The roller that spins with little brushes stopped suddenly and no longer spins. I pressed the red little knob at the end of the roller but it doesn't fix the problem.

Did you ever figure out what was causing it? I’m having the same problem. Dissembled and cleaned it completely, but it’s still doing the same thing.

There should be a red insert on the right-hand side on the cylindrical bulge behind the brush cylinder. Check that this is moving when you push the button. The red insert should stay pushed in for the brush to rotate. The insert moves in an out as well as rotates in order to lock in the 'in' position. Mine is a little sticky on the rotation and I need to shake the brush head a little in order to get it to rotate and lock.

When you removed the brush roller dod you examine the end of the actual roller that is opposite from the removal opening. There is a gear that the roller fits over that may have gotten stripped when it became tangled. Check that the gear has not rounded off and look inside the roller bar to see if the area where the gear fits into may have gotten stripped as well. You might try to operate the vacuum without the roller brush installed for a few seconds just to see if the gear turns. When I say gear, it is actually a somall "post" about 1-2" long that the roller brush fits over. Hope this helps!

If the brush roller stalls when it comes into contact withthe carpet, it might be that the tensioner spring has broken off. This is adesign flaw in the Eureka4870. The symptoms are: 1) brush spins until it contacts the carpet then itstalls, 2) the brush lever for setting floor/carpet is loose and lacks a firmsetting, 3) vacuum no longer has the feel of being self-propelled on carpet. Itis not very easy to repair and I don't know if a replacement tensioner iscommercially available. To fix it yourself:

1. Remove the base plate by the 3 Phillips screws.
2. Remove the brush roller and belt.
3. Remove the black accordion hose connecting the motor housing to the clear vertical riser on the side of the vacuum. Unscrew it from the riser. Then disconnect the accordion hose from its black connector that screwed into the riser. Then unscrew the Torx T-20 screw that holds the bottom of the hose into the motor base. Then draw the accordion hose out through the underside of the vacuum.
4. From the underside, remove the 3 Torx T-20 screws that hold the red top cover in place. They are located between the brush roller and the two small height adjustment wheels. The middle screw holds the height adjustment knob. The other two straddle the height adjustment knob.
5. Turn the vacuum upright and remove the red plastic cover. This is the most difficult step. Use a flat screwdriver to pry it loose in the hole where the accordion hose fed through. On the other side, where the foot operated upright release lever is, you will have to pry the red cover off. I broke the red plastic loop from here. But it still reseats OK.
6. Still upright, remove the belt tensioner by the 5 Torx T-20 screws, including the one connecting to the slotted arm (it has a wide cylinder under the head). Before removing the piece, note that there appears to be another mounting hole like the four standard mounts. This is the anchor for the spring which applies tension to the tensioner. The other anchor point for the spring has probably broken off, and the spring might be dangling loosely or even missing.
7. Remove the tensioner unit. Locate the other anchor point, which is probably a broken tab with a hole as the anchor point, broken through from the high tension of the spring. This is the aformentioned design flaw.
8. Drill a new hole near the broken tab. I drilled two, at right angles to each other. Drill small holes so as to not weaken the remaining plastic. I drilled ~1 mm. Holes should be between the two anchor points so as to not make the spring stretch longer than the original. Plus, a longer anchor point will interfere with the butting of the plastic edge when in the stretched position. If the spring is already lost then use a replacement that is ~1 inch long (total length) with hooks at each end.
9. Reassemble the tensioner device. Check the operation of the tensioner lever to ensure smooth, firm locking.
10. Reassemble the red plastic cover (3 screws including the height adjustment knob).
11. Reassemble the accordion hose, brush roller, belt, and base plate.

It now works as good as it every did. I will next be seeking a replacement tensioner device from Eureka or a shop, since Isuspect this modification may eventually weaken and break. The plastic springanchor points are definitely a poor design by Eureka.

HI There,

Usually when the belt breaks immediately, this indicates that your roller brush has gone bad and needs to be replaced. I have never seen the motor shaft being damaged and causing belts to break before. When the roller brush can't spin because it's bearings have worn out, the motor shaft continues to try and turn the belt, but since the belt can't spin the motor shaft at that point burns right through the belt.

To make sure that it's your roller brush, remove the brush from the vacuum cleaner, and hold it using just your two pointer finger tips, holding just the bearings caps at the end of the bar, and not the bar itself.

Try to spin the brush using your thumbs. Does the brush spin freely without resistance? It should spin completely around 3-4 times on each spin. If it doesn't spin, then your bar is bad.

If the brush doesn spin, and it continues to break belts, this means that the belt is being installed incorrectly, and is being pinched by the roller brush. Pull the belt forwards after installing to make sure the brush spins freely.

Hope this helped you,

Chris Jones
GoVacuum.com

Hello,

When a Dyson DC07 roller brush does not spin, it can only be caused by one of two problems.

