Ridgid shop vac dis-assembly question

[Cargo]

Welcome to my current little rescue project. A Ridgid model WD16350 16 Gallon 6 Hp wet/dry vac.

This vacuum was abused by the previous owner. They ran it with no float or filter and kept it outside. They also, apparently, thought that cleaning out whatever vile funk it was used to clean up didn't need to be done either. Luckily, that has dried out for long enough to come out in chunks -for the most part.

Please don't ask why I am trying to rehab this item. That would just bring up issues about my sanity that are beyond the scope of this thread. The upshot is that I am trying to take the motor out of it for some much needed TLC (and to avoid getting it soaked in re-hydrated funk during the cleaning process).

Everything is apart and all screws are out. I have it down to the spacer under the impeller. Does anyone know if this is a press fit item? Light hammer taps on the shaft and a day and a half of kroil have not budged it. Can't pry against the plastic housing with any real force. It could just be corroded in place but I don't know and have not been able to google up anything more useful than a parts diagram. If you have had yours apart or have a service procedure manual, I would be grateful for a tip on how to proceed. Ridgid is closed by the time I am off and can call. They would probably say that "The motor is not replaceable but we will be happy to sell you a new powerhead for a bazillion dollars more than just buying a whole new vac. -because yours is special. It was only made during the last half of 2006 when all the workers got chairs with fluffy cushions and left handed screwdrivers." (Yes, I know. I'm an optimist.)

After you and your significant other finish laughing about the doofus on the 'net who can't even take apart a vacuum cleaner, please feel free to make a suggestion.

Thanks

 

[blue dog]

Please don't ask why I am trying to rehab this item. That would just bring up issues about my sanity that are beyond the scope of this thread.

After you and your significant other finish laughing about the doofus on the 'net who can't even take apart a vacuum cleaner, please feel free to make a suggestion.

Thanks

Walk outside, open the trash can lid, insert beat up shop vac, install lid on trash can, pan ahead 8 or 10 hours, drive down to home depot, purchase new shop vac. I prefer the 5 gallon myself, takes up less space and i really don't need a 16 gallon shop vac.
Happy contemplating.

 

[scott37300]

Ridgid has a parts website that you can access 24 hours a day. There is also www.ereplacementparts.com that has illustrated parts lists. I just ordered some parts for an older ridgid shop vac 16 gallon, spent 22 bucks and have a spare shop vac.

 

[kbs2244]

Fan motors often have left hand threads.

 

[nehog]

Nothing special on my Ridgid shop vac. I had to disassemble it to fix the thermal cutout which failed (at a grand total of 10 minutes of running time!)

Remove all screws from the bottom, remove plastic cover on top, remove impeller cover (seems you have done this.)

With an allen wrench, remove the impeller nut (standard RH threads), the washer, and impeller. Handle the inpeller with special care as it is very sensitive to damage. Remove the lower thrust washer (slides right off).

Remove the two screws holding the motor to the main piece, and slide the motor out from the top. Mark all wire leads carefully so you reassemble and rewire as original.

I've done several disassembles with no problems at all.

 

[Cargo]

The insertion of this vac into the trashcan is tempting but it does still work, surprisingly enough. I didn't need to buy a new one as I have two others and just wanted this one to become a semi-permanent part of another project.

But, most importantly, I am stubborn, bull headed and, to paraphrase JFK a little, willing to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of my energies and skills, because that challenge is one that I am willing to accept, one I am unwilling to postpone, and one which I intend to win (always liked that bit).

Anyway, perhaps a few pics will help.

The threaded shaft is hollow (why? Is it a shear point?) and the third pic shows the part labeled as "spacer" from the parts diagram with no internal threads. It turns with the shaft when I spin the motor. The motor is now loose and only seems to be held in by the (stuck?) spacer.

I was just hoping that someone else had taken theirs apart and would say do this or there is a small allen bolt in the hollow section or mine came right apart - yours must be rusted on or I used a gear puller to get it off, etc... Basically the voice of experience. I have replaced the motor on my other large vac (different brand) and did not have this problem. I am concerned about breaking the hollow shaft by doing this improperly.

Thanks again for any suggestions.

 

[Cargo]

Thanks Nehog. You posted while I was typing (and perhaps getting a sandwich).

Is my spacer the same as your thrust washer? I didn't see an allen bolt, just:
-a regular hex nut
-a flat washer
-the impeller
-the spacer

 

[nehog]

Thanks Nehog. You posted while I was typing (and perhaps getting a sandwich).

Is my spacer the same as your thrust washer? I didn't see an allen bolt, just:
-a regular hex nut
-a flat washer
-the impeller
-the spacer

That 'hollow' shaft... The hollow part is actually hex, and an Allen wrench will fit in and allow you to hold the shaft while turning the nut (either loosen or tighten). I use a pass-through socket, but a standard deep socket held with a pair of vice-grips works just fine, too...

My bottom washer (the spacer) drops right off, not threaded or otherwise attached. Try gently pulling, perhaps it is stuck?

 

[Cargo]

Gentle doesn't cut it. It was most definitely stuck. The hex was so full of impacted whatever that I could not tell that it was not a solid shaft until the pick set was broken out last night. The 1/4" impact zips nuts like that right off, just like the 1/2" does alternator pulleys, so I didn't think to look for a allen recess. This is the second day of working on this, in the odd free ten minute blocks between other things. A drop or two of Kroil and several taps around and around and left and right and side to side on the spacer. And repeat. Go do something else. Come back and repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. (repeat...)

9:15 pm it finally came off. Cleaned up the motor shaft and made a steel wool Q-tip for the drill to get the rust out of the spacer. Still a good fit but now drops off like it is supposed to. I think I have seen welds that didn't hold that well. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[Gregg33]

I've saved 3 "Shop Vacs". I have a 30 year old motor from an old rusted out 5 gallon and grafted it onto a newer plastic canister (which had a burned up motor), I use that to vacuum my basement.

I also have fixed up 2 huge (15 gallon) vacs for garage use. I had a Shop Vac which had a rusted out can bottom which I repaired, but the motor eventually burned up so I chucked it. I now am using a Craftsman. When I got it, I didn't have any major issues but hadn't seen a filter in years and the hose and attachments were damaged and or missing. I spent about $65 getting a filter, hose, attachments etc, I questioned the expense at the time, but 7 years later it's still going strong.

I find most Shop Vacs are rarely emptied or even used with filters, which greatly contributes to their early demise, but if they are well cared for they will last almost forever, especially if they are only used occasionally.

But back on topic, good luck with your fix-up.