SteamVac / Vax Brushes frozen and don't spin. Replace the bearing, not the motor. Less than $10 fix.
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- Fix a Hoover Steam Vac / Vax Dual V carpet cleaner with brushes that have seized up due to constant leaks. Bearings may have failed, but the fix is easy.
Usually the only fix is to purchase a new brush motor, but they are not easy to find and they're increasing in cost. This solution keeps the cleaner going strong and avoids sending it to the landfill.
The same technique should work for other extraction cleaners of similar design. (I'm getting reports that the same fix works for Vax Dual V, All Terrain and other brands too!)
In this video:
Disassembly of cleaner 00:00
Remove motor assembly and replace bearing: 3:43
Reassemble the cleaner and test: 12:03
Here are the items I bought on Amazon for this project:
Bearings: amzn.to/3eNzftX
WD-40 to penetrate rust: amzn.to/2VvBjio
3-In-One oil to lubricate: amzn.to/31xHgzw
If your bearing rusted because of tank or valve leaks, there is also a video on how to seal the tank • Repair cracked, leakin... , and a short one on how to replace the valves • Replace leaky valves o...
If you found this video helpful, please Like, Comment, Subscribe and Share! And, if you have ideas, questions, comments, or images of YOUR project, you can post them on the Uncharted DIY article page at uncharteddiy.com/hoover-steam...
See UnchartedDIY.com for more how-to information, videos, details and links to resources.
Intro music by monkeyman535, freesound.org/s/466981/
If you purchase from one of the provided product links, Uncharted DIY may receive a small commission at no cost to you. - Jak na to + styl
![Best Carpet Cleaners 2024 [don’t buy one before watching this]](/img/n.gif)
Did i miss where you listed the bearing part number and perhaps where to purchase? Great instructional video. Thank you.
Hi Bob! Thanks for asking. The link to the Amazon bearings I bought is in the description below the video. You probably need to click the "SHOW MORE" link to see it. Let me know if you have any questions.
I don’t see part #
@@samuelsilbermanll806 Here's what I used for mine: Bearings: amzn.to/3eNzftX R4-2RS Sealed Ball Bearing - C3-1/4"x5/8"x0.196" - Lubricated - Chrome Steel
Thanks for the teardown bro.
Anyone else attempting to repair this: my bearing wasn't too far gone. I freed everything up and cleaned and greased lightly with a silicone grease and reassembled. From now on I'm going to clean and dry both tanks then run in a dry area for a few minutes to clear the moisture from the impeller area. Shame they didn't use stainless parts in a wet application but here we are.
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Many thanks from the UK. I managed to free up my turbine bearing in about 45 minutes with your film. You've saved me my morning. 👍👍😀😀
Thanks for letting me know this helped you!
Increíble!! Hablo Español y entiendo un poco de Inglés pero con la explicación que diste me doy una idea de como hacerlo. Tu vídeo es tan bueno que me suscribí para conocer más de tu trabajo!! A los 62 años arreglaré mi lava alfombras. Thank you so much!!
¡Estoy tan feliz de que te haya gustado y gracias por suscribirte! ¡Pronto tendrás tu limpiador de alfombras funcionando como nuevo!
That was one of the best informative video ever!! Great job.
Thank you for watching. I have more DIY goodness in the works, so stay tuned!
This video was terrific! I am a carpenter but don't like fixing mechanical things. You gave me confidence (and detailed instruction) to tackle this. Could not find replacement bearings (on a Saturday...) but was able to soak and clean and get the spinning nicely. Back together and no leftover screws. THANKS!!
I'm really happy you found it useful. Thanks for the great feedback, MJ!
Thanks for the video! It really helped me out! I had to replace both bearings on mine. I placed the unit, impeller side up, on my vice with the jaws about 1/2” or so open, letting the shaft drop thru. Then I lightly tapped the shaft in the center of the turbine with a punch and hammer. It came out daily easily. Next I put the shaft loosely in the vice, resting on the bearing, and tapped it off the shaft. Tapped the new bearing on, then tapped the turbine back on carefully with a hammer. Works great!
Thanks for letting me know it helped and I'm so glad to hear it worked out for you! I'm sure it works like new now - way to go!
Thank you for this video. Because of you I was able to get my steamvac brushes working again. Had to take it apart and clean the bearings and gears, but in the end it worked. Great job on explaining the steps!
Thanks for letting me know it helped you out, Doug. I love hearing success stories, and nice work fixing your machine!
Thank you for making this video, I have a different Hoover carpet cleaner but watching your video gave me the courage to fix it, which I did accomplish and the machine is working. Easy fix! Thank you!!!
Yay! I'm happy it helped, and nice work fixing it 😃
Great video! I cleaned my brushes and this helped me get them spinning again. Easy project thanks to this video.
Thanks for letting me know. I love to hear success stories!
You nailed the problem and the proper way to fix the steamvac. It cost me $10+ for the link of the bearing at Amazon. The top bearing was rusted and replaced. The bottom bearing was stuck but not rusted and restored to working condition after cleaning with WD-40. instruction was spot on. Vac is back to working condition. Thanks for the great video!
I'm so happy I could help, AA!
