Roomba 535 brushes not spinning anymore!?

Kroomba · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

Hi folks,

I have a 535 It has been running brilliantly - no complaints until now!

It has stopped picking stuff up, or moving into the collection bin at the rear - I have taken it apart (all the obvious servicable parts anyway), given it a thorough clean (I have always maintained it regularly), and still no pickup. I just started it up without the bin, and the brushes start to spin for a split second, then stop - they just aren't going around any more!

Any ideas what I can do - how to fix? - its from the US and I am in the UK, so I know there will be no warranty cover unfortunately.

All input appreciated

Adam

RoombaHolic · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 98 Location: Mountain Center, CA

Kroomba wrote: . . . I have taken it apart (all the obvious servicable parts anyway), given it a thorough clean (I have always maintained it regularly), and still no pickup.
Did you tear down the gear housing and check for debris? Sometimes it doesn't take much hair/gunk in the gears to cause them to fail.

Kroomba · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

Is that the ;cleaning head module' spcified in the manual? - I have just had that apart, fished a lot of fluff and hair from inside there and around the spindle at the end of what I assume is the motor!? - that rotates only slightly in each direction - is that normal or should that rotate fully?

I also took both wheel modules out and cleaned anything I could find in there although I didn't delve any deeper than that.

Is there a way to get further into the cleaning module without breaking anything, just in case I am missing anything wrapped around something invisible to me at present?

Thanks!

Adam

fancyfreewv · Posted: June 6, 2008, 9:54 am Post subject:

You can find the step by step information on our WIKI section:

www.roombareview.com/wiki/cleaning

From your description you have perhaps done already the second part of this. Make sure you have each item checked however.

Kroomba · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

Thanks guys - I went a step further and checked out the gear assembly - there was a lot of black Labrador hair in there (ours could molt for Britain!) along with general dust fluff - I gave it all a good clean, and re-assembled - at first I tried the Roomba without the bin to check on the brush motion, and they did not go around - however I put the bin back in, turned it off and on again, set it off, and it was working - and with a new vigor I might add!

It does sound a little clattery at times though - not sure if its the brushes, the assembly or what - any clues on that finally?

Thanks again people - I am happy that I haven't killed my Roomba yet! :D

Adam

fancyfreewv · Posted: June 7, 2008, 3:39 am Post subject:

Glad you got it working.

In my case, the clatter happens when the brushes pick up out of their postion as they rotate. That usually happens because either the ends have hair around them or they aren't seated correctly, the wire bale is not snapped down tight on both sides or the yellow bearings are dirty underneath.

Did you replace the grease when you opened the gear assembly? Lithium automotive type. Also did you carefully clean anything around the motor shaft. Mine always get hair around there too.

If all that is correct, could be you are experiencing wear on the square end and a tiny piece of stick on foam on the end might make for a tighter fit.

Kroomba · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

I'll look into that further, and no, I didn't add more grease, but was wondering which type I needed - I will get some more of that today. :) - is it applied all over, or simply on the cog shafts?

Adam

FrankyDog · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 29

Sounds to me like you are justified in getting a new cleaning head module if not just for a backup. They don't expect you to clean your gears and you shouldn't have to. I just went through the same situation and called iRobot support for a new cleaning head module. They are going to send it in 3-4 weeks after they get it in from back order. And NOW i've cleaned my gears and have it running again, although I can tell it's not it's normal self as all the gunk in the gears have heated things up to the point that one of the axle holes has morphed into a bigger hole. I had to cover that hole with tape from the outside of the module because I could tell more gunk was going to clog the gears through the hole.

Anyway, I'd just call them and tell them your story of before you cleaned the gears. The lady in India will have you try a few things that you probably had already tried such as taking off the brushes and putting them back in, and taking off the bin and seeing if the brushes are working. Just tell her what you saw before you cleaned the gears and not what you are seeing now after cleaning the gears. Also if you just tell her that it stops and beeps twice, she will know right away that the gears are(were) clogged.

