When a Rainbow stops picking up carpet and the water in the basin stops getting dirty, the brush roll is usually why. This is a complete replacement brush roll assembly for the chrome-bottom Rainbow power nozzle used on D3, D4 and D4 SE machines, supplied with both end bearing caps fitted and replacing Rexair R-1866.
Built for
- Owners of 1980s and 1990s Rainbow D3, D4 and D4 SE machines where the brush no longer agitates carpet.
- Pet households, where hair works into the bearing ends and eventually cooks the end caps.
- Vacuum shops and resellers refurbishing D-series machines, where the OEM roll costs several times as much.
How to tell if this is your roll
Rainbow used two different power nozzles and the rolls are not interchangeable. The quickest check is where the belt rides:
- Belt at the end of the roll, over a pulley, with a chrome metal bottom plate on the nozzle: this is your roll.
- Belt down the centre of the roll, with a black plastic bottom plate: that is the later PN-2 style nozzle used on e SERIES and E2 machines, which takes a different roll.
This roll does not fit the pre-1987 D2 nozzle.
Why replace the whole roll
The failure that ends these rolls is not worn bristles, it is the bearings. Once they corrode or seize they run hot enough to melt the end caps and burn into the wooden core, which enlarges the stud hole. Past that point, swapping bearings alone is money spent on a core that will not hold them. Because this assembly ships with both bearing caps already fitted, there is no separate bearing, stud or shield order and no press-fit surgery on the old core.
Worth knowing: a worn brush roll makes a vacuum feel like it has lost suction when the suction is fine. If the machine still pulls hard at the hose but leaves pile flat and grit behind, look at the roll and the belt before you look at the motor.
Specifications
- Application: Rainbow power nozzle with chrome metal bottom plate, D3, D4 and D4 SE
- Replaces Rexair R-1866
- Core: wood, with nylon bristle strips
- Supplied as a complete assembly with both end bearing caps included
- Belt not included
Overall length is quoted differently by different sellers depending on where the measurement is taken, so no single figure is published here. Use the fitment check above instead, or send us your model number.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know when the roll needs replacing?
Bristles worn flush with the core, a roll that wobbles or vibrates, or a roll that will not spin freely by hand with the belt off. That last one means the bearings are gone and the whole roll should be replaced.
Does a belt come with it?
No. Order the power nozzle belt separately and change it at the same time. A stretched belt slips under carpet load even on a new roll.
Will it fit my e SERIES or E2 Rainbow?
No. Those nozzles have a black plastic bottom and a centre-riding belt, and take a different roll. Check where your belt rides before ordering.
Is it as good as the genuine Rexair roll?
It is a long-established aftermarket roll sold through Rainbow specialists at a fraction of the OEM price. The practical difference is that the genuine roll has replaceable bristle strips and this one does not.
My brush is not turning at all. Is the roll the problem?
Not necessarily. Check first for a broken or displaced belt, or something jammed between the belt and the roller. A roll that is stiff to turn by hand points to the bearings.
Discount Cleaning Products stocks Rainbow power nozzle belts, brush rolls, filters and hoses together, so a full nozzle service comes from one order. Our US-based team can confirm which nozzle you have from a model number or a photo.