Well done tutorial. Thanks for being so clear about the steps required.
So glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for the video. It helped me diagnose the issue on mine. The bearing was fine, but the metal splined shaft from the turbine had worn away the teeth in the plastic helical gear that would then turn the second gear with the square drive. Fortunately, enough was left to reverse engineer and allow me to design and 3D print a replacement!
I am so glad it helped you out, and reverse engineering the gear is genius. When I first got my 3D printer I had no idea it would be so incredibly useful, but I have fixed SO MANY things with it! If you end up posting the .stl file somewhere, I'd be happy to post a link in the video description to help other people with printers fix theirs too. Happy carpet cleaning!
Many thanks for a clear and easy to follow guide. You've saved me £££ and I've also avoided a migraine. 👍👍👍
So happy I could help Calum!
Hello Bob, I`m in England and these were sold as Vax V-124 Dual V. this was a great help to show how it comes apart, as I didn`t see the 2 screws underneath when I looked before. So thanks for the info. :-)
I am so happy it helped. Some of those screws are pretty stealthy!
Thanks a million. Yours was the clearest set of directions of all the repair videos on topic. This was great, esp. for novice like me. Thank you!
I'm glad you found it helpful!
Great Video. Much appreciated. I feel sorry for others with the bad product I purchased as well. I feel this will help them greatly if they are into fixing things. Nice work!!
Yes, it's a shame that Hoover / Vax does not stand behind their products and that we have to fix them ourselves. At least the fix isn't too difficult or expensive! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this video! You did an outstanding job! Very thorough and detailed explanation. Good camera angles, lighting, and clear audio.
You left nothing to guess at. I have subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Mark! I'm happy you found it helpful!
What a fantastic video! I'm not very confident taking things apart but your video is so easy to follow. I've followed your instructions and I have a ball bearing missing. I've used the link you posted and ordered a few new ones. Fingers crossed that will solve the problem. Thank you very much, you're an excellent teacher. 👏
Thank you! Please let me know how it goes 😃
Thank you! This solved my problem. Great video. Clear, concise, and accurate! I subscribed!
Yay! Thanks for letting me know, Terri. I'm happy to hear this is helping people!
Thanks for Sharing , this really helped me out to finally get my brushes to spin . On mine , my wheel was cracked and that’s why it wouldn’t spin , all the bearings were in good condition !
Thanks again Buddy! 👍🏼
So happy I could help!
@@UnchartedDIY 🙏🏼
This was great - was able to get those brushes spinning again. Thanks a million!
I'm so happy it helped, and you should be proud for bringing it back to life! 👍
Great video. Saved me a few hundred by not buying a new machine. Easy fix. Thanks!
Thanks for letting me know this is helping people!
Thank you so much for being such a good teacher. This was rocket science to me until I watched your video. God Bless you
Thanks for watching, Garra. It makes me happy to know that I'm helping people fix what is otherwise a good machine!
Thanks for an excellent video. Could not have fixed it without you.
So happy to hear it worked for you, Evan. One less machine going out with the trash!
Thank you for this, Vax branded cleaner but exactly the same as your Hoover. £3.35 fix and just a little time to soak the top bearing.
I'm really happy to hear that this works for other brands too! Thanks for letting me know. That's one less cleaner headed for the landfill!
Tony Ryan, UK
Thanks for your help through the video! My VAX had a broken turbine rotor, probably due to seized lower bearing. Super glued rotor, cleaned, re-oiled and greased bearings, now running fine again!
You're a smart fellow, thanks...
TR
Thanks Tony. I'm glad to hear it was helpful, and I love that you were able to super glue the rotor and get it going again! That's one more machine that will live on to keep cleaning.
Did it continue to work?
One of my cogs has cracked all the way through. Have superglued together but hasn't worked out for me. Hopefully leaving it to soak overnight may help.
Not got standard WD-40 so trying with the white Lithium grease. Hopefully performs same
White lithium is a useful lubricant, but it is not going to help penetrate the rust. WD-40 works great but there are other types that are specifically meant as a rust penetrant, so that's what I'd recommend.
It might be worth replacing both bearings if the penetrant doesn't work. I didn't need to, but several people were able to get the other bearing out to replace it. They explained how in the comments.
Thanks for all your comments and still responding to people.
I had 'just one more try'... Caked on the lithium grease, made sure I moved all parts and worked it in. Put all back together and left it around 1 hour.
Turned it on and the brushes finally managed to fire up. 😁
Will leave it 24hours and try doing some carpet cleaning tomorrow.
Thanks once again. Really happy that my time seems well spent and I can give further credit to your video 👍
Great video. Fixed my Steam Vac. Thank you.
Yay! Nice to hear, and thanks for letting me know!
Very helpful! My gears locked up and your video was very helpful with disassembling.
Yay! I'm so glad it helped you 👍
A big thank you🖒🖒🖒you have saved me a repair bill.Very easy to follow and explained very clear.Mine is a vax but apart from 1 screw different all exactly they same .
only 1 issue I have 2 screws over but it's all up and running. 🖒🖒🖒🖒🖒
Thank you for watching and sharing your feedback. I would not have known that a Vax carpet cleaner could be fixed the same way, so your comment will help others too!
