Before getting down to the specifics of motors, first unplug your vacuum cleaner to avoid injury such as electric shock. Next, detach the hoses. The filter and bag are the next things to be removed and they are easily accessed by pressing in some plastic tabs or untwisting a simple lock on the back cover. What is left unexposed is the motor and it typically has a screwed-in cover encasing it for protection.
Using a screwdriver, carefully remove the screws holding the canister motor cover on. Usually, the power switch assembly is exposed first. This assembly is sometimes mounted onto the motor cover plate itself with screws. Remove these screws and set aside the switch assembly to expose the motor cover plate. Again, screws are likely holding this cover plate in place, so they must be removed as well. Now the canister vacuum motor is exposed.
Once the motor can be seen, inspect it for broken wires, loose connections or even worn insulation. Sometimes, dirt and dust accumulates inside the motor causing problems. Using a can of compressed air; blow out the dust and use a small soft brush to clean the area. Your problem with the function of your vacuum will determine what maintenance and repair work will need to be done.
To reassemble the canister vacuum motor, simply reverse the order of your disassembly. To make this job easier, you should have set aside the screws in the order they were removed. Once you have replaced the screws and reassembled the cover, put the filter, bag, and hose back on.
Pull the canister vacuum cleaner's power plug out of the wall outlet. Place the plug next to you to avoid any chance of someone plugging it back in.
Grip the hose at one end of the vacuum cleaner. Rotate the hose counterclockwise while pulling it toward you. Continue doing this action until the hose comes free of the socket on the vacuum cleaner. Place the hose aside.
Pull up on one end of the latch, across from the hinge, to release it. Open the latch as far as it will go.
Lift the edge of the canister cover up as far as it will go. Remove the screw from the hinge at the opposite end of the canister cover with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the canister cover off the vacuum cleaner and place it aside.
Rotate the cardboard neck of the dust bag counterclockwise while pulling it toward you. Continue doing this until the dust bag comes free of the socket inside the vacuum cleaner. Dispose of the dust bag in the tras
Turn the vacuum cleaner around so that the back is facing you. Pull the back compartment door down. Wiggle the door back and forth to dislodge it from the hinge slots in the vacuum cleaner. Place the door aside.
Unscrew the corner screws inside the door's compartment with the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Remove the interior lid and place it aside. Pull the filter out of the compartment with your fingers and place it asid
Remove the screws from the sides and bottom of the vacuum cleaner with a Phillips screwdriver. Separate the two shells that make up the canister vacuum cleaner from one another.
Place the shell that has the motor attached to it on the floor so that the motor is facing up. Loosen the screws on the edge of the motor with the Phillips screwdriver and unwind the power cord's wiring.
Pull the power cord out from the shell and place it aside. Remove the screws from around the motor with the Phillips screwdriver. Pull the motor off the shell and place it aside.
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Now if you really ‘n’ truly want to get inside the Rainbow, you need to take off those two clear plastic side panels, with the fake plastic pictures of grills underneath (see photo)
You should insert a small flat screwdriver between the edge, and unsnap the plates (there are four tabs that need to be disengaged) which hold in the faux grills (sheets of paper with pictures on them … they look pretty realistic when they are in place). Once these two plates are off, there are four Phillips head screws that hold the vacuum together (see the next section on Dis-assembly)
To get into the Rainbow, you need to take of the clear plastic panels, with the fake grills underneath (see photo)
You need to insert a small flat screwdriver between the edge, and unsnap the plates (there are four tabs that need to be disengaged) which hold in the faux grills (sheets of paper with pictures on them … they look pretty realistic when they are in place). Once these two plates are off, there are four Phillips head screws that hold the vacuum together (see the next section on Disassembly)
Set the round motor filter (it will probably be very dirty, so you will want to replace it) and the HEPA filter (there are 3 different types, so note which type you have before reorder) off to the side. You could clean these, but the motor filters can be replaced for ~$30, and the HEPA filters from between $5 and $20 each depending on type … so why not?
Disconnect all of the motor and switch wiring. You may want to pay attention to where these attach — there is the water canister safety switch; the power nozzle plug, the on/off DPST switch, the circuit breaker, all of which have neat plugs on the board .
The inside is just the motor, and a lot of rubber gaskets and attachements that hold it in place and absorb its vibrations. Just disassemble all of these by unscrewing all of the Phillips head screws (take pictures in case you don’t remember where they go)
When you finally try to pull out the motor, it is likely that it just won’t release. That is because the gasket is often glued in with a grommet type of glue. Take a screwdriver and force the motor out, and then cut off the gasket with a knife. You can purchase replacement gaskets cheaply on the Internet, and should replace them all whenever the vacuum is open.
