roomba varies speed

nirok · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 23

Hi this may have been asked before, however i have a 530 and lately it cleans however its speed jerks from fast to slow... any ideas? i have cleaned our the gears a few times ... is there any other places where is may collect like in the wheels or something like that?? i dont' know if its a sensor thing as when it starts its circle to begin with it goes around and seems to start the jerking motion on the same area it spins ... then i saw it today and it cleaned for a while then it seemed to clean only at this one slower speed, then it would jerk into the faster speed.... almost seems like the dirt is getting caught somewhere else .... this couldn't be anything to do with the gears not been placed back properly or anything like that on the bushes??

Thanks for any help

fancyfreewv · Posted: July 1, 2008, 3:33 pm Post subject:

Turn it upside down, look around the bumper and you will see 4 slots that have plastic covers over the sensors. Blow compressed air into those holes and make sure no dust is on the plastic causing the bumper to not be able to "see" correctly.

You can also use the palm of your hand to briskly bump the bumper while Roomba is held up in the air.

You will see these suggestions and pictures on IRobot's website under support for your model.

All else fails, call or write IRobot for assistance.

nirok · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 23

thanks i'll give it a try, you don't think it could be something stuck in a cog somewhere?

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3288 Location: Louisiana

There are 4 cliff sensors located on the bottom of the front bumper inside the 4 clear plastic covers. Just above them about an inch and hidden inside the opaque plastic plate are several more sensors that the robot uses to slow the drive motors down when approaching objects. The problem you may have with your Roomba is that the proximity sensors are becoming dirty with debris thus causing the robot to slow down when there are no objects to detect. You may have to remove the 10 screws on the bottom of the bumper, carefully remove the bumper being cautious to not damage the cable that connects the bumper to the main circuit board. Once the bumper is removed from the front sensors you can wipe them with a cloth and blow out the area with an air compressor.

nirok · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 23

did this and it seems to be working again, i also cleaned out the gears on the brushes again and after just a couple of uses it seems to have collected quite abit of stuff in there.... looks like that might have to become a weekly clean