Exactly what I needed! Thank you!!
I'm so glad you found it helpful!
Thank you. Able to fix mine exactly as you instructed. Much appreciated.
Yay! So happy it helped, Carol!
CZcams should require other DYI content creators to first review your videos before posting their content. Very clear, great camera positions and no unnecessary fluff talk. Thanks
Thanks Charlie!
Love the tear down video ❤ but before anyone do this disassembly, first check and clear the intake filter located inside the clear plastic on the left front side of the vacuum. The filter on my Hoover SteamVac deluxe had a half an inch thick full of debris keeping sufficient air from reaching the turbine which then causes the agitator brush to not turn.
I’ve had mine for 22 yrs and never cleaned this filter because like most people, I didn’t read the user manual 😂 the manual stated cleaning the filter as part of maintenance.
BTW, I bought a Bissell Pro Heat 2x pet carpet cleaner at Walmart ($188 rollback sale) thinking that a new vacuum with modern technology should perform better but returned it because it failed to outperform my 22 yr old Hoover. Suction wasn’t as good and it left clumps of dirt that it failed to pick up, never happened with the old Hoover. I’m now convinced that Hoover makes the best carpet cleaner and will get another Hoover when the time comes to replace this vacuum sometime in the future when the motor eventually dies. However, I’m not committed to a particular brand and would try to pick a model based on the best performance for their particular use. I have a Dyson for regular vacuuming, Hart spot carpet vacuum for the occasional pet accidents and a portable Ryobi rechargeable battery powered vacuum because this is probably the most powerful handheld vacuum I’ve ever owned.
That's a great reminder, virtudesign! No need to go "under the hood" if you don't need to.
I agree they are really effective cleaners with a few issues that can be fixed, though finding parts is becoming tough. Hoover would rather not support older machines, and the new ones are only designed to last a few years.
Like you, I intend to keep mine running forever!
Very well explained. Have subscribed for future stuff- thanks
Thanks Gary. More stuff is on the way!
great in depth video!
Thanks!
Thank you so much! Your video was very helpful. My model was a little bit different but I was able to figure it out.
I'm really happy it helped you, Lois. Now, everytime you use it, you can be proud that YOU figured it out and fixed it! Nice work 👍
I like this video. Quick and to the point
Thanks, Murphy. Glad you liked it!
Brilliant! Great detail and clear explanation - saved my machine Thanks
That makes me so happy to hear, @chrisnwhite! Thanks for letting me know!
Thank you. What a great video, as long as you are not deaf and can't read anyone could fix this. I was thinking this had a electric motor and I burnt it to a crisp.
I'm you found it easy and you fixed your machine. Nice job!
Thanks for your help. We had this problem with a Vax Dual V. Slightly different arrangement of screws, etc., but it's very similar to your model.
Thank you for letting me know you found it helpful, Tim. It's nice to hear that it also works for these other models too!
I'm here after spilling tea on the carpet and realising that my Dual V brushes still don't work. Was it the bearing for you? Hopefully not much different to this as will have a go later taking apart to see if I can fix. Also was it the same size bearing as this video?
@@markymoo22 For me it was the bearing that was seized but I was able to ease it back into free movement. (Can't remember how - I probably cleaned it up a bit?) So I didn't have to replace the bearing.
Edit: just noticed you asked this question ages ago... for some reason CZcams just notified me about it and I didn't notice how old it was!
Thank you, Sir. Im planning to buy one of those carpet cleaners. I want to make sure it will last, so I will do it right after buying.
You are welcome, and thanks for watching!
@UnchartedDIY so I opened brand new one and there was shit tons of grease on those white gears and from it, little bit on bottom bearing. I still add some lubricant/preservation regardless on both of the bearings.
That's a good idea, and watch out for sustained leaks so the water doesn't get into those bearings in the first place.
@@UnchartedDIY thank U sir, I will.
Excellent advice thank you for sharing this information 😊
I'm happy it helps! Thanks for watching 👍
TOP TIP: if you find your brushes are clogged up with bits of hair etc and want to clean them easily, use a gents hair comb and comb the hair out of the brushes. I did this and also used a toothbrush with some dishwater soap and got oil residue out of the brushes + all the fibres that were clogging up the brush bristles. The result looked like new brushes.
Great tip, Alexander! Thanks 👍
Comb worked like magic, thanks.
Talking of cleaning brushes. I vacuum a couple time before shampooing to remove pet hair and large items that mess up a shampooer. This tutorial is really a great one.
It's one of those carpet cleaners that you love and hate at the same time. Just like Hoover's competition with their water heaters that clog up with minerals and then the jets don't work.
Yeah, poor design that abuses bearings. I took my turbine unit apart about 3 years ago too to see what I could do and I remember that I couldn't dislodge a bearing for replacement, so every springtime, I pop out the brush cartridge and use a 3/8 hex/allen key in the middle drive socket to break it free. I could use the hex/allen socket in the brush heads, but I don't want to break the main driveshaft for the brush cartridge. It's been working like this for a few years, so a minor inconvenience once a year which isn't a big deal.
That love hate thing is so true. And yearly isn't too bad!
