Karcher rc3000 main brush noise

[a4refillpad]

All of a sudden I've started getting a loud "buzz" coming from the main brush of my Karcher rc3000. Investigations have found that it's not the brush but either the connection between the motor and the brush or the actual motor itself. In fact the vibrations are so bad that the robot thinks it's hit an obstruction and backs up continually.

Apart from buying the whole Brush Crank mechanism to replace (quite expensive from Germany) any suggestions how I can attempt a fix? Is there anything you can do for an electric motor? Possible to replace only the motor itself?

Any suggestions very much appreciated!

[robocleaner]

As you're using your Karcher to clean your children's play room, maybe a small toy part has jammed the brush or belt? As this thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12143 from member arief shows, there isn't a lot that can go wrong with the brush assembly. You can test the motor with a 12v supply, but AFAIK you can't buy a replacement on its own.

arief's picture of Karcher brush assembly parts

[a4refillpad]

Yes, very possible (and hoping it is the case ) ! Thanks for that link I'll try to take apart the brush assembly later today. As you quite rightly point out it, the motor cannot be purchased on it's own and the whole motor bar package is very costly to replace.

[a4refillpad]

Things go from bad to worse. Just snapped both the white plastic "springs" next to the brush assembly. Looks like the purchase from Germany is inevitable now....

[robocleaner]

Ooops! Oh well, the whole brush assembly is only £52, and the springs just a couple of £ - which isn't too bad when you consider that the whole robot originally retailed at £1400! In the UK, you could try espares rather than ordering from Germany...

[a4refillpad]

I've had no luck sourcing the parts in the UK. Have you?

[robocleaner]

Yes, I use espares all the time in my current job. The only official independent Karcher Parts Partners in the UK are espares and buyspares. Espares don't list the parts on their website, but will order in the parts for you: If you know the part numbers, just phone them with part nos and your card details:

The springs are 5.332-498.0 (they're sold separately)
The complete brush drive assembly is 4.762-317.0 (excludes the external pressure spring and the brush itself).

I found espares (http://www.espares.co.uk/search/karcher/p/0/877) cheaper than ordering direct from Karcher in Germany because of Karcher's one-off shipping charges, whereas espares are bulk importing Karcher parts all the time (and offer a price-match guarantee). If you need the RC3000 parts catalogue, PM me with your email address and I'll forward the PDF to you.

[a4refillpad]

I'll give them a call tomorrow. In the meantime I've managed to temporarily replace the springs with two plastic tubes cut from some earbuds. Seems to be behaving as normal and will do until I manage to source the correct parts.

[a4refillpad]

Looks like it's going to take up to 4 weeks to ship if I order from the UK companies. Therefore ordering from Germany direct now. While I'm at it, I'm going to try ordering some other parts too to refresh the bot.

[a4refillpad]

I bought the bits from Germany and the karcher is running beautifully again.
The "some other parts" I was referring to in my last post was the following:

Kärcher Gehaeusedeckel kpl. neutral

I was going for the RC4000 look but there was a problem when it arrived. It was not neutral at all and yellow!!
Karcher are claiming that they are right and refuse to replace even though the description on the invoice says neutral but the label on the part that arrived omitted it in the description. Really annoyed and disappointed and 61EUR down the toilet.

[robocleaner]

Kärcher Gehaeusedeckel kpl. neutral

Yes, the 'neutral' top-plate even has a separate listing and part number in the parts catalogue. But then - other than the white prototype variant 107 shown at that Technology Show last year - has Karcher ever sold an RC4000? Do variants 107 & 108 actually exist beyond Karcher's Boardroom? If they do, it'd be more interesting to supplant variant 108's "Electronic Control KAP" - which appears to be a redesigned motherboard for the RC4000 - into your robot and see what additional features/functions it offers!

[a4refillpad]

Really doubt it's any different apart from the looks front as I've seen it on a few German forums with videos of it in action. Anyway, Karcher refuse to admit fault and insist they reserve the right to change the product regardless of description and I would need to cover the cost of return postage if I were to return the product unused. Here you can see the product code match the label that was delivered but them removing the "neutral" part from the description.

Anyway, at least my karcher is nice and shiny like new again!

[robocleaner]

Really doubt it's any different apart from the looks front as I've seen it on a few German forums with videos of it in action.

I think you maybe miss the point. RC3000 was available in variants 1.269.101 - 106. They were all 220-240-volt versions and the only difference between all of them was the mains power plug. Variant 105 was the American version with an 110-volt vacuum motor and an American plug. Currently, only the German version variant 101 is still available, and that is 220-240 volts with a German mains plug.

The RC4000 shown at the Show was essentially an RC3000 with white plastic mouldings and RC4000 legends instead of yellow and RC3000 legends on both the robot and the base. This RC4000 is variant 107, and again only available with a German mains plug. This is exactly the same as an RC3000, with the same boards, behaviour and technology; only the mouldings are in white, and it's called an RC4000. This is confirmed by the parts list, and is the version seen at the show and shown on youtube videos.

