Here’s a status update on my RL160 filter change adventure:
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- My 2008 RL160 is apparently different from all other RL160s that I am aware of. My RL has a single opening, on the narrow side where the air collection hose is attached.
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there any other 2008 RL160 owners out there? I’m curious whether anyone else has seen one configured like mine.
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(This is the backside - no access panel here)
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Filter Removal: Access to the filters is accomplished by removing this single panel, then 1st sliding the brush carriage completely out. Once the brush carriage is out of the way, the filter tray is released (by removing 4 socket head screws and two tensioning brackets). The filter tray then drops down into the space that was previously occupied by the brush carriage. Finally, the filter tray is removed by sliding it out, in the same way as the brush carriage. It’s actually pretty slick, and when the filter tray is out, the entire inside is easily accessible from the underside, making removal (and replacement) of the old gasket material pretty straightforward.
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One critical caveat, though: because the entire filter tray is removed by sliding it out the end of the machine, you must have at least 5 feet of clearance off that side (that’s how long the filter tray is). Because of the way that my RL160 was installed, I did not have that much clearance - not even close, so I spent a couple of days working out a solution to that complication.
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A surprise inside: Once I had removed the filter tray, I got inside. At the top of the newly-revealed cavity, at the far end (away from the the input hose), on the ceiling is an opening where the impeller is located.
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(This picture shows the assembly, after being replaced)
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The opening is covered by a 2 part assembly, consisting of a sheet metal disk with a hole in the center (that’s what you can see in the picture). Sandwiched between this disk and the upper panel is another component which has a sort of funnel in its center - the funnel fits inside the impeller.?
When I first saw this assembly, it did not look like the picture. For starters, several screws were missing. Even worse, the entire assembly was hanging down below the ceiling by ~1/16” - 1/8”. On closer examination, I saw that almost all of the remaining screws were either unscrewed, or barely hanging on.?
When I removed the assembly and got a good look at everything, I realized that the the self-tapping screws that were used to attach the assembly to the ceiling were identical to the ones used to fasten the access panel to the side of the machine. The access panel connection only involves 2 layers of sheet metal. The ceiling assembly involves three layers of sheet metal. The screws used to attach the ceiling assembly were too short.?
I actually couldn’t believe that it was still holding on. I ended up replacing all 14 screws with a slightly longer (+1/8”) and larger self-tapping screw.?
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Summary - Filter change is complete! ?Initial tests show that the dust collector is moving a LOT of air - And no detectable dust is being emitted out of the top of the machine (It was pretty bad before the change).
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Next action - David Best shared details of the pneumatic filter cleaning system that he designed and implemented on his RL160. I really like his design, and plan to implement it, or something very similar to it in the very near future. I like David’s design because it’s clean and simple, and does not involve extraneous electronics. I will post more on that when I get started on it.
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Thanks to all who provided help, feedback etc.
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Gerry Kmack
KmackStudios.com
Pagosa Springs, CO?
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David P. Best