Your video is very informative and great. I have to fix my uncle's hoover steamvac carpet cleaner soon since it has the same issue. The brushes do spin but they stop spinning with the slightest bit of resistance on them so I need to see if the bearings are shot and if everything inside needs greased which probably does. It is a very old carpet cleaner so I can imagine it needs a serious tune up. My grandma used to have it for a long time before my uncle got it and it is like at least 20 years old, lol.
Thanks for the feedback! I suspect you'll be surprised how well it works after it gets a good cleaning and lubrication. Let me know how it goes!
This helped. Thanks for clean explanation.
Happy I could help, Himanshu! 👍
Just fix mine today same problem. But was old durty grease in there and after cleaning it all, I added synthetic grease all over inside as it should be in the gearing. I was surprise you didn't add any
Thanks so much! Solved our problem.
Yay! Thanks for letting me know Shawn!
Thanks for the vid, just had do mine, fan was stuck lucky I just got moving by spinning it , oiled the top bering, All is good, only trouble is now no excuse not to clean the carpets😅
You are welcome and nice work! Maybe I should produce a video on DIY procrastination techniques 😁
Will you marry me!!! Just kidding I'm married, but I watched your video and fixed my machine!! Thank you for putting this on youtube, it saved me from buying a new one - I didn't need a new bearing, the bottom one was rusted stuck (or when you flip it over the top one) so I used W-D 40 and used a square head screw driver to crank it underneath and free it - it was frozen. I did take it apart and do everything you showed - I would have never known where or how to fix a bearing. My machine is 10 years old and the brushes haven't spun this good for years! Really fixed it great and I just cleaned my carpets - works perfectly! Keep putting out great videos - I bet your wife is proud of you - you're a stud!
Wow! My first CZcams marriage proposal! You can't see it, but I'm blushing 😊😊
Thanks so much for sharing feedback, and I love that you didn't even have to replace the bearing! It makes me happy to know that my video is helping people fix their machines and saving them from going to the landfill!
thanks, saved me buying a new one. Was a gap in the impeller housing for me, the screw boss snapped off, superglued.
Thanks for letting me know. It makes me happy to know these videos are helpful!
No one else had information as good as you, I was lost without it TY 👍
I did tho opening and re and had 4 screws left over,, it now works and i will live with that
I guess you now have 4 spares for next time 😃
Great video! Thank you
You are welcome, Susana. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much. Your video is superb😄
Thank you. Happy to help!
Excellent video!!! Really helped me out man
Thank you, and happy it helped!
thanks video worked and my unit is working again.
Nice work! I'm glad it helped you out 👍
Thank you, that was very helpful
I'm happy it helped!
Great video
Thanks, Brodus!
nice job. I have done the same fix many times. Sometimes it is just dirty in there.
Yeah, sometimes it's the simple stuff!
thanks for the video, it helped me a lot. however, my problem was a broken turbine. this type of vacuum cleaner is no longer manufactured, I called vax support. they told me that they do not send spare parts to Slovakia. it's probably far from the UK. so it would be a shame to throw the vax all terrain in the trash. so I thought of sticking the sheet with glue from below. I used a sheet from a sardine can 😄😄😄. mamouth glue. now everything works normally, the brushes spin, and the bearings are not rusted at all. they weren't even. thanks for the video.
That's some very creative problem solving, and you kept an otherwise useful machine out of the trash! Nice work, MrJpsjjpsj!
Nailed it. Thanks!
Happy to have helped!
really helpful thank you :)
So happy it helped! Thanks for letting me know! 👍
Excellent work... Thanks. Wish more on the 'tube were like this.
Once I determined shaft not spinning I ran my favorite penetrant ( equal parts ATF/Acetone) down the sides of shaft. Was spinning full throttle in under 2 minutes. Got my first tank of fluid thru and it doing great.
I'm glad you liked the video. I've never tried the ATF/Acetone mix, but I sure will now! Thanks for the tip 👍
Any tips on making a better gasket for the dirty water tank? Mine is already failing
I ended up just replacing the valves as shown in this video: czcams.com/video/92NMPklWcLE/video.html
So far so good with no leaks 3 years later!
Omg thank you!!!!!
Happy to help!
Hey man thanks .
Glad it helps!
excellent
Thank you. Glad you like it and I hope it helps!
Worked great for me!!! Thank you so much. I got the bottom bearing to turn but it is rusted. Would you have any idea how I would get it out or would it be best to buy the housing? I’m fixing it for a friend. She had no idea the brushes were not working :(
Glad it helped April. Your friend will sure be surprised with how much better it cleans when the brushes are spinning! Sounds like you are a great friend!
You might not have to remove the bearing if you let it soak in WD-40 overnight to dissolve some of the rust, then let it sit in a puddle of lubricating oil such as 3in1. The housing itself makes it easy to soak by just filling the indention where the bearing sits with oil. I used a flat screwdriver blade in a drill driver to spin it in both directions after soaking to make sure it was spinning freely.
I'd love to hear how it goes!