Honestly, you deserve a new cleaning head and might as well have it on the way rather that waiting until yours breaks down.

Kroomba · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

FrankyDog - that's good to know - however, I won't get a warranty replacement because I bought it from the US and had it shipped to the UK before they started selling them here in Europe.

Can these things just be bought as replacement parts anyway?

Adam

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3313 Location: Louisiana

Kroomba wrote: FrankyDog - that's good to know - however, I won't get a warranty replacement because I bought it from the US and had it shipped to the UK before they started selling them here in Europe.

Can these things just be bought as replacement parts anyway?

Adam

Yes, you can order just the Cleaning Head Module from Chris at:
www.RoombaExchange.com

Kroomba · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

vic7767 wrote: Kroomba wrote: FrankyDog - that's good to know - however, I won't get a warranty replacement because I bought it from the US and had it shipped to the UK before they started selling them here in Europe.

Can these things just be bought as replacement parts anyway?

Adam

Yes, you can order just the Cleaning Head Module from Chris at:
www.RoombaExchange.com

Ah brilliant! - thanks :)

What about your mods for the 5xx series? - do they stop all this from happening? - can I buy one of those from you?

Adam

vogon · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 3

I have the same problem with a Roomba Discovery. The brush isn't spinning, but if I lift it up, then it's working.

Here is the video, you can see the problem:
http://www.vimeo.com/1133137

fancyfreewv · Posted: June 7, 2008, 1:54 pm Post subject:

Kroomba wrote: I'll look into that further, and no, I didn't add more grease, but was wondering which type I needed - I will get some more of that today. :) - is it applied all over, or simply on the cog shafts?

Adam

The grease we normally use is automotive lithium grease. Comes in a tube and Wal Mart has it if you are near one. less than $1. I just spread it on the teeth area pretty liberally and the turning seems to spread it out.

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3313 Location: Louisiana

Adam Quote:
What about your mods for the 5xx series? - do they stop all this from happening? - can I buy one of those from you?

Yes, send me a PM to arrange payment via paypal and shipping charges.

FrankyDog · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 29

http://www.roombareview.com/chat/viewtopic.php?t=9369

Kroomba, I'd give this mod a try for a quick fix. It's been keeping my pet hair further away from the gears since I did it. I just did it so it's not time tested, but my 560 cleans just as good if not better since the mod.

Gordon · Posted: June 7, 2008, 4:48 pm Post subject:

vogon wrote: I have the ... Roomba Discovery. The brush isn't spinning, ... Take it apart, and inspect the gears in the case at the end of the brush-motor (doing this first is easier than inspecting the brush_ends gears).

I expect you will find a gear that has most of its teeth stripped off. If you don't see that ailment in that speed-reduction set, then open up the transmission-set at the brush-ends. A stripped gear may be found there.

Of course, I presume that old SE to be beyond its warranty period, as I suggest that tear down.

vogon · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 3

I took it apart, but it's still not perfect:
http://www.vimeo.com/1136373

Kroomba · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

FrankyDog wrote: http://www.roombareview.com/chat/viewtopic.php?t=9369

Kroomba, I'd give this mod a try for a quick fix. It's been keeping my pet hair further away from the gears since I did it. I just did it so it's not time tested, but my 560 cleans just as good if not better since the mod.

That has potential! :)

I don't think I fancy the bearings mod - mainly because of of the manual adaptions needed to the end plate!

Gordon · Posted: June 8, 2008, 6:48 am Post subject:

vogon wrote: I took it apart, but ... Tom, I visited your site (it was interesting to see Helen in action!), but found no evidence that you had inspected these motor-speed reduction gears:

The pinion gear of the two-gear clusters are often the first to loose teeth, as one has in this picture.

From all the racket I hear in your video, I believe the brush-motor is running; and, when that motor runs, but brushes do not turn, there has to be some missing gear-teeth somewhere along the drive-train!

vogon · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 3

Thank You Gordon, this is the problem! :)
The Brush Motor Gearbox internal Spur Gear.
It exactly looks like in your picture.