The Dyson DC07 uprights use a clutch mechanism to control the brush spinning when you change the floor / carpet switch. When the brush doesn't spin, it's caused either by the clutch or roller brush gone bad. Most other uprights use a belt to spin the roller brush, and if something is stuck in the roller brush it will cause the belt to break. Dyson vacuums however will make that awful grinding noise rather then breaking the belt.

I'll be happy to walk you through step by step on how to diagnosis this problem and find out which one of these two parts is bad on your vacuum.

Step 1. Make sure the vacuum is unplugged. Then turn the vacuum upside down so that the brushes are facing up. It's easiest if you put the head of the vacuum on top of a bench, or counter top. This is how the vacuum should look:


Step 2. You see on the bottom of the vacuum 3 plastic screws that are usually the same color as the vacuum cleaner. If you're vacuum is purple, the screws will also be purple. Use a flat head screwdriver, and turn each of the 3 screws a half of a turn, counter clockwise to loosen then. After each screw has been turned (you don't need to remove the completely, just a half of a turn is all), simply pull upwards on the bottom plate to remove it.



Step 3. You should now be able to see the roller brush exposed. You'll now need to remove the roller brush. This will take some patience, and some work in order to get this brush out of the vacuum. There is a special tool that has been designed to help you get the brush out easier. I would try getting the brush out first before buying this special tool. The easiest way is to use a flat head screw driver and pry the belt up while pulling up and out on the brush. With some patience and some maneuvering, you'll be able to get the brush out of the vacuum. Here's where you should put the flat head screw driver on the brush:


Step 4. Once you get the brush out of the vacuum cleaner, it's time to test it. Use your finger tips to hold just the end caps on the very end of the roller brush. While holding just the end caps, use your thumbs to try and spin the roller brush. Does the brush spin freely? It should rotate completely several times on each spin. If the brush doesn't spin, or you feel some kind of resistance to the brush spinning, then this indicates that your roller brush has gone bad. Here's a picture of how to test the brush:


If the roller brush went bad, then you'll need to purchase a new one. Here's a direct link to the roller brush your machine uses on our website GoVacuum.com:
http://www.govacuum.com/dysondc07.html


If the brush however was able to spin freely, and it spun multiple times on each spin, this indicates a little more serious problem of the clutch itself has gone bad. The clutch replacement repair is a much longer, more challenging repair to do. There is a very helpful video on how to replace the clutch below so that you may follow step by step instructions on how to change it. It was really helpful for me the first time I did this repair.

If you need to replace the clutch, here's a direct link to the clutch your Dyson DC07 uses on our website:
http://www.govacuum.com/dydcclasfore.html

Here's the video on how to replace the clutch:



When the brush stops spinning it can only be one of these two problems. This clutch mechanism was so problematic that Dyson removed it on the second series of the DC07 models. I hope that this repair was helpful in diagnosing your problem. If you have any questions about the diagnosing, or the clutch change, please feel free to use the Clarification Request form here on the Fixya repair page. If this was helpful you, please be sure to rate my repair as helpful by clicking the thumbs up icons.

Thank you,

Chris J.
GoVacuum

Hi There,

Here's how you can replace the belt on your Eureka SmartVac 4870. I have taken pictures of the repair to help you better with this.

Here's what you'll need in order to complete this repair:

- Eureka Style R Extended Life Replacement Belt, Part 61110
- Eureka SmartVac Model 4870 Roller Brush Assembly, Part 61520 (Only if the brush no longer spins, or the brushes are worn out)
- Phillips head screw driver

Step 1. Turn the vacuum upside down so that the brush roller is facing upwards. Unscrew the three screws that I've highlighted in red.




Step 2. Remove the bottom plate after unscrew the three red highlighted screws. Once you remove the bottom plate, you'll have full access to the roller brush and belt area. Remove the roller brush by pulling straight up on the roller brush itself. Discard old belt, and test roller brush to ensure that it spins freely by holding the very end of each side, also called the bearing caps with just your finger tips. Try spinning the brush with your thumbs. The brush should spin several times around with each spin. If you notice the brush doesn't spin at all, or if you feel some resistance when you spin the brush, this means that your bearings are either gone, or will be soon. It may be time to consider a new roller brush at this time.



Step 3. Remove the new Eureka Style R belt from the packaging, and wrap one end around the the metal pin, on the opposite side of the roller brush. This pin is actually the motor shaft that spins the belt, which spins the brush.



Step 4. Wrap the other end of the belt through the side of the roller brush that has the pulley, and use the roller brush to stretch the brush roll back into the agitator housing. Make sure the end caps fit in the housing correctly by making sure there are no gaps between the roller brush housing and the end caps of the roller brush.



Step 5. After reinstalling the roller brush back into the housing with the belt attached, pull the belt forwards towards the brush. The brush should spin when you do this. Make sure that the belt is not pinched underneath of the roller brush or this will cause the belt to break immediately when you turn the vacuum back on.

