iRobot Roomba 570 Gearbox Problem Resolved

[fieldcat8]

I purchased a used iRobot 560 and it didn't work to well, light kept going red. So I watched your video, cleaned the unit and took apart the gearbox...some hair and dirt, not bad. BUT when I cleaned the gearbox, I'm afraid I wiped most of the grease off with the cleaning cloth. What type or do you know the name of a grease I can reapply to the gears in the box? I had to reset the battery and wait for 72 hrs to know if all my work paid off...so I have time to hear from you. Thxs for ur help

[videal10]

thank goodness this robot prevents all that annoying cleaning

i hear irobot have made a robot to clean the first robot only £499.99 yay!

[Heliboy1968]

PaleBlueDotCitizen How about an update on the bearing module. A year later and they're still putting out the all plastic gearbox. I just picked mine up and I tend to agree with you that this product is not designed properly for rugs. Rug = Roomba destroyer. I'm just using it on my hard floor and keeping an eye on things until I figure something out.

[yojimboe]

How much did they pay you to post this "happy customer" video?

[videogameobsession]

I contacted iRobot and they are sending out another gearbox. They told me the newer, black gearbox has been discontinued.. which is too bad since I've heard it fixes this problem.

The good news is that they told me about a new upgrade. It's called an

AERO VAC DUST BIN.

"It maximizes airflow to not only pull additional hair and debris off Roomba's brushes, but also guide the debris to the back of the bin,allowing you to empty it less often"

$35 is reasonable if it fixes this once and for all.

[FriscoPhotoJoe]

Hello, I have just spent 2 hours taking my 570 apart and realized It cant be fixed because of the heat generated by fluff getting stuck in the gearbox. Lo and behold I come to the internet to find some sort of replacement part. Nothing at eBay, nothing at Irobot. Somehow I found you on here commenting and making a video of what my problem is exactly. Thank you for doing that. I see on your other videos that Irobot sold you a MODIFIED part but it no longer sells it. JSEQUEIR@YAHOO.COMplease HELP

[myownstarbucks]

@FriscoPhotoJoe

Sorry to hear about your problem. I have since contacted iRobot and they offered me 20% discount (same deal). I refused to accept and told them I would contact the FTC and let them determine if it is a fraud to charge customers over and over again for a faulty design when they should have replace it for free. I received a higher level call from them and offered me 30% discount which I also refused. They then sent me the green replacement for free. You may try the same thing.

[myownstarbucks]

All the units with the red gearbox will eventually fail.They offered me the same deal with a 20% discount on the $50 replacement unit. Well, here is the rub: How could a manufacturer who sold a piece of equipment with a design flaw think that they can ask the customers to pay for their mistakes. I think all of us should address this problem with the FTC Consumer Protection and ask them to investigate. They should have a product recall and offer to send the replacement to all customers for free.

[videogameobsession]

@myownstarbucks I agree. I'm on a second dead gearbox. I have hardwood floors and a tiny apartment and still within a few months I end up with hair in the gearbox and melted plastic. How are they getting away with this? People shouldn't be shelling out another $50 for a future headache. This is ridiculous!

They are refusing that it's a defect on their part and to make things worse they are making a ton of money from it! Contact BBB and wait for the CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.. All I can suggest.

[myownstarbucks]

@videogameobsession

Sorry to hear about your problem. I have since contacted iRobot and they offered me 20% discount-same deal. I refused to accept and told them I would contact the FTC and let them determine if it is a fraud to charge customers over and over again for a faulty design when they should have replace it for free. I received a higher level call from them and offered me 30% discount which I also refused. They then sent me the green replacement for free. You may try the same thing.

[videogameobsession]

@myownstarbucks Thanks for the advice. This will be the second time I am asking for a replacement though. The last time it took me several emails. I snapped some pictures for proof this time.

img.photobucket(dot)com/albums­/v226/spoonmanx/personal/Roomb­a_Gearbox_Flaw-01.jpg

& .... Roomba_Gearbox_Flaw-01.jpg

I also told them I want the black revision that addresses the problems and not the green one (which is what I have now). I wish they would just fix this once and for all.

[KimberKenobi]

How about now? Have you had much success over the last year or did you give up on the Roomba?

[imayneer]

The mod that iRobot does is not perfect. I will not say much but it's best to get it mod by experienced engineers; in which I do.

[bicepsnl]

According to this link youtube.com/watch?v=s-O83Psiku­4 and some information I found on the net, after the red CHM came the black and then green. The green should be better than the black. Is that true, or do you still find the black is better?

[videogameobsession]

@bicepsnl Nope.. My green gearbox just bit the dust! Only used for less than 6 months on a hardware floor, small apartment. hair & dirt still gets in through the hole and it melts everything. iRobot is the worst company to deal with.

[PaleBlueDotCitizen]

@TheMorgano1095 The fact that they know full well about this problem and they produced the black module which went some way towards resolving it and then reverted back to the problematic non-bearing design forces me to recommend people avoid these products, at least until iRobot reintroduce the bearing module.

[cHiKaDiNg58]

I want one but if the problem with hairs getting stuck in the wheels are not resolved... I won't be getting one. Imagine how often must you clean the vacuum if you have like 3 dogs...

