Regarding the Scooba Fan

[Fraggboy]

I have done some researching about what I am experiencing, and got some of my questions answered regarding it.

After two cleanings, I noticed while looking down the port where the fan is, there is junk starting to build up on the fan blades. I do know that it pulls "Humid" air since it's pulling the liquid from the floor, and depositing it into the dirty tank. I guess it's pulling some junk past the filter, and it's getting deposited on the fan blades. My filter has been placed correctly every run.

My question is, how long should I let it build up before I might want to take the initiative to clean the fan blades. Has anyone else come across this? Should I keep using warm water, or should I switch to cold? Would this have an effect regarding the buildup?

My first culprit I am thinking is at fault is the water I'm using. It's very hard here, and was thinking about using my Brita water pitcher to fill up the clean tank. Could the hard water deposits be forming on the blades?

Any insight would be helpful.

[THX-1138]

Could you possibly take a picture and post it here? I have just checked my Scooba 5900 and I do not see any deposits on the blades. I do see what appears to be some gunk on the outer ring wall. I am not sure if that 'gunk' was there to begin with. Deposits on your fan blades could have been contributed by the hard water in your area but then you will also have deposits in your ejectors, tank, pumps, etc. Keep us updated.

[vic7767]

THX-1138, I've got two of the 5900s that have the gunk built up on the fan blades. I clean the blades with a Q-tip dipped in kitchen orange cleaner. Next time I take mine apart, I'll post a pic before cleaning.

[Fraggboy]

THX, here is the Picture:

Scooba Fan

I left the size alone, so you can zoom in on the fan itself.

Vic, since THX doesn't have gunk on his fan blades, do you think it could be due to the hard water? Or, what do you think the cause of it is?

Since you clean it out every so often, there is nothing to worry about? Just another step to take? How often do you clean your blades?

Thank you for the input!!

[bobnielson]

My 5800 died after a year of the fan motor going bad. It started with a high screeching noice. I have soft or conditioned water but what it picks up from the the floor is anything but. I could see stuff building up on the fan as early as 6 months. Since there is a warning to not put any moisture in the fan opening I didn't know how to clean the blades. It will take the stick type qtip to get at it and then only one blade at a time. A hit and miss deal. I tried to take it apart to get at the fan but it is all housed in the water and air tight assembly with a whole bunch of glue and other appoxies (where is the spell checker). There is no way any of us can take it apart and put it back in working order. I just worry my 2 month old 3xx will go down the same way.

[THX-1138]

Fraggboy,

Definitely I have more gunk on my inner ring of the fan assembly compared to yours. Here is a picture:

[Fraggboy]

Well, we know how to take care of it now, thanks to Vic!! I'm glad that I'm not the only one with the "Gunk" build-up. I seriously thought it was my water at first.

Thank you for shedding this info with me.

[vic7767]

I converted all the Phillips head screws to 4-40 Stainless steel on this 5900 Scooba. This enables you to remove and replace all the parts much easier. The picture included here is one showing the blower/vacuum motor blades with about 24 runs or about 3 months use for me. Depending upon the floor cleaning environment you have it could take up to a year before you need to consider cleaning the blades. I use Orange glo kitchen cleaner on the end of Q-tips.

[geekgranny]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. I'd better check mine. One of the 5900's started a loud shrieking last week for the first few seconds after it starts its first run and then doesn't happen again.

Our water is extremely HARD. 5900s will run on our plain tap water. I do use vinegar and water between Scooba juice runs or start out several missions with vinegar and then finish last runs over same area with Scooba juice.

One of my 5900's is now 1 1/2 years old. And gets as many runs in a week as most Scoobas run in months. Hopefully the vinegar is helping.

gg=alice

[bobnielson]

My 5800 started out with a screeching noise for a few minutes at first then within a week it made the loud noise all the time. In a couple of days the motor just frooze and nothing I did would revive it. The motor has to be taking a beating all the time with the conditions it exists in. In my experience the conditioned water I use allows the vinegar and a few drops of dish soap to work much better than the scooba juice. The scooba juice seems to leave a lot in the solution tank. I think it works up a bunch of suds in the tank and the scooba thinks its out of solution. The vinegar tank uses up almost all the solution and goes for about 5-10 minutes longer.

[geekgranny]

Bob and others, Any other easy measures that can be taken to help poor old Scooba to live longer?

So far the shrieking last only a few seconds. Ya know. One of them did some shrieking just like that a few months ago but I haven't heard it since. It may have been this same one.

It wasn't Bob, who "lost his mind" and went back to his maker though. Bob was working physically fine until he "lost it".

gg=alice

[Fraggboy]

GeekGranny,
I'm sure the squealing is coming from the fan that blows the air, with the blue blades, which get gunk on it. I would take the Scooba apart, and do what Vic does to get his gunk off the fan blades. When I do mine, I will probably rub some light-duty oil around the rubber seal in front to help it out..

