Riccar 8955 Brushroll bristle length?

[camelotshadow]

I bought a 2nd 8955 off the bay.
I just noticed the brushroll which looked new & shiny has really short bristles compared to my others.

The others are close to 12mm & these are less than or about 8 mm.

Are these bristles that worn down or do they have brush rolls strips with short bristles for perhaps berber carpet or hard floors???

I was upset at myself that I did not notice it. It came with a chewed up power cord so I got it for around $115 but now I have to buy brush strips & try to install them as well as having a taped cord or changing that.

It's a free return item so I was thinking of just sending it back. I would have to eat $20 shipping.

The brushroll is good & I guess I can find new strips for maybe $20?

Photo from the seller. I didnlt notice how shirt those bristles were until I compared them to mine.

Thanks for your advice...

 

[camelotshadow]

Bristle actually 7mm

Short stubby rounded end bristle. I suppose it might be more aggressive? Is this a big deal & of what use are they? I've installed the brushroll from my Simplic 7350. I think it needs a new belt but after over an hour trying to install the brushroller unsuccessfully w the new belt I just put the old belt on it but its stretched.

The vac is in very good condition & it;s a 2008.

 

[panasonicvac]

Those brushrips are definitely worn out, they'd need to be at no less than 9mm but you can definitely find brushstrips for around $20.

 

[camelotshadow]

Thanks, Now I see the power on/off switch has a broken piece

I kick myself for not noticing it. The machine was quite clean but that's a ton of use on it. I have never seen brushes down to nubs.

I'm just concerned the machine has a million miles on it.

I was lucky to get a 8900 that is hardly used with the receipt & manual from 2004.
It's brushroll has such nice long brushes close to 11mm.

I have another 8955 which I like & was just replacing my worn Simplicity 7350 so I thought it was ok but after picking up the like new 8900 even without tools & a single stage motor it works better.

I am so thinking of returning it & getting $115 back.

Motor sounds good & suction seems ok. Has all the tools & even a longer hose.

Just have too many vaccums in my one bedroom right now so it's hard to vacuum!!!

Are you sure there are no 8mm brush strips? I thought I saw some. I don't want to fault the vac for $20 brush strips but upon looking closer at it & noticing a wiggle or some play in the power switch I saw a small 1/4 in break in the side.

It looks like it took a front fall & hit the handle. I see a minor nick in the handle. All of this with a bad cord which he gave me $35 back on brought the vac from $150 to $135.

A short brush roll & a compromised power switch are not really making me want to keep this for $115 or even less at this point.

 

[camelotshadow]

I hate to box it up & drag it to UPS!!!

It's been 105 deg here & will be that for a week.

I took the chance. Has seller pays for return. I paid $20 to ship it but with all the things wrong with it I should send it back. I don't think he knows much about vacuums. He wanted $99 for it & I got it for $150 which would be top price for a minimally used excellent cond.

If they don't sell 8mm brush strips then that machine has been polishing granite.

The switch bothers me the most. That's the deal breaker. I hate problems with switches. There is not problem now with it & maybe will never be but I did notice some sideways play in it that none of my other Riccars have.

He also did not know that the handle came off with one screw & the machine arrived with the handle sticking out of the box!!! I guess I was just glad that the handle only got a nick in the plastic cap.

Oooohhhh

The 8900 & my 8955 have really nice brushes which appear 11mm...

I hate to play around with a another 8955 that's so so when I have 2 good machines.

 

[repairman]

Every 8900 and 8800 series Riccar has that notch in the switch cover for removal with a screwdriver, but it looks like there might be a little more plastic missing. That part is like $2. Brush strips are $20-25 for a set of 4 and a cord is somewhere in the $25-35 neighborhood.

Assuming you know how to do that work and it's worth it to you, then fix it. Otherwise, the clock is ticking on how long you have to return it. I serviced many of those machines and they are workhorses.

 

[camelotshadow]

Thanks

I can't see any entry to the switch. I took the cap off the top to smooth it as it was sticking out of the box & got cut so there was a sharp edge. That's ok now

$20 brush strips is not bad as the brushroll is fine.
If the switch cover is not a big deal I can handle it.
I just got rid of the simplicty 7350 which had a cracked handle as I did not want to spend the $30 for that. I would but the axle housing was broken so would need to a top housing case so it did not oush at all, was just a bear to use.
Motor was good so I took that out as well as brush roll & cord.