[wkdf83f]

Excellent video. I saw your previous videos on the Roomba as well. Great follow ups. The machine is dirt-sensitive which is not a good feature for a vacuum. Even though re-designed many times it still picks up a lot of fluff in components.

Whats that Roomba cocktail you drinkin', aspirin or vodka?

[Bradwick1]

These things are so expensive new, even the batteries are high dollar.  With minor upgrades to metal parts they would probably last alot longer. But then Irobot cant nickel dime you to keep it going.

[videogameobsession]

I have a 560 Roomba and my brushes stopped spinning . I cleaned everything short of taking the gearbox out. After some manual spinning of the brushes they started spinning on their own.

Do you think I still need to clean inside of the gearbox as well? It's the black gearbox.

When do you think they will make a 0% maintenance Roomba that can clean itself? Some people are saying to do a thorough cleaning of everything after every single use! It just seems easier to Swiffer sometimes.. :(

[Adelphenis]

My Roomba has run almost every day since February. I take it to my garage, clean it with my shop vac and have had no problem. I could see at the beginning where the dog hair and dust was accumulating but the shop vac takes care of keeping it very clean.

[agne231]

the guys name is vic7767. look him up on google

[agne231]

dang it, i am trying to tell you a webpage to go to to get replacement SEALED barings and it wnot let me post, small one is $6 bucks and large is $20 bucks,. i just got 610 roomba and took out the new ones and popped in the sealed ones, future problems solved. but whats up with the new green CHM, i just got mine today, and it came with the black, "sealed case"

[emaij]

You are the James Bond of Roomba reviewers.

[Subfightr]

@emaij yeah i agree, he seems totally bad ass, look how well orginized, and damn look at that house.

[justmycomments]

Well, I ws just about to purchase one of these and thank God i saw this video! My entire house is carpeted, and I have 2 cats.

Until I see a better design, I will not purchase these machines. I will definately require some sort of metal housing for the gearbox and sealed bearings. I had no idea how much of this thing was plastic. It's unfortunate, because I've seem toys built better than this.

Great vido review! Thanks for posting this! 5-star from me.

[paulh1970]

My warranty replacement green gearhead shioopped in May 2009 has now also failed after seven weeks of use and careful maint. They say the black head is no longer available. We should all be vocal and put pressure on them for sealed bearings. This is a design flaw and they know it. Quality vacuums last decades, while Roombas last three months!

[hazlettschool]

Thank you! I have the 560 and this helped me to diagnose some problems I was having. I appreciate your sense of humor and your religious beliefs as well!

[bdjproduction]

I am the mom of bdjproductions and owner of my favorite maid ever (well only one ever). I almost started crying when it started thumping along then quit and shon its little red light at me in distress. Then panic set in :)

I searched the net to no avail..then it hit me...Youtube and there you were Mr. PaleBlueCitizen and fixer of Roomba.

I followed your instructions on how to clean the gears (packed full of black dog hair) and now my little maid is back to normal again.. tyvm!! really!

[zipperneck1321]

Very interesting video as the wife has been hinting at wanting one of these.

From my point of view, an easier fix may just be to shave your dog!

I'd be interested in your thoughts on the models that incorporate the liquid floor cleaner function

[jaebae17]

@rick2u1786, i received the old style as well. was on the phone with irobot sales and they say that the old one (green plastic inside) is the only one they have. looking at some older comments, seems i should have bought one for the 610 (don't see it on their website, though). i have an rma coming for this one and plan on talking with tech support tomorrow during their business hours.

[jaebae17]

so i talked with tech support this morning and was told that they no longer manufacture the black cleaning head module (seen in the video) and if i got a replacement it would be green (which i already have). when i asked for the 610 cleaning head module she said they don't make it anymore... anyone else think i got the run-around? anyway, i have a replacement green cleaning head module coming and i will revisit the issue when this one ceases up (which i know it will eventually).

[rick2u1786]

Hmmm. It seems that IRobot is still sending out the old style as I just received mine and it has what looks like your discarded pieces. I will contact them as my unit is only a week old and has shut down 4 times since due to a cleaning error. Excellent video.

[jackdeath]

If your dog sheds that much, then you might also consider buying the new Pet Brush. Although, I not sure if it will fit in that new brush deck module.

[ArgelVigoed]

Thanks for the demos, which gave me the courage to strip the gearbox.

Now All I need is for iRobot to start selling the new cleaning head in the UK, along with half their range of machines.

Argel

[federicosaggini]

Thanks, very usefull.

[jackdeath]

It looks like iRobot sold you a 'brush deck module' for the 610 Roomba.

[TheMightyMing1]

If i had a design fault with my car, and it was called back. The problem would be fixed for free. I think your taking the piss along with irobot for even suggesting that people should pay extra for a design fault.

[PaleBlueDotCitizen]

I agree, but they weren't going to send me a replacement for free so what was I going to do? Sue them for $40?

[ukclassicdance]

Stay clear of i robot in the future. Do you not get a manufacturers guarantee?

[dmcfalls]

Clean those brushes, thats half your problem. The other half I'll say a prayer that you com to know Him!

[TGWMPE]

Thank you for updating us on the status of the gear problem. I learned a lot from your videos. I appreciate all your videos. Many Thanks.