Very good video. Mine was a little different for bearings. The bearing at the end of the gear was a small roller bearing. It was in pieces. I replaced it with the ball bearing suggested. There was no other bearing. The stem also gets wider after the first bearing so if the was another bearing it would have to be a bigger one. I feel there may have been a minor update to the pump. Any way, after cleaning it and oiling it and new bearing, the brushes run far more than expected being air driven. Not to see if this. $5 garage sale shampooer will do its job once more. 🙏
Steve, thank you for reporting how yours differed and how you dealt with it. I only have experience with my model, so having this kind of feedback is super helpful for everyone. Happy carpet cleaning with your rescued find, and nice work!
To prevent water from getting to the bearing, would it help to use Flex Seal rubber sealant spray around the outside of the bottom body assuming the water would get in that way ?
I don't think there would be any way to prevent the water from getting to the bearing without interfering with the functioning of the cleaner. The water infiltration is a result of poor engineering decisions or planned obsolescence.
I recently had a very same problem with a 3-year-old unit Hoover denied that there was any issue but yet referred to the CZcams channels to fix it. I felt like they should have been the one fixing it not going to CZcams. I feel like this is a defective design. Hoover needs to recall every one of them
My machine is much older, but it sounds like they have done nothing to fix the problem. To still have the same design flaws 10 or 15 years later makes me think they have no plans to ever address these issues. It also seems to be an intentional point of failure 👎☹️
Hi, great video. My brushes have stopped spinning in the machine, but before I attempt to try this, the switch on the side, that changes the carpet setting is lose and doesn't engage. Could this be the problem, any help would be appreciated.
If yours is like mine, that switch turns the brushes on and off. So, if it is not engaging, that could definitely be the cause. You might need to remove the cover to see why it isn't engaging, and you can test to see if that was the problem while the cover is off. Hope that helps!
Good video, my brushes weren't spinning so I stripped down the brush bar motor and found the impeller vane had snapped in half, also where the rubber hoses connect, one of these was snapped. I managed to repair the bit where the rubber hose connects with araldite epoxy, and glue the impeller back together using a clamp and loctite glue that is specifically for plastics. I couldn't find anywhere selling a replacement part - so bodging is the only way for me to repair this.
So glad to hear that, Alexander! Parts are becoming difficult to find, so nice work!
@@UnchartedDIY The impeller is a press fit on the shaft and over time you get a hairline crack along the plastic, when the motor spins centrifugal force causes the crack to get worse until the impeller splits. I found the first time I glue it - when the motor spins for a few seconds the impellor breaks apart. The solution is to run a drill the same diameter as the shaft it sits on to make the hole in it slightly larger, this stops the impeller being stressed along the line you glued. When securing to the shaft, instead of using a press fit - just use some Araldite glue and that works well and prevents the stresses on the plastic which will give a far better repair.
@@mrdude2478 Thank you so much for letting everyone know how to fix the impeller! That's fantastic, much needed information!
@@UnchartedDIY No worries, also I forgot to say that the shaft diameter is around 5.5mm. I drilled the hole in the impeller this size at first, however there was still to tight to fit without causing stress on the glued joint. I ended up drilling with a 6mm drill bit and used araldite to secure the impeller to the shaft - this worked well, but probably it would have been better if I could have used a drill bit at around 5.7mm diameter. Also to glue the split impeller (not fix to the shaft), you should use Loctite All Plastics glue as you get a perfect bond with this glue (unlike araldite which is not good for this join). I have now used the vax on 3 rugs and a mattress and the brushes are spinning really fast and the fix has been good and held up well. Once again thanks for posting the original video, this helped me a lot and saved me some time fault finding.
Yay! Nice work and great explanation 👍
Hi, great video. I have the same problem.
Before I open up the machine I have a question.
When you pull the brush wheel mechanism off, theres a hexagonal hole which spins the brush crank. I can put my finer in there and it spins pretty freely. Does that mean mine isn't seized and the problem is elsewhere?
I don't think that's a good indicator, Playamoff. Mine turned too, but once I put the brushes back on, they'd stop as soon as there was any pressure on them (from the carpet). The brush motor depends on air coming through the turbine at high RPM to do the turning, so any friction from sticky bearings slows everything down, and then it loses the power to turn the brushes under load.
Have you checked the shafts of each brush to make sure they don't have hair and fur binding them up? If those are clean, I'm pretty sure it's the brush motor, meaning either bad bearings or a broken turbine inside that motor.
I'd love to know what you find and I'll try to help.
Thanks for the excellent tutorial. I was disappointed to find that my bearings are in great shape. My problem sounds like the same as Tony Ryan reported below - the plastic turbine disc on the top side is cracked in half and no longer holding tight to the spindle. The whole turbine and gear assembly has been discontinued (part no. H-91001097 for my model F7450100), and not much in used market. I'll try the glue plan too and see if I can get it to hold. Your video has been very helpful. Thanks again.
Sorry to hear parts are not available. The glue trick seems to have worked for a number of people, so it's worth a shot. Good luck with it, and I'd love to hear if it works for you..
Hi this is the same issue I have on a vax all terrain, but mine has churned up the gear that connects to the turbine shaft.
Could you let me know the model as vax has discontinued this part
Or would you know the model/type of the gear ?
Unfortunately, I don't have any inside information on parts. I've only repaired my machine as a DIY project, but I too discovered that parts are hard to find and most have been discontinued.
