5 Reasons Why Roomba Brush Not Spinning – Let’s Fix It

Roomba Brush Not Spinning is the common issue that users face while using Roomba, iRobot’s robotic vacuum cleaner. This is a smart device that works on the principles of artificial intelligence and the latest technology to perform the work of cleaning your house with ease, efficiency, and most of all, automatically.

With so many different components inside the robotic vacuum cleaner, finding out why a robot isn’t working can be difficult — especially when the issues are mechanical. Luckily, most issues with a Roomba are easy to solve with the correct instructions and a few simple tools.

A Roomba brush isn’t spinning because it is jammed with dust and dirt. Unscrew the brush module and remove the hair, dust, and dirt from underneath it. If it doesn’t turn after this, replace the brush module.

Today, we’ll be going over the Roomba brush not spinning issue. To fix this issue, we’ll need to take apart the brush and clean it – here’s a quick guide on how to do that.

Roomba Brush Not Spinning – Troubleshoot And Diagnosis

There are several things that could be causing this. Some of the more common fixes include:

The biggest thing to remember here is that cleaning Roomba brushes is easy and doesn’t require you to take apart your robot vacuum. It just takes a few minutes, and it’ll save you the headache of your Roomba not cleaning well.

One of the most common problems with the Roomba is that the brushes (roller and side brush) get tangled. To fix this, we’ll show you how to deal with both kinds of brushes.

Dismantle and Clean the Roller Brush

The Roomba’s brushes are the two pieces that make up the dirt cleaning system. These are what agitate stubborn stains and caked-in dirt, whether on hardwood floors or deep-seated carpets. However, after a while of use, they may begin to clog up with pet hair and dirt. As a result, they may stop working, so to get them back into working order you’ll have to dismantle and clean them.

As modern as it seems, the Roomba is still a gadget and still needs maintenance. The brushes that run around the bottom of the vacuum need to be cleaned every once in a while, since they’re in direct contact with whatever your vacuum is picking up — pet hair, tiny rocks, cereal bits.

Pull off the brush guard. This is a plastic part that runs from side to side and keeps the brushes in place.

Holding the brush at the yellow bearing, lift up and pull out the brush on one side. Repeat with the other.

Now it’s time to clean!

First, unscrew the yellow plastic cap. Take off the cap and clean any dirt or hair that might be stuck in the bearing. Use your fingers to clean any dirt or hair that is stuck inside.

Now, follow this cleaning process to the Roomba brush. This part can be tricky. Hair usually wraps around the brush tightly and needs to be yanked out. If you can’t pull it out by hand, use a razor blade or scissors to cut them loose.

Repeat this process a few times with the other brush.

Stick the brushes back in their designated place where they go. Run a test to see if the brushes are spinning around again.

If the brushes do not spin, then you may need to send the Roomba for a repair. The problem is most likely much deeper inside the robot, so most people won’t have the tools or expertise to fix it properly.

Replace Roller Brushes

If, at any point, the brushes stop spinning, don’t worry. Seeing as they’re just one of many components that can break, you’ll know right away if something is wrong. In fact, iRobot recommends replacing them once per year.

Grab hold of the yellow release tabs on the Roomba brush guard to lift it up. Once the frame is lifted up, lift the roller brushes up using the yellow-colored bearing on one side. They should slide out of their place easily.

One thing you might do is give the Roomba’s brush chamber a careful inspection. Remove dust and debris, especially if you have brand-new roller brushes ready to be installed in your vacuum. You don’t want the new brushes to immediately clog up just a few minutes after they’re put in.

Roomba Side Brush Not Spinning – Solution

The side brush is a crucial part of the Roomba. It helps the robot reach into tiny corners and take out built-up dirt and dust, which is an important aspect of your weekly cleaning routine. The side brush is also helpful when it comes to cleaning walls and baseboards — without it, the Roomba would struggle to get these hard-to-reach places clean.

When the side brush of your Roomba refuses to spin, there are a couple of things that might be wrong. To help you troubleshoot, we’ve outlined some of the most common reasons that can cause this issue to arise.

Brush Module Is Jammed

This trick has one simple application: to fix a Roomba’s side. When the spinning portion of the cleaning brush gets stuck, the machine will shut down and refuse to move any further. This is often because stray bits of clothing are snagged in between the brush and its surrounding casing.

As the device sweeps up dirt and debris, some of them might become tangled in the brush. Once the brush has been tangled, it will stop spinning altogether.

This problem is especially prevalent in households with pets.

However, this is by far the easiest problem to solve. All you need to do is pull out the stuck hair or pet fur that has gotten pulled into the brush.

The iRobot Roomba is equipped with a side brush. It’s placed on the underside of its chassis.

In order to remove it, you’ll have to reach its screws by using a standard Phillips screwdriver. Once they’re out of place, grab the brush and pull it out from the robot’s housing.

Cleaning your Roomba is essential for keeping it running efficiently! Take apart any parts that you can, remove any dirt or debris, and return them to the same spot they were in when you disassembled the machine. Pay special attention to the brush on the side of the machine and make sure that it can spin properly — even a small piece of debris will cause issues that affect its performance.

When cleaning is complete, re-mount the brush and screw in the retention screw. Push “Clean” again to confirm that there are no more issues.

Dirty Gearbox

The gearbox is essentially the heart of your Roomba. If it has any issues, you’ll be unable to use some of your vacuum’s most important features, like the side brush.

As debris collects, it can build a layer that blocks the Roomba’s movement. When this happens, remove the gearbox and clean it inside and out. This is a simple process that many people have pulled off with success and reported back to us.

The gearbox is on the hidden side of the robot. If you’re having a hard time finding it, there is a little door on the bottom of the body that reveals the gears. Simply remove that covering to get to your gearbox.

To remove the plate, you first need to take off the side brush and unscrew all of the screws that are keeping it in place. Once you’ve taken all the screws out, the plate will come off easily, revealing the gearbox underneath.

Your side brush was attached to the gearbox. You can find it very easily.

In most models, the gearbox is pin in place with two retention screws, so take these off from the top and it should easily come out of its housing.

Next, there is a screw that holds the gearbox cover in place. This cover protects the sensitive gears inside the gearbox. Take this screw off and the cover should come off too.

It’s important to clean the gears with a dry cloth and make sure to remove any dust or debris.

In addition to removing all the gunks inside the gearbox, it is also advisable that you lubricate it. Apply a small amount of WD-40 or other brands of lubrication on each gear. Be careful not to use too much so that it drips.

Put the gearbox back together and test the Roomba to see if the Roomba brush not spinning problem has been fixed.

Lubricate the Side brush motor shaft

Lubricating the Roomba side brush is one of the most cost-effective maintenance you can do.

With a little bit of lubricant, your Roomba’s side brush can perform as well as new! Think about it: with a few drops of oil on its side brush, you’ll be cleaning floors as efficiently as the day it was made. Not only that, but you’ll save money on replacement parts in the long run.

To clean your Roomba’s side brush, remove it from its housing by removing the screws on either side of the side brush and pulling out the wires. Then take a small amount of vegetable oil or any other common household lubricant and apply it to the gears.

To install the side brush, simply put it back in its housing, tightening the screws to secure it into place.