Step 6. Reinstall the bottom plate, making sure that the little notches on the front end of the bottom plate tucked underneath of the reverse notches on the bottom housing of the vacuum cleaner. Tighten all 3 screws back into the bottom plate. Make sure the vacuum is set to carpet mode, and turn the vacuum on.

If you have any questions about this repair, or if you notice that the roller brush stops when the brushes hit the carpeting, please just use the clarification request form here on the Fixya repair page. I will then be happy to walk you through a little more advanced repair of replacing the clutch in the Eureka SmartVac that controls the rug/floor switch. Most of the time though the belt will be all the vacuum needs.

I hope that this was helpful information to you. If this helped you, please be so kind and rate the repair as helpful by clicking on the thumbs up icons in the top corner of this repair.

Thank you very much,

Chris J.
GoVacuum

Greetings,

When a brand new belt breaks in 5 seconds, this can only mean 1 of 2 things.

1. The roller brush itself may be bad and need replacing. If the roller brush's bearings lock up, and the brush can no longer spin freely, this will cause the belt to burn up immediately after you turn the vacuum on. You may test your roller brush by taking it out of the vacuum, and hold it on the very ends of the brush with your fingertips. Make sure you are only holding the bearing caps and not the brush itself. While holding the two bearing caps with your pointer fingers, try to spin the brush with your thumbs. Does the brush spin freely? If no, then you'll need to buy a new roller bush for your vacuum, unfortunately the bearings are not sold separately on Hoover vacuums. If the brush did spin freely (you should get at least 7 rotations out of one spin) then see reason number 2 below.

Your model uses Hoover Agitator Brush Part 48414132.

2. The belt was installed incorrectly. When a belt breaks immediately like this it can also be a result of it not being installed properly. When installing the next belt, after you have put the roller brush back into place, pull forward on the belt to make sure that the brush spins when you're pulling forward. Sometimes I pinch the belt underneath of the brush roller, and it will not spin freely, and will burn immediately if the belt is pinched.

It really can only be one of these two problems. I hope that this repair solution was helpful to you. If you need me to clarify something, please just request clarification here. If it did help, please be sure to rate my repair Helpful. Thank you so much!

Chris J.

There's a Capt. Obvious fix to check before you go any farther. Like many vacuum cleaners, the brushes on the Bissell carpet cleaners, by design, only spin when the handle is not locked in the upright position, so be sure to plug it in, turn it on, and depress the foot pedal to lower the handle while watching the brushes one more time to be sure that the fix isn't that easy.

If the brushes still won't spin with the handle in the unlocked position, lift the handle back up into the locked position, power off and unplug the Bissell, and look down and see if either of the two belts that make the brushes spin are broken, as a broken belt, or a belt that's come off the track, is the next most likely problem. Both belts must be unbroken and in the right place for the roller brushes to spin.

These belts can be seen in the clear plastic pieces on either end of the roller brushes. If you're having trouble locating them, **with the Bissell unplugged so the brushes won't suddenly start spinning and hurt your hand**, try spinning the brushes with your fingers while watching for the belts. They're black, about the thickness of two quarters, and the bigger one of the two (on the left end of the roller brushes, as you face the front of the Bissell), is just big enough to fit around both roller brushes. The smaller belt, goes around the back roller brush on the right and to a smaller cog wheel behind it. If you see a broken belt, or a belt off the track, that's your problem.

Here's a video you can watch for free on Bissell's website that tells how to replace a belt. I'm sure the belts can be ordered online somewhere or found at some Bissell dealers or repair shops. Note, again, the two belts are different. If only one is broken, be sure to order the correct one.
http://cache.vendaria.com/vpop/VpopV6.html?ct=13&ctname=CT630X556D630X390&fw=630&fh=556&logo=49&fv=10&ap=vnd_bissell_change_belt_proheat_2x&purl=MAIN_bissell_change_belt_proheat_2x&iid=sbpgzLIuvIlJlJquLvumgwqKqvIqvv&bg=ffffff&nm=BZOpener&curl=&err=0&title=Bissell&tp

If the belts are intact and in the right place, does the metal cog wheel behind the roller brush right turn when the Bissell is on and the handle is dropped? If not, then the motor that turns that cog wheel must be burned out.

I thought my brushes were clean, but here is what I discovered, and it fixed my Roomba.

The yellow bearing on the opposite end the brush rollers from the gearbox will pull off the shaft. These bearings spun freely and looked clean, but when I pulled them off there was hair and junk between the end of the brush and the back of the bearing. When installed in the Roomba this gook warms up and gets sticky causing friction and stopping the brush from spinning.

Use a toothpick to pull this stuff out and the brushes spin free again. I was very frustrated, and this fixed it, works like new again.