From my experience, it seems that they don't sell small parts like gears - only assemblies, and that's if you can find any! These machines were designed to be replaced rather than repaired.
There should be a label on the back of the handle with your model number on it. I suggest doing a search with your model number and the word "parts" to see if there are any parts places that still have inventory for your cleaner model. They usually have parts diagrams on these sites, so you might be able to determine the name of the part or assembly you need.
I'd also check eBay and local listings. One clever viewer commented that they found a similar cleaner in a thrift store and used it for parts to fix her machine.
I hope you are able to fix yours. They are great cleaners when they are working!
Do you have link for those white gears as well? My cleaner gear has lost all its teeth and I can’t find the replacement :(
Amar, I have searched and searched, but it appears the gears are not sold separately. Instead, the turbine assembly must be replaced as a unit. I have a link to the one I was considering for mine until I discovered it was only the bearing: amzn.to/33nMhK4
Just be careful that it fits your model since there have been a number of similar models made. The model number is located midway down the back of the handle on a label that shows serial and model number. Good luck and I hope this is the one you need!
I can see the link to Amazon shows bearings, however there's lots of different sizes. What was the size for the bearing required? Hopefully it's the same for my Dual V I'm going to try to repair.
Thanks for a good detailed video
This link should connect to the set I purchased to fix mine: amzn.to/3eNzftX
If not, the specs are: R4-2RS Sealed Bearing - 1/4"x5/8"x0.196. I hope the repair is easy and it works perfectly!
@@UnchartedDIY Thanks for this. I have just taken mine apart and the black ⚙️ on the underside (video around 8min30) had a crack all the way through.
I have superglued the cog back together (and lost my prints on my fingers. Should have wore gloves)
I thought I had fixed it as the whole thing was working by hand.
However when put all back together the brushes still don't work.
May have to leave the oil to penetrate more, replace a few of the cheaper parts or give up on it.
Again thanks for the video. Gave me confidence to go in and have a good look 👍
I got it to spin before putting the cover back on, but once i put the cover on it doesn't spin! What could be wrong?
I can point you in the direction I would look. First, check the screen to make sure it's clean
Then, the clear "nozzle" that attaches to the machine and houses the brushes has a very thin slot at the front for sucking up the water from the carpet. Sometimes dog hair and debris can clog that slot enough to lower suction.
That clear nozzle also has the connection port for the accessory hose. I'd check the o-ring on the port cover. If that is broken or the cover doesn't seal well, it can create a vacuum leak.
Finally, there are two rubber seals where the recovery tank connects. There's one large ring that is visible when the tank is off and is easy to get to. Make sure that is not cracked and is sitting properly. Then, underneath that big seal is a small o-ring that seals the motor cover to the base housing. It might be cracked. That one requires digging further into the machine and it can't be seen with the housing on.
I actually have another video in the works that shows how I fixed a huge water leak that was pouring out of the base, not related to the detergent tank. In that video, I disassembled the cleaner enough to see that last o-ring that I referred to. It may be a another few weeks for the new video.
I hope these help, and I'd love to hear if any of these fix the problem.
Where can l get the round turbine at 7:57?? Mine was cracked
Martin, they are not available separately from the motor assembly, but even those are becoming difficult to find. Check out the comments below from
Louise Zoufaly. She was in a similar predicament but solved it. Glue was one option, but she managed to find a used machine and use it for parts.
Hi from Brian - Best tutorial on site - Pulled mine down and followed all your instructions - Scrubber works great now ( I'm retired technical college instructor (now 82) and I reckon you are one of THE BEST instructors ) - I am trying to work out how the water gets to the bearings as it looks pretty water tight- I have ordered the bearings you recommended from Amazon and will pull it down again when they come and look at putting flinger disks on any rotating shafts and also look at drilling a hole in the centre of the bearing holder that will be lowermost when the machine is working to allow and water to drain - Also when I lubricate I am thinking of putting in a bit of soluble oil as well - What do you think ?
Thanks Brian! That's some pretty high praise since you obviously know how to teach!
I can't figure out how the water gets in there either. At first I thought it was all from the leaky valves, but now I wonder if some of the water gets sucked into the brush motor as the extractor vacuums up the sprayed water solution.
I think a bit of oil and the drain hole would be a smart preventative measure, and I might just do the same next time I have the machine on the bench. If you drill yours before then, please let me know what you think.
So glad I could help, and thanks for the wonderful feedback!
@@UnchartedDIY Hi from Brian - Was just looking at it at lunch today (it's 4pm here) and I also reckon that is where it is getting in - Going to turn that oblong foam washer over next time I work on it and put some tracer blue on the outside to see if water is sucked through - Also going to leave the clear suction tube off until I am ready to use it as I reckon it compresses the foam seal too much - Will let you know when the bearings arrive for the US and I work on it and give it another work our - Regards BriAN
@@briancroft3437 Thanks for the followup. I'd love to hear what you find out.
Where did you get the bearings?
Here's what I used for mine: Bearings: amzn.to/3eNzftX R4-2RS Sealed Ball Bearing - C3-1/4"x5/8"x0.196" - Lubricated - Chrome Steel
My shaft and brushes turn freely when on it's side but not when operating. I've taken everything apart, cleaned the internal screen with no improvement. Any ideas?
