Rebuild brush roll for Panasonic MC-661

[abcvacplacentia]

I'm in the middle of restoring a Panasonic MC-661, which I believe is the very first Jet-Flo sold in the U.S. I'm trying to change the bearings in the brush roll but can't figure out how to finish disassembling it. One end cap unscrews, but I can't get the screw on the other side to turn or free up the end cap.

The brush roll is in mint condition, so I don't want to replace it entirely and I doubt I could find one anyways. Does anyone know how to remove the bearings and shaft?

 

[relhall]

I've never messed with that particular roller (don't you love when we start with that?) but ...

have you tried pushing the shaft back though the roller?

Tap it a bit a see if it will slide out the other side.

If not, get out the WD40 and start spraying ~

 

[rolls_rapide]

I'm presuming the brush strips are two separate entities, so the other end-cap must also come off...

Doesn't the other end-cap also unscrew (like a Hoover agitator/activator)? - one end cap turns towards you, the other away from you?

With that shaft, it looks as though you have to have a flat-blade screwdriver to 'hold' the shaft steady, and twist the end-cap anti-clockwise at the same time.

 

[abcvacplacentia]

I figured it out . . .

You have to grab the shaft with vice grips and then just turn the end cap and it spins right off. I had to use a bearing puller to get one of the bearings off the shaft after I removed the c-clip. Inside are (2) 626z bearings. Both make noise, so they definitely need to go. I found new ones for around $3 each online, so these old brush rolls are worth rebuilding rather than replacing.

 

[broomvac]

Good call on replacing those bearings.

Am I seeing beater bars? If so...neat! Not many direct air machines have them. I'm guessing Panasonic learned that from the DAM. Also, are those the same size brush strips that the current Tacony vacuums use? They look to be.

Cosmetically, that brush roll looks excellent.