolerance ring. There is no need to remove these parts unless you are installing a new armature.

8

Remove Rainbow motor fan casing clips.

Assembling - if you having a difficulty installing them back and they seem to be just too short - you did not properly align the top and bottom housings. See step #26

9

Remove the nut.

When assembling: NEVER test the motor with fan assembly on without tightening this nut first!!! Do not over tighten it.

10

Removing 4 (sometimes 8) screws holding the flange (aluminum ring) may be a big challenge. Use a pin or a big needle to clean the screw head of dirt and/or glue very well so the screwdriver will go in as far as possible so you have a better chance of removing it.

When assembling - it is enough to have 4 screws holding the flange but they must be spaced out at 90 degrees.

11

Remove the Rainbow spider.

12

Remove the outer baffle plate.

13

Remove lower motor housing. If it does not come off right away, remove bearing retainer and slinger ring (steps 23 and 24). Clean motor shaft very well, spray WD40, let it soak and try again. If still no luck - you are on your own. There are many techniques (heating with torch, taking the bearing apart and cutting inner ring with rotary tool, pushing the armature out..) that may work but this is a matter of another separate long article.

NEVER hit the shaft with a hammer. The field coils may displace and you most definitely will damage the thread. Hammer may be used only by an experienced technician who will have to sacrifice a separator nut and who can get the coil back to the original position if it gets displaced.

14

Remove lower spacer. If it does not give up right away - clean the shaft very well (you can use #800 or #600 sandpaper), spray WD40 and let it soak. Hold armature and use pliers. Still no luck - you may use gas torch at your own risk. Keep the flame away from fan blade as it will warp from the heat. You may put the armature in the vise (be careful - do not damage it) and use plumbers wrench. Last thing to do - cut it with a rotary tool such as Dremel. Do not damage the fan blade while cutting. You do not need it to slice through entire length of the spacer. Usually 50% will do then use pliers and twist it off.

When assembling note how the fan blade is installed.

15

Wash the fan prior to installing it back on the Rainbow motor. Let it soak for a while in a soapy solution. If you have hookah or pipe brush - it is great for cleaning in between the blades. If you still see chunks inside after you done cleaning - buy a new fan.

16

Remove the lower stage.

Wash is well but it is not as important to have it very clean as the fan blades as this part is not moving thus will not get the motor out of balance.

17

Remove middle spacer. It still happens that it is very hard to remove. Use same techniques described in step #14

When installing the wider end has to face up (the separator end of shaft)

18

Now the Rainbow motor armature will come out easily.

19

Top spacer usually is not a problem to remove. On older very corroded units you may have to work to get the bearing off the shaft.

20

When assembling back - put the bearing boot into the motor base first, then insert the bearing and only then instal the armature.

21

If you are washing all the parts you can remove 8 screws.

22

Then 4 ring segments and motor support ring will come off.

When assembling do not over tighten the screws. When you see that rubber started flattening and coming out from under the ring segment by about 1/16 of the inch on each side you should stop

23

To remove the bearing retainer you will need a pin or a very thin screwdriver. It will come of very easy.

24

Remove the slinger ring.

25

Use finger or a screwdriver handle to push out old bearing from the opposite side.

26

When assembling - insert bearing boot into the lower housing. Put the lower housing on the fan assembly. Keep turning it while lightly pushing it against the top Rainbow motor housing. and it will just snap in place and you will not be able to turn it (if you can not install 4 motor clips - lower and upper housings are not properly aligned).

Then slide the bearing onto the motor shaft and push it into the boot as far as it can go. Then slide on the slinger ring. You may want to lubricate it a bit. Then place the bearing retainer and push it in so it is all the way in.

27

This is just another picture for you to see how slinger ring is installed. The upward bent edges have to be facing the retainer NOT the bearing.

(in the picture 1 -bearing boot; 2 -bearing, 3 - slinger ring, 4 - Retainer)