If the screen is clean, I suspect the bearing is probably rusty and is hanging up. It works enough to spin a little bit, but not strong enough to work when in contact with the carpet.
Brushes are clear but mine stops when you put it on the carpet. Bearings are free and brushes spins great until it comes in contact with carpet. Screen is clear just think it is not getting enough air. Impeller looked ok.
It sounds like you've checked the obvious. I'm not sure what else could be wrong, but I can tell you where I'd start to look.
The clear "nozzle" that attaches to the machine and houses the brushes has a very thin slot at the front for sucking up the water from the carpet. Sometimes dog hair and debris can clog that slot enough to lower suction.
That nozzle also has the connection port for the accessory hose. I'd check the o-ring on the port cover. If that is broken or the cover doesn't seal well, it can create a vacuum leak.
Finally, there are two rubber seals where the recovery tank connects. There's one large ring that is visible when the tank is off and is easy to get to. Make sure that is not cracked and is sitting properly. Then, underneath that big seal is a small o-ring that seals the motor cover to the base housing. It might be cracked. That one requires digging further into the machine and it can't be seen with the housing on.
I actually have another video in the works that shows how I fixed a huge water leak that was pouring out of the base, not related to the detergent tank. In that video, I disassembled the cleaner enough to see that last o-ring that I referred to. It may be a few weeks for the new video.
I hope these help, and I'd love to hear if any of these fix the problem.
How do I get to the front screws if the six there is a plastic cover over each side
I am not sure what you mean...do you see the part you are referring to in my video? If you can tell me what time in the video to look at, maybe I can help.
@@UnchartedDIY Thank you for replying. I was able to figure it out. Your video helped me a great deal though.
I'm happy it helped!
you were right, so where do I get the bearings?
I have a link to the ones I used on my website here: uncharteddiy.com/hoover-steamvac-brushes-stop/
Please let me know how it turns out for you!
followed the link, found the bearing, let you know in a week if I fixed it. Thanks!
Have you ever heard of these things needing a fuse replaced? Or there being a motor reset button? I borrowed one from a neighbor and within 5mins of normal use, it started struggling a bit and the headlights were almost blinking along with the motor struggling. I turned it off before anything serious happened and now it will not turn on even after letting it cool for hours. Something must have tripped from an overheat?
While I am not an expert with these machines, I'm pretty sure there is no fuse. It doesn't sound like a fuse issue to me anyway. When a fuse goes, it's off right then - no struggling or anything else, just off. I would suspect a failing power switch, or possibly even the cord itself.
You could test the switch and cord if you know how to use a multimeter. If not, I would sniff the power switch. I know it sounds weird to suggest sniffing, but a failing switch usually has a burned electrical smell. As for the cord, I would first give it a look over to see if there are any signs of damage or major kinks. If the cord appears to be in good shape, I'd then try running my hands down the length of the cord while it's plugged in to feel for heat, which could indicate a fraying or broken wire inside the cord cover.
Both of those are pretty easy and cheap to fix if they turn out to be the issue. I hope this helps, and I'd love to hear what it was if you figure it out.
@@UnchartedDIY so last night I took the thing apart expecting to find a fuse of some sort along the motor but what I did end up finding was that one of the two carbon brushes was popped out of place as in the spring part popped out of it's little compartment where it was stuffed and then had a cap soldered on. When I stuffed it back in there and could see the brush touching the part of the motor just like the second brush was, it fired right up. So I siliconed it in place and let it cure overnight and will now attempt to put the whole thing back together again in hopes that I can finish my rug and give it back to the owner and never borrow it again LOL
@electric1609 that was some mighty fine detective work! You should be very proud of yourself! And, thanks for letting me know what it was and sharing with everyone that might have a similar issue.
@@UnchartedDIY thanks! Putting it back together was the bigger challenge though as I did NOT take any photos at different stages of disassembly like I should have!
Oh but it did fire back on STAY on! Hope to finish my rug tonight.
Instead of using 3-IN-ONE - 10038 Multi-Purpose Oil, 8 OZ, use I'd AeroShell Grease 22
Versatile Multipurpose Grease, Corrosion inhibited and fortified against oxidation, it has excellent anti-wear properties, load-carrying capacity and water resistance, plus a wide useful temperature range of -54°C to +177°C. Recommended for aircraft wheel bearings, engine accessories and airframe lubrication and for anti-friction bearings operating at high speeds and at high or low temperatures.
How difficult between 1 to 10 is it to dissemble to replace said bearing..
That's a tough one to answer with no idea of your experience level. I can say that many, many people have done this and quite a few of them are complete beginners.
If you follow along with the video, rewinding when you need to see a step again, I think you'll find it to be surprisingly easy.
I'd love to hear how it goes for you! 👍
How to prevent a leaking tank to avoid this problem ??
I have a couple of video on exactly this question! czcams.com/video/_or6TFCVsm4/video.html shows how to fix a cracked water tank, and this one czcams.com/video/92NMPklWcLE/video.html shows how to replace leaky valves on the tank. Hope that helps!
Will the hand brush still work even if the bottom brush is frozen up?