Now check your parts list: There's an additional RC4000... variant 108. Also with white plastic mouldings and the RC4000 legend, but it features a different motherboard altogether in the robot, and it is the only Karcher to do so: It's part no 66829580. All other RC3000's variants 101 - 106, and even the 107 variant RC4000 have motherboard no. 66825630. You see? It seems that there is a new board they've tried/prototyped which is distinctly different from the existing one.

So it does appear that there are TWO versions of the RC4000 - A standard RC4000 which is identical in all functional respects to the existing RC3000 but in white, and a revised variant 108 RC4000 which features a new motherboard in the robot. Whether Karcher will ever manufacture it and how it differs functionally is a mystery, but it is a totally different motherboard - identified by "*KAP" - to all other versions of this robot.

But then if Karcher won't even supply the white plastic/RC4000 mouldings, it seems very unlikely that they'd be manufacturing/supplying a new motherboard for a revised/updated robot, doesn't it?

[a4refillpad]

Very interesting. Could you upload a copy of the parts list you are referring to showing these new parts?

[robocleaner]

Afraid not... there's 25 pages of it, and you need to go through it to identify which parts are allocated to RC4000 version 107, and RC4000 version 108. Interestingly though, Karcher Spares are listing this unique version 108 KAP motherboard part 6.682-958.0 here http://www.kaerchershop-schreiber.de/ad ... anguage=en. It's only 210 EUR too... but if your attempt to buy a white RC4000 top-plate experience is anything to go by, they'd probably just supply the normal 6.682-563.0 RC3000 all-versions and RC4000 version 107 motherboard instead?

[a4refillpad]

FYI After a number of complaints from myself, I've been informed by Karcher support that 'neutral' is not in reference to any rc4000 parts and they are just standard rc3000 parts without labels showing the model number. I have therefore been supplied correctly the parts which i have ordered.
Hence I think it is possible for you to obtain the parts you are thinking about if you are interested in upgrading your karcher.

[robocleaner]

FYI After a number of complaints from myself, I've been informed by Karcher support that 'neutral' is not in reference to any rc4000 parts and they are just standard rc3000 parts without labels showing the model number.

Sometime before you joined this forum, maybe a year or more ago now, one member wrote to Karcher to enquire whether they had any plans to introduce a new model. The member received a written response from Karcher which is posted somewhere here on this forum where Karcher categorically denied they were. And within months of that written reply from Karcher, the white RC4000 appeared at that show... So that was a bit of a lie then, eh?

As for denying that "neutral" does not refer to any RC4000 parts, perhaps so. So let’s call it as Karcher themselves call it; “neutral” version 107, and “neutral” version 108 rather than RC4000... both versions being added into the parts catalogue at a much later date to the original RC3000 versions 101 to 106... and both versions 107 and 108 having “neutral” body parts instead of yellow... and version 108 even having a revised motherboard in the robot... a part which doesn't even have the model number showing. All these parts have separate itemised catalogue part numbers, specifically for versions 107 & 108.

I personally doubt either "neutral" model 107 or 108 have actually ever been sold: If one does exist outside of Karcher's own plant, would the owner please do post and say... it would say 1.269.107 or 1.269.108 on the vacuum base unit and outer packaging, as mine say 1.269.101 (bought from Germany) and 1.269.103 (bought in the UK)! And seeing as the RC4000 has even recently been removed from Karcher's own website, I doubt they ever will be sold.

To me, it seems as if Karcher took a foray into refreshing the RC3000 into the RC4000, which they've now changed their minds on... why else would Karcher make substitute parts for two "neutral" versions and go to all the trouble of updating their parts catalogue... with each specific altered part separately itemised against these two new version numbers? Apparently, they've done all that for absolutely no purpose whatsoever! Yeah, right.

Perhaps what Karcher mean to say is "We've changed our minds. It's an embarrassment. Take the 4000 off the site and bury it!" Or maybe Karcher are waiting for existing RC3000 stocks to clear before releasing a new "neutral" version? Who knows. Either way, going on the evidence, there's something not true in what Karcher publicly say.

[arief]

Hi there,

I was the one that posted the picture initially (that must be a few years now). In my case (twice now), the noise was coming the motor itself. If you look closely at where the shaft exits the motor, the opening has become oblong and not round. In my latest fix, I managed to find a bearing to fit the at the end of the bell where the shaft exits (this is to stop the wear that is bound to happen again).


Arief

[a4refillpad]

I was the one that posted the picture initially (that must be a few years now). In my case (twice now), the noise was coming the motor itself. If you look closely at where the shaft exits the motor, the opening has become oblong and not round. In my latest fix, I managed to find a bearing to fit the at the end of the bell where the shaft exits (this is to stop the wear that is bound to happen again).

Fantastic, sounds very similar to my issue. I haven't thrown the old one away yet. Any chance of some photos with arrows pointing to what you're describing?

[arief]

it's in the last picture on this link viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12143
The end of the motor was rusted and the hole was no longer nice and round- There was some "play" in the shaft.