Desperately need a replacement roller on my Riccar Model 8900!!!

[SandyWins]

I've had my super-duper Riccar 8900 for at least 10 years. I have a multi-pet household so it's out performed and outlasted all of my previous vacuums. I've replaced the belts many times in the past. Tonight when I tried my vacuum, it felt as if the rollers weren't moving, so I figured it was the belt, but the belt is working, however, the roller isn't moving. I have everything in the right place. I'll post a photo of the roller's end where I think the problem is.

My problem is that my budget is really low right now. I'm unemployed and on a very low fixed income. I see replacement rollers for sale, but they're currently beyond my budget. I was wondering if anyone on this forum may have an extra roller they aren't using. I really miss my vacuum. Let me know if you have a solution to the problem. I'm pretty good at fixing things.

The photo shows a gap in the roller that I think is the issue. I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts on a fix or where to find a good used replacement roller.

--Sandy

 

[dustin]

I'm pretty sure you can just replace the brush strips- not the entire roller. Am sure others will chime in, but if nothing else, take the brushroll to a vac shop and have the brush strips changed.

 

[SandyWins]

Reply to Dustin

Dustin,

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, I don't think that will fix the problem. The problem is that the roller isn't spinning although the belt is spinning and it's installed properly. I double-checked the installation. It's almost as if the one portion of the roller has separated from the end that rotates.

I hope that makes sense.

 

[jade_angel]

Can you spin it by hand? (Trying to find out if it's separated or somehow bound up or frozen).

If it spins by hand but only with difficulty, it might just be bound with hair, which can be carefully removed with a knife and scissors. If it spins freely but not when powered, then yeah, something's broken. Most local vacuum shops should have the part, as long as they carry Riccar or Simplicity. (Both are made by Tacony Corporation and often share parts.)

If you need to find it cheap, look on eBay, but as always, caveat emptor, and be careful of warranty issues.

 

[dustin]

Duh... I guess I should have read it more thouroughly. Does your vacuum have the option to shut the brushroll off for hard floors? If it does, it seems like I have heard something about that mechanism going on the fritz and not working at all. It seems like it was something to do with the tabs on the end and their position. It looks to me like you could use a new set of brush strips as well.

 

[dysonman1]

It's not broken at all. The pic you posted has the brush bar in the bare floor position so that the belt will rotate but the brush roller will not. When you reinstall the brush roller, those little 'snakes teeth' go DOWN, and the hole for the linkage rod goes UP. Once in place, put the rug/floor selector in the Carpet position (it's the lever on top of the nozzle housing) and your problems will be solved. See the proper position of the linkage rod in the picture.

 

[dysonman1]

The correct positioning to replace the brush roller into the machine. After replacing, reattach the linkage rod to the round hole at the top of the brush roller.

 

[SandyWins]

Followup to DysanMan1--Fixed!

Hi all!

I replaced the belt with a new Riccar belt and inserted the roller carefully positioning it properly. It works great now. Later, I'll look into replacing the brushes. I also picked up my Riccar 8955 that I found on Craigslist for $25.00. It is in perfect condition other than the bumper is missing and the cord has a couple of knicks that has been wrapped in electrical tape.

I plan on giving my elderly neighbor my Riccar and keeping the newer one. I'm in Riccar heaven!

Thanks to everyone!

--Sandy