Maybe I am being rash but I have a really good 8955 & 8900 so having another around even if it only needs $30 & a cord is not thrilling me.

They are great machines &* that's why I took a chance on it. Clean with all the tools it's really not in that bad condition for being over 15 years old.

Thanks for your advice. Just not sure if I can use 3 of those.

 

[camelotshadow]

Curious of Value

I originally paid $150 plue $20 (not bad) shipping. I imagine he paid more for that even if we are in CA.

The condition did not list 3 extensive removals of the outer cord cover so we agreed upon a refund of $35 for the cord.

So that's $115 + $20= $135

Now there is an additional $25 expense. I know I was not buying a new vac but I would expect the cord condition to be mentioned so that's fair to ask for a refund on that.

Brush roll is sort of my fault but he didn't even show a photo of the bottom of the vac. I had to ask for one & the angle the brushroll was on & the quality of the photo made it hard to tell those bristles were just short nubs.

Brush roll strips are sort of an insignificant fix but it does signify that the vacuum has had a ton of use?

Is going through one brushroll nothing for one of these machines?

I have a cord from the Simplicuty 7350 that's not cut but it's a bit stiff if I wanted to switch it. It looks a bit complicated so for now I taped the cord.

So $135 + $20 brush strips brings in up to $155.

Not outlandish but it's not insignificant for a 3rd machine I don't need.

I'll just be honest with him. If he wants to refund $20 or if he wants it back?

It's a 30 days return seller pays for return. He's going to pay that $20 or more on shipping it back.

Personally I'd rather have my $115 or $135 back at this point as 3 of those machine around is a bit much.

Curious how much they go for in good working condition?
The problem with buying one is the shipping.

They are being sold $100 with $100 shipping if they are across the country.

Looking up brush strips again. The red seem to be 10.3mm & the black 9mm?

PArt # B012-2400B Would like to find OEM.

Looks like the stock part brush strips were 9mm black B012-0900B not red 10.3mm on Simplicity.
Which is better?

The Simplicity 7350 metal roller has red strips. They are not bad. I was thinking I could remove them & put them on the other roller but used strips might not seat well. The Simplicity roller works but it's old & has a break on one end.

I think the simplicity brush roller is different. It fits but it's not identical.
I'll have to remove it.

I should have fixed the sim0plicity 7350. Motor is great. Handle is $20 but the upper housing I would have to find in good cond used as new is $70. Would not spring for it...

Oh well, sorry to see a good machine get trashed. I needed the cord though so the rest was just not useful to me. Maybe I should have sold it for $40? Oh well, shipping is not cheap & it's not really safe any more to have people come to your home to buy a vac...

I will probably get the brush strips for the 8955. I never took the brush roller apart though.

 

[camelotshadow]

Seems they sell same brush roll

Same brush roll for Riccar 8900 series & Simplicity 700 series

It ships with 10.3mm brush strips so that must be able to be used on the 8955 Riccar.

Now not sure if 9mm or 19.3 mm is better it's less than 2 mm so really not a big deal.

Still the ones on my brush roll are 8mm or less.

So if they were orig 9mm not 10.3mm I don't feel so bad about the wear/ use being extremely excessive. The machine does not seem to be abused & looks well taken care of except cords do get run over. It's my big fear.

 

[camelotshadow]

Took The Simplicity 7350 Brush Roller Apart

The red brush strips came out easy.
Washed them all up & disinfected with alcohol. They are close to 10.3mm & in good condition. I think I can get them inside the other brush roll.

It saves me $20. I cut my finger on the side of the brushroll opening cleaning it.

It's all metal even the one end cap so it's worth keeping.

If I was to get a new brish strip should I get the black 9mm or the red 10.3mm?

It would have been simplier to rebuild the short brush roller but i wanted to practice on the simplicity. It's not bad. There was no felt washer on the end but still the clutch works. I think the older brush rolls were made better.

 

[camelotshadow]

Missed the return deadline. No box to ship...

It's mine now. It's an OK vac except for cord (no biggie) power switch (working)
& brush strips a $20 fix. I'll use it as my beater.