I was vacuuming and started to smell burning rubber, so we took the floor brush out to clean it out and we also checked the belt. The belt looked fine and the brush was all cleaned out, but when we put it all back together the brush wouldn't spin. By looking at the parts, we don't understand how it can spin (granted, we aren't vacuum experts). The ends of the brush fit into these grooves and we don't understand how it spins when the ends fit tightly into these grooves. When put all together the vacuum still runs, motor pulley still turns, but the belt doesn't turn, and we still get the burning smell (from the pulley rubbing against the belt). We think the solution must be simple, but we're stumped!
I just fixed mine. It took me all of 10 minutes. Pull the brush out. Stand the brush on end on the edge of your study work bench/table top. while holding the brush vertical( on end) take a small phillips screwdriver and tap using a hammer on the metal pin you see in the middle of the brush. Keep tamping and the whole assembly will come apart. What you will have then is a long metal shaft, 2 bearings(they are acutally skateboard wheel bearings same number same make). Clean the gobbed up hair with a razor blade and then reassemble by tapping back together. The bearing wont be worn out because they are way too tough for a vaccum. We used ride down hills on them! a ten minute fix wow and you wont have to drive to vacuum shop and spend $$ and time
exactly what our issue was. the roller is to freely spin within the end caps with the end caps not moving at all. that is why one end has a rectangular shape, so it won't move. kind of like your bike wheels rotate, but the center nut doesn't.
we had to clean the end housings because wet gunk had accumulated in them and dried, thus 'gluing' them together. (see marhuleta directions on how to take the roller apart - very easy and only 10 minutes). it now spins like a banchee.
That sure did fix my problem - thank you sooo much. It took a little while, scraping off that gunk with a razor, but then after putting it back together, it spun freely. It's a shame I didn't realize the problem until a brand new belt snapped. On the other hand, you saved me $$ and time, also.
I have a Dirt Devil Vision Self-Propelled. I burned up a belt two weeks ago but thought it was odd it broke because it had only been used about two months. Since then, the machine is loud and today it sounded like something rattling around. I took the bottom off and removed the belt and brush roll. The brush roll wasn't spinning very well so I called Dirt Devil to see how the ends of the brush come off. They told me it wasn't designed to come off. I have tried to put the roll back on, check spin, etc. When I put the roll in without the belt, it spins freely. Once I connect the belt though, this loud noise sounds like it is coming from the one side of the brush roll. I have had this on/off a dozen times today - the roll is situated in the side slots properly. Do I just break down and replace the whole brush roll or do you think I can peel of the ends per your directions?
Thank you so much for this hint! When my belt broke, I thought that was the problem. After replacing it, the new belt burned rubber because the brush wasn't rolling. I couldn't find anything about it in the Bissell manual, and Bissell's web site only had parts to order. After I got the brush open and cleaned out the gunk, it worked fine. Thanks!
They must have changed the design on my model. There are no bearings, only plastic turning on metal, and plastic against plastic, which started to melt the plastic together. The basic idea described is the same, though. I fixed it by removing the gunk and using a utility knife to smooth out the rough areas of the plastic. I'm sure I'll eventually need a new brush, since I think the design is flawed and doomed to fail, but it will work for a little while longer now.
Thank you so, so much for posting this!!!! I was on my way to buy a new vacuum because, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how the stupid brush was supposed to turn. You are a genius!! It worked like a charm!!!
WOOHOO!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Wow! Thanks!!! I was about to give up til I read this post!
This was EXACTLY my issue. THANK YOU! It was PERFECT!!
awesome tip! was going to buy a new roller brush part. this worked great! THANK YOU!
This really worked . Thanks. Although one bearing was sticked to the shaft but still i was able to clean up and it the brush roll start rolling although not so smoothly but the vaccum is usable. Thanks again.
Worked for me! Thatnks!
This is the answer. I tapped until the shaft came loose, and it was all rusty inside. The bearings were rusted tight. A little WD-40 on them, and it all went back together and runs great. Thanks!!! I never would have realized that shaft could be driven out.
Thank you for the most helpful advice.
this was the answer for me!! i called and they wanted me to buy a whole new brush roll but i googled it first and i am soooo glad i did thank you!! but the only issue i am having is that it makes this loud noise do you have any idea what that can be and how to fix it?? please help!:)
Just tried this and worked like a charm! Thanks!
Thank you so much Marhuleta! I thought I just I had a worn out belt that was causing the problems but it turns out it was the debris inside the caps. There wasn't even that much debris inside but it was enough to stop the brush from rolling. This tip worked for me!
WHEWHOO!!!!! Marhuleta, YOU ARE AWESOME! Just fixed my vacuum, thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you! I've been searching all over the internet for help to this issue and all i could find was replacing the belt... seriously days of searching and less than 5 minutes to fix after seeing this. i made an account on this site specifically to thank you! haha
Worked for me!!!
God bless you!! ...you saved me time and money! :)
Omg I'm so freaking happy, thank you soooooo much
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I had the identical problem. One side of my end cap/bearing had actually melted together so that it appeared to be one piece and thus making it impossible for the roller brush to turn. Even though I was able to get the end cap and bearing apart using channel locks the parts were too damaged to use so I've ordered a new brush.
If you take out the brush roll, holding the ends, make sure that it spins freely, if not, replace it. Belts stretch after a short time of use and need to be replaced often. A slipping belt is what can cause the rubber smell. So you either have a bad brush roll and/or a stretched belt.
If you take out the brush roll, holding the ends, make sure that it spins freely, if not, replace it. Belts stretch after a short time of use and need to be replaced often. A slipping belt is what can cause the rubber smell. So you either have a bad brush roll and/or a stretched belt.
Mine is doing the same thing except the pulley that rolls the belt won't move. Is this something that can be fixed easily? It smokes when on because the pulley doesn't move.
I have the 3910. It did the same thing. There are sealed bearings inside the brush roll. For whatever reason, the bearings are frozen, so you will need to replace the roller, and probably the belt.
SOURCE: powertrak bissel vacuum 6390/3910
it might have something stuck, check all the entrance suction sections, also give it little shake
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I have the EXACT same problem and cannot figure out how this roller would turn. We also had the burning smell.
I have the same problem with a Bissell 6390-W. The roller spins quite well on its own. The user's guide mentions a motor pulley, but the belt spins directly on the motor's axle. Is this correct?
I have the exact same problem. Thanks for reporting this so now I know to try and get a new brush. It didn't make sense to me either considering the slots are set up like: one side is a circle and the other side is a rectangle so there would be no way in hell that it could rotate inside of this rectangle.
The caps are tight, but ideally the roller spins between the two caps. Mine no longer does; the end caps have fused together. With the roller out of the vacuum, hold one end cap and see if you can turn your brush. If not, consider a replacement.
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