Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 20, 2008 02:22pm | #1

   Bearings are getting ready to retire.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

2. 
   davidbrum | Oct 20, 2008 04:49pm | #2

   I had the same issue with my Rigid vac last week. It was indeed the motor/fan bearings. In my case, they were actually brass bushings which immediately quieted after I dripped light machine oil into them. I only had to pry off the vented cover on top of the vac to access the bearings. Here's hoping you have similar luck.

   davidb

3. 
   Ray | Oct 20, 2008 09:37pm | #3

   Aren't they all noisy?  I wear earmuffs when mine is on :-)  If you can get to the bearings, try a drop or two of oil on them.

1. 
   Henley | Oct 26, 2008 05:22pm | #4

   No, there are a couple of not so loud ones. Festo for example.

2. 
   brucet9 | Oct 27, 2008 06:22am | #5

   "Aren't they all noisy?"I got the smaller version by Fein Tool. It is much quieter than my Ridgid.BruceT

3. 
   bones | Oct 28, 2008 08:02pm | #6

   Festool 33e purrs like a kitten. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

1. 
   Ray | Oct 29, 2008 01:39am | #7

   I'll bet it cost a lot more than my 20 year old Craftsman too :-)

1. 
   DonC | Oct 29, 2008 05:48am | #8

   My Craftsman is also 20 years old. I have replacement electrical brushes but still haven't needed to put them in.

   The Home Depot folks told me that they warrenty the Ridgid vac for life. I wonder if that's true. I can't imagine doing so with bushings instead of bearings.

1. 
   Ray | Oct 29, 2008 05:55am | #9

   Gotta love those noisy old workhorses.  The only "improvement" I've done to mine is install a teflon-coated "permanent" filter - much easier to clean.  I also bought the cyclone lid for a 5-gallon bucket so I could use the vac as a dust collector.

2. 
   bones | Oct 29, 2008 03:36pm | #10

   Yep, but so does most things.  I use the CT33e for all my tools and its great and helps the ears a bit.  Completely picks up the dust and keeps it where its suppose to be in the bag not recurculating in the room.  I still love the old craftsman wet/dry though it has its purpose.  I use it to empty the hottub and like I said catch the dust from the RAS and I even used it as a blower to dry the vet.  She sounds like  a supersonic jet fighter though. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.