iRobot Roomba Side Brush Motor Fix

A very common malfunction for the iRobot Roomba is the Side Brush. There is an inherent flaw in the design of the motor where the plastic gear is prone to stripping. The gear should have been made of metal. Rather than replace the entire motor module, it is a lot cheaper to simply replace the damaged gear inside the motor. This video shows you how to do this.
There is a link below for an eBay seller who has these gears for sale. At $5 for a pair, it certainly beats buying an entire motor. And since the gears are plastic, they are going to wear out again and the second gear will come to use. Thanks for watching!
eBay link to the gear used in this video:
rover.ebay.com/...
If you prefer to buy a new side brush motor, here are several on sale:
rover.ebay.com/...
This video is applicable to the following models:
510 530 531 532 533 535 536 540 545 550 551 552 560 561 562 570 580 581 585 595
600 610 620 630 650 653 654 660 700 760 770 780 790 800 870 880 980

[@gerryblanke9457]

You saved me a couple hundred bucks from buying a new roomba! My gear wasn’t stripped but the gear was stuck on some hard residue that had built up around the hole where it came through the motor. I got it off and it works great now. Thank you!

[@CactusNaga]

Glad it worked out! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@scottcraig9206]

I'm in Canada and couldn't find the gears, but I ordered a new motor on Amazon for $17.95 with free next day delivery. I just replaced the motor last fall, so I'm not sure what's going on, but hopefully this one lasts longer. Thanks for the video

[@bry9458]

Great vid. In my case though my gears were fine. The lube used had
solidified slightly around the gear that spins the brush, causing the
shaft to bind on the hole it goes through. Scraped off the solidified
white gunk on the shaft and the hole and back in business!

[@joeymoloney5063]

This was my issue exactly! Thank you for posting. I never would have checked otherwise.

[@lunayoureright]

Thanks. My gear didn’t need replacement but when I put it back together it started working again. Thanks

[@christiney7336]

As soon as I took off brush part I found what I thought was a black rubber washer ...it was just hair spun around the gear as soon as I removed it worked perfectly.

[@CactusNaga]

Nice!! Glad it all worked out. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Akhileshcanada]

Thanks Buddy for the Video, Mine is working again. almost buy a new one....

[@ipahunter9910]

Akhi, thanks for watching and commenting. Glad the video helped.

[@rachelel-yafi3210]

Thanks so much for your video. I tried the link, but it just gives a big list of accessories. I found another gear set listed for $35! :(

[@CactusNaga]

The link appears to be broken. Let me try to fix that! I guess the seller moved his listing. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@richdavis1787]

Very helpful. Dhanyavaad" Cactus!

[@suehunter1446]

Great video but you can't get the gears, or they are as much in price as the full unit.

[@seanmisael8769]

@Alvin Jamir yea, I've been watching on flixzone for months myself :D

[@stevesan]

My problem exactly. Cheers!

[@laurisabele5298]

Thank you!

[@CactusNaga]

Glad the video helped! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@isabelalao7282]

Thank you so mutch for this video, help me a lot

[@mipowell3857]

Were you able to get a new link or the link that actually works??? Please let me know. I need one.

[@JackDawson-qk5sg]

I had no movement so I bought a new motor on eBay and it to does not work. Where do I go now?

[@KerryRussellRN]

I can’t find the plastic gears...any idea where I could find them?

[@CactusNaga]

You're right. The link appears to be broken. Let me try to find it again. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@KSCPMark6742]

Thanks for the video. Would you happen to have the gear ratios and dimensions? Odds are a metal version can be found on aliexpress. The plastic one you list has gone way up in price.

[@kennonwerner8192]

Let us know if you found something more durable please

[@EduardoRRCarvalho]

Hey!
Someone knows where i can find gears for Roomba i3 series?

[@virtualinfluencer]

Hi there, Do I need to replace the whole motor if only the plastic where the brush attaches is won?

[@stuartj1968]

Thanks. I bet you did that when Mrs Naga was out shopping and you were abusing her paring knife.

[@cyndifeeney1049]

How to fasten the screw for the side brush. Motor is working. Screw won’t go back in. Help please reply

[@kristinaparrish915]

I am not able to get the link to take me anywhere 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@kristinaparrish915]

The link finally took me somewhere but not to anyone selling the gears.

[@CactusNaga]

You're right. The link appears to be broken. Let me try to find it again. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ManuelGarcia-vt1hk]

If the problem is that this is plastic that worn out, why don;t make them out of METAL??I bought it a year ago and it has already faild me twice, as it was under warranty the send me a new motor set, THEY SHOULD SOLVE THIS BIG PROBLEM !!!!!..

[@ai522]

Link is broken :/ would love some help

[@brittanylawson8]

My top gear is stuck and won’t come out of the top part of the motor( the part without the battery). Any tips or will the entire thing need replaced?

[@joeymoloney5063]

I used a screw driver to pry mine off. There was another post about the lube solidifying and causing the shaft to bind on the hole it goes through. I pried off the gear, scraped the dried lube off and put it back together. Back in business!

[@booboo759]

the link does not work for the replacement gears any suggestions?

[@CactusNaga]

You're right. The link appears to be broken. Let me try to find it again. Thanks for watching and commenting!