[vic7767]

alice, as Fraggboy suggests, the squeal may emanate from the blower/vacuum motor outer ring. That would be the outer part of the blue fan and it may be the cause. Not sure since I haven't heard or experienced that condition on mine yet.

It is possible that I haven't had the problem because of the cleaning performed on the fan blades.

One thought for those that are under warranty or just don't want to open their Scooba up would be to run a cleaning mission with vinegar and Scooba Clorox solution. You could inspect your fan blades prior to the mission and then again after the mission and observe whether or not the blades are any cleaner.

[foongpl]

Hi,
I just have to post a pic of my Scooba Fan ..
That gunk is probably due to the humid environment; and after almost 5 months of daily use.
I find my Scooba makes the same amount of noise as a Vacuum Cleaner (I guess thats normal).
Nevertheless, I think I'll use a Q-tip and start cleaning those gunk off the blades..

[vic7767]

foongpl, I agrree..... Those blades need some cleaning !

[geekgranny]

Oh Boy

I just checked all four of mine and they are loaded. 3xx has been here, what, a couple of months, and 5800 has been in service a couple of weeks.

Okay folks, time for fan parts cleaning. How much time am I looking at tearing it down a putting back together? BTW... I'm used to "tearing down" laptops and pen tablets but I'm not fast. My problems is usually not getting it finished in a timely manner because I get distracted with something else or get bored.

BTW... The last cleaning marathon I finished with all Scooba Juice for about 4 missions each. Tomorrow is marathon day(s) so I'll start with several missions using vinegar and check them and report especially if the vinegar helps reduce the grit and grim collection.

Another BTW.... I received my iRobot replacement battery today; for Bob, 5900 who "lost his mind". It's charging now. It is not the usual blue but the lighter blue, almost white; same color as 5900 body and tank. First time I've seen one like this.

Thanks, gg=alice

[Gordon]

...Okay folks, time for fan parts cleaning. How much time am I looking at tearing it down a putting back together? ...

Alice, you can get a hint at how much work is involved by reading THIS PAGE.

The major hassle is breaking / cutting various bonded joints to separate the housing-parts!

Putting it back together will require inventive skills. Maybe you'd like to just duct-tape the housing together--it would speed up the next clean-out tour!

[geekgranny]

Putting it back together will require inventive skills. Maybe you'd like to just duct-tape the housing together--it would speed up the next clean-out tour!

Duct Tape

One of the most valuable human inventions. If you take my duct tape away from me put me in a padded cell.

Thanks Gordon

BTW... each Scooba did no less than 4 missions yesterday, using lots of white vinegar and no Scooba juice. It didn't seem to loosen the fan grime significantly or at all.

It's Bert, 5900, 1 1/2 yr old that does the shrieking. First run 17 seconds before it stopped, then three more consecutive runs without any. He waited for an hour or so for charged battery, dismantled and cleaned, then to another zone for four runs. After sitting, when he first started, shrieking lasted 10 seconds before stopping.

Guess I'd better start on him first.

gg=alice

[geekgranny]

I just read instructions and watched video. Well within my skill level AND with the track record of my Scooba fan parts becoming so grungy in a matter of weeks perhaps duct tape might be the solution to hold it back together, cutting tear down and reassembly time dramatically. Thanks for that info Gordon.

Hoping to get to Bert next week but no promises. Will report back.

I'm still interested in reports from people who don't have the fan grunge buildup. Or does everyone eventually get it? It did take Bert over a year to start shrieking but he definitely has the most buildup.

Does this buildup imply that stuff is getting through the screen?

gg=alice

[Roger crier]

I would say the dirt build up on the inside of Scoobas air fans outer ring is entirely made up of tiny particles that get through the filter while suspended IN the water mist that is ever present in the airflow through the fan. It is not caused by fitting the filter badly.

What is happening is the fan blades outer rim is getting the water centrifuged out onto the inner surface we can see and the dirt within the water is forced onto the surface while the water carries on it's merry way leaving an ever increasing deposit of centrifugaly removed dirt.....just like the centrifugal oil filter does on Hondas C90 commuter bikes crankshaft...

Note that there is white paint present on one of the fan blades....this could be there just to help with visable checking for rotation during tests, but I would say it may also perform a balancing function and if this is the case then that crud formation will be playing havoc with the dynamic balance of the fan, which will impact on bearing longevity

I would say that it takes five mins to get the Scooba apart so that you have good access to the fan blades. Should you see fit, a further few mins getting into the sealed brain box and un-pluging the fan completely so it is an in your hand unit is also not beyond the witt of man (or Woman)............. But going further and taking the fans main body apart for full access is a whole lot riskier and could end in tears.

Taking the sealant away from the joint in the areas we can see is all very doable, but we have no way of telling how large the mating surfaces are and how well the sealant has penetrated....it is not flexable type sealant, it is a rock hard epoxy type that could prove to be a right pain.

A normal "lids off" clean as in Gordons pic should do the job.

Have fun,

Rog, Birmingham, U.K.