Scooba and Roomba - Parts that wear out

tum · Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 41

Hi,

Is there a definitive list of the parts that will fail over time on the robots? I'm looking to buy some spart parts and since I live outside of the US I'd like to order what I need before I need them to save on shipping costs.

On the roomba 500 series I have observed the following:

Gear box: Needs vic's bearing mod otherwise it will eventually fail. This was the first mod I did.

Brush: Doesn't really seem to wear down that much. I'm guessing the bristles will bend over time and eventually not pick up stuff effectively. Only needs to be replaced once every 6-9 months?

Beater: The rubber can tear if the roomba encounters rough obstacles but probably only needs to be replaced as often as the brush.

Side brush: Arms can break after 3-4 weeks of normal usage but there are ways to reattach them. Even if the arms didn't break off, I imagine the 'fishing line' would permanently bend over time and become less effective. Maybe replace the brush every 2-3 months?

Filter: I always clean mine out with a standard vacuum. It keeps it clean. Probably should replace it every 2-3 months to make sure it's effectively filtering out small bits but I bet you could get away with replacing it only once every 12 months as long as you keep it clean. It's hard to tell/test if the filter slowly wears and lets through larger bits of dust over time.

For the scooba 5800/5900 series, I'm less sure because I just got him today but here's some educated guesses:

Wheels: The wheels are made of some foam rubber or plastic and looks like it could will wear down rather fast. Probably needs replacing every 1-3 months?

Bristle brush: Probably wears out less than the roomba brush as it doesn't have to drag against carpet. Maybe only needs to be replaced once a year?

Vacuum port: Don't see why this would need replacing but I would guess a yearly (or more) replacement?

Filters: As long as it's kept clean I don't see it needing to be replaced more than once a year?

Any opinions would be appreciated!

Fraggboy

Hello tum,

tum wrote: Gear box: Needs vic's bearing mod otherwise it will eventually fail. This was the first mod I did.
Nice job!! Your gearbox will last a lot longer.

tum wrote: Brush: Doesn't really seem to wear down that much. I'm guessing the bristles will bend over time and eventually not pick up stuff effectively. Only needs to be replaced once every 6-9 months?
I have had my pet brushes purchased with my Scheduler(Over a year), and I don't notice any wear on the brushes. Maybe get 1 brush after 6 months..

tum wrote: Beater: The rubber can tear if the roomba encounters rough obstacles but probably only needs to be replaced as often as the brush.
The rubber bar can be cut by some things, and might need to be replaced, but that is specific to the home. I would wait to see if your home will cause any cuts/abnormal wear on the beater.

tum wrote: Side brush: Arms can break after 3-4 weeks of normal usage but there are ways to reattach them. Even if the arms didn't break off, I imagine the 'fishing line' would permanently bend over time and become less effective. Maybe replace the brush every 2-3 months?
I would replace the side brush when there is evidence that the arms are getting weak and about to fall off. The time is different for every home. I would pick up a 3-pack if you can find a special.

tum wrote: Filter: I always clean mine out with a standard vacuum. It keeps it clean. Probably should replace it every 2-3 months to make sure it's effectively filtering out small bits but I bet you could get away with replacing it only once every 12 months as long as you keep it clean. It's hard to tell/test if the filter slowly wears and lets through larger bits of dust over time.
You can clean them out like you are doing, and you can swap them out by washing them with soap/water. Mine don't show any sign of wear. I wouldn't purchase any filters(Personally).

tum wrote: Wheels: The wheels are made of some foam rubber or plastic and looks like it could will wear down rather fast. Probably needs replacing every 1-3 months?
My Scooba wheels(Treads) are still going strong. I have had mine for over 6 months now. Just depends on your surface. If you have rough tile, then it will degrade the tires quicker. I would wait for about 6 months and then see how your tires are holding up.

tum wrote: Bristle brush: Probably wears out less than the roomba brush as it doesn't have to drag against carpet. Maybe only needs to be replaced once a year?
So far the bristle brush is not showing any sign for me(6 months). I don't think I will have to replace after a year.. Maybe 2 years?

tum wrote: Vacuum port: Don't see why this would need replacing but I would guess a yearly (or more) replacement?
Rubber does deteriorate over time, but I don't see any wear. The rubber is still soft and pliable. I would think over a year and a 1/2 or longer.

tum wrote: Filters: As long as it's kept clean I don't see it needing to be replaced more than once a year?
The filter is made out of plastic and wire mesh. If you are careful in cleaning the filter, it should last you a few years.

