My turbine head is not working - spinning?? but when i pull it apart, it starts spinning.

on the head there is a round filter type part if that is pushed in the the brushes won't turn. try pulling it out slightly.

Most all Hoover SteamVacs rely on a turbine to create suction and spin the brushes. The brush block (removable, just clips in) will have one of the 5 or 6 brushes with a stem inserted up and in the turbine. Hoover did a poor job sealing the hole that stem goes through and water and cleaner seep up to the lower bearing on the turbine and the bearing siezes. The turbine has a gear assembly inside! It is not easy to replace the turbine, especially the first time because what needs to be removed can be a head scratcher. However goes easier the second time. The turbine can be taken apart once out and I have used light grease to free up the bearing and gears but it's only a temporary fix. Different models have different part # turbines so pay attention when ordering the part. Need a work bench environment to do this. On occasion the brush block itself can get stuck because the brushes gear mesh together and the stemed brush drives them all. They can and do bind up with junk and do wear down and bind. If you can't turn all 5 or 6 brushes by spinning with your fingers on the stem, the block itself could need replacing. The block and brushes do come apart for cleaning but be careful because they are plastic clips on both halves of cover/retainer and can break.

Hi Kevin, Alec from VacuumSpot here. Unfortunately Dyson don't actually sell individual mechanical components to their turbine heads, so even though it is probably a pretty easy repair you can't get the parts. In this case you will have to buy a complete new head.

First, please be sure to unplug your Steam Vac and remove both the clean water and the dirty water tank.
There should be a square stem that sticks up in the center of your brush assembly. If this stem is broken you will need to replace the complete brush assembly. If the stem is good; turn your cleaner on it's side and check in the area where the brush assembly goes (with the brush assembly removed). In the center of this area there is a square hole where the stem from the brush assembly goes. The square hole is in the bottom of the turbnie that spins your brushes. Using a large flat blade screw driver (not so large that you'll damage the hole), stick it in to the square hole and try to spin it. It should spin freely, if it is very hard to spin or won't spin at all, your turbine is bad and will need to be replaced.
Hoover part number for brush assembly:48437022
Hoover part number for turbine: 43191008

This response is likely too late coming, however for others the problen appears to be the same as the fault with my turbine head which was that the turbine fan had become loose on its spindle. With no pressure on the brushes, friction would allow the fan to turn and drive the brushes via the belt. The faulty part is not available separately however I have repaired mine using araldite glue. Other things to check is for a worn belt. Cheers.

well the hand tool works off the suction of the machine and has nothing to do with the turbine that controls the brushes. if you can get the part i can walk you through taking it apart. when you write back, let me know what the model num of your machine, so i can give you the right directions. hope this helps

Take out the screws from the bottom, there will 2 longer ones, they got into the turbine, turn it upright and take the top cover off. The turbine sits near the front, center, remove the 2 screws on the front of it, remove the hoses, then you can remove the turbine(#23).

Pull out the brush block, make sure it will turn and to see if the shaft is on it, the shaft goes up into the turbine. If the block is ok, then the turbine isn't working. You take it apart and clean out the turbine, or replace it.

The turbine is bad, that is what drives the brush roll. You either replace it, sometimes you can take the turbine apart and clean it, alot of times they just get gummed up and won't work. Number 23 is the turbine.

If the brushes quit spinning, either the brush block shaft that goes into the turbine broke off, or the turbine is bad. This unit is tricky to take apart and then put back together again. But pull the brush asm off, then start taking out screws. But if after you pull off the brush block, look up where you will see a small square hole, turn unit on and if not turning, usually the turbine is the cause and will have to be replaced.