Good question, Brenda. It should still work since the main suction motor is not the problem.
Thank you! I was just hoping if I couldn't get the brushes on the bottom working it be great if I could still get some use out of it.
@@brendacollins5413 You should be good for smaller jobs, but it might take a while to do the whole house 😉😁
Where do you buy gears
Thanks for asking, theresa. I am assuming you mean the white gears inside the brush turbine motor. Unfortunately, it seems that the gears are not available as a replacement part. In the parts diagrams, only the turbine gear assembly is available, so when things go wrong you are supposed to replace the whole brush turbine motor unit. The bearings I fixed in the video are not listed either, so I was happy to find a way to fix them.
I would start by searching for parts under the model number of the SteamVac you have. You should find the model number on a sticker located on the back of the cleaner, probably about where the electrical cord attaches. Try ebay if you want to go with used parts to keep the cost down or if the part has been discontinued, otherwise you might be able to find a new one depending on which model you have.
I hope you find a replacement, and I'd love to know how your project turns out.
Excellent effort - = subscribed , to a like minded person - old git, UK
Thanks and cheers!
Where can I order the bearings .
Thanks for asking. I just added a link to the ones I used from Amazon in the description above and I'll put it here too. amzn.to/3eNzftX
How can I find just the turbine for my carpet cleaner. Mine is cracked into two pieces.
Unfortunately, CM, I was not able to find the turbine itself available anywhere. I'm pretty sure it was only ever offered as the complete motor assembly.
I glued my cracked turbine, and several other people commented here explaining how they fixed theirs - even one that was split like yours, if I remember correctly.
I found that the trick to gluing it, is to try to keep the balance of the turbine. So if you put glue on one spot, put some on the opposite spot even though it isn't broken there.
It's like balancing a tire, so the heavy spot of the wheel needs a counterweight.
Otherwise, one commenter picked up another model for cheap from a thrift store and used it for parts.
Good luck, and I'd love to know how it comes out.
Thanks so much. I had already thought about trying to glue it so that’s what I will do. I may start looking around for one for parts in case the glue doesn’t work. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks again.
@@UnchartedDIY thank you so much for your video it really helped my mom fix her shampooer ❤️
@@jessicapierson3739 I am so happy it helped!
Can you give me the part number for the bearing. I have one of those units and that is exactly the problem I got. I see is a very common problem
I don't know Hoover's part number, but there's a link in the video description to the ones I purchased on Amazon. You can get the specs from there.
Also, I've pinned a comment so it stays at the top of the list, That comment has the specs too. Those bearings will get you fixed up and running again!
Help! I’ve followed all your instructions…loosened up bearings etc. put it back together but now brushes won’t stop spinning. There was a part of your video that was focused on your arm so not able to see if I put it back together correctly.
The brushes should always be spinning when the cleaner is running UNLESS you move the switch on the base to off.
It sounds to me like you did it correctly and now have a working cleaner. Nice work!
Thx but I moved lever to off and they are still spinning. I think I didn’t put it back together correctly…..especially the little spring. But the video helped me so much….rather have them spinning all the time than not.
@@avonlakebookclubavonlake-hm8hv Make sure the wire sits on top of the fork-shaped interlock. That engages the lever arm that also connects to the brush switch. I'm guessing that the arm or the brush switch level is not connected properly. You can look at around the 13:05 mark in the video to see how they go together. At 13:18, you can see the interlock, arm and the coiled spring that pulls back on the arm.
I hope that helps, but I agree that having them spin all the time is better than not spinning!
@@UnchartedDIY you are absolutely correct! I followed your instructions again and it solved the problem! Thank you for your tremendous support.
@@avonlakebookclubavonlake-hm8hv Yay! Thanks for letting me know it worked, and nice job fixing your cleaner!
What are the specs on the bearing?
I don't have the specs handy at the moment, but if you go to uncharteddiy.com/hoover-steamvac-brushes-stop/, the specs and a link to the ones I bought are listed in the "Project resources" at the bottom of the page.
Thanks for asking, and I'd love to hear how it turns out for you!
I wonder if making a gasket would keep it dry in there
It might if it didn't interfere with the moving components for the brush switch and handle interlock. I think the most important thing is to replace the valves or the tanks at the first sign of leakage. Unfortunately, leakage is inevitable so if a gasket could be made, I think it would be a great preventative measure.
Which model number is this for ??? I have the model FH 50150. Is this the same?
If not the model FH 50150, would it be the same bearing parts to order ?
Mine is a model F7425-900, but it seems all machines of that era use the same bearings. I don't repair for a living so I'm not up on all the specs, but yours appears to be very new. I would hope they would have solved this problem by now, since my machine is around 15 years old.
I would start by checking and cleaning the intake filter located inside the clear plastic on the left front side of the vacuum. If it's clogged, it will stop the brushes.
If that's not it, it might be worth opening it up and seeing if the bearings are rusty.
Hope that helps and I hope you find it's a simple fix!
Thank you. Will check everything.
I don't expect to be doing this. My question. Why aren't these bearings stainless steel? Hoover? Planned obsolescence?
They would have probably added 10 cents more, Cindy. They clearly consider $200-$300 machines disposable!