Hope this helps you out. I am assuming that your warranty is null and void since you are out of the country. If you do have a warranty, then I would wait to purchase any items until after your warranty has expired.

wsngmartin · Posted: May 5, 2008, 7:41 am Post subject:

tum
i've noticed that the rubber beater brush seems to get sliced up by my hair wrapping around it. it hasn't seemed to affect its functioning at this time.
also, a reminder that the sidebrushes (and the other consumables) are covered under your 1 yr warranty. if your sidebrushes (or battery, or rubber brush) break or wear out during that period they do replace them.

tum · Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 41

wsngmartin wrote: tum
i've noticed that the rubber beater brush seems to get sliced up by my hair wrapping around it. it hasn't seemed to affect its functioning at this time.
also, a reminder that the sidebrushes (and the other consumables) are covered under your 1 yr warranty. if your sidebrushes (or battery, or rubber brush) break or wear out during that period they do replace them.

Hi :)

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, I live in New Zealand where none of the 500 series roombas nor any of the the scooba models are available :-(. I had to get mine shipped from the states by a third party and that basically means I'm on my own with regards to warranty. It's a pity because being able to get the brushes replaced under warranty would be a big money saver :-(

I still love my irobot robots.

wsngmartin · Posted: May 5, 2008, 8:29 am Post subject:

tum
wow, new zealand...one of the places on my "to visit before i die" list. my good friend who is a world traveler says it's the most beautiful place he's ever seen.
glad you like your robots. they are great little guys. i think if you keep your eyes open for life-extending mods like vic's bearings and take good care of your bot you should have a long and satisfying relationship with your bots.

BOHICA · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

I had assumed the Gearbox modification was for the 4XX series, but the comments above suggest it is for the 5XX series. How do we dismantle the Gearbox in the 5XX series --the box seems to be splayed into place with a special groove, and it is not clear how it can be dismantled. Any response appreciated?

debugger · Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 715 Location: UK - Glasgow

Fraggboy wrote:
tum wrote: Wheels: The wheels are made of some foam rubber or plastic and looks like it could will wear down rather fast. Probably needs replacing every 1-3 months?
My Scooba wheels(Treads) are still going strong. I have had mine for over 6 months now. Just depends on your surface. If you have rough tile, then it will degrade the tires quicker. I would wait for about 6 months and then see how your tires are holding up.

My theory on wheels is that how they're stored is more important than anything else. My first set of wheels lost grip in the Vinyl kitchen floor within 2/3 months and I put this wholly down to storing the Scooba on the "Scooba Mat" where the Tires flattened. For the second set the Scooba has always been stored with the wheels not resting on anything and no problems after 1 year now. I know rougher surfaces will wear them quicker, but I was astonished as to the effect storage had even on a relatively smooth surface like Vinyl.

tum · Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 41

BOHICA wrote: I had assumed the Gearbox modification was for the 4XX series, but the comments above suggest it is for the 5XX series. How do we dismantle the Gearbox in the 5XX series --the box seems to be splayed into place with a special groove, and it is not clear how it can be dismantled. Any response appreciated?

Hi,

Yeah the bearing mod was performd on a 570. The 5XX gearbox is pretty easy to get at. You have to remove the back panel to get to it. The thing to look out for is that you need to unscrew the four screws (two on each side) that hold the blue plastic frame together. Once you have the blue plastic apart, you can get at the gearbox easily.