SteamVac

Hoover SteamVac and Vax: Brushes Stop Spinning – $10 Fix

Uncharted Steve 01/10/2020 4 DIY Projects carpet cleaner, DIY, Dual V, Hoover, leak, power scrub, repair, spinscrub, Steam cleaner, SteamVac

Hoover SteamVac and Vax: Brushes Stop Spinning - $10 Fix My Hoover SteamVac Brushes are Frozen and I Can't Let it Go

The problem:

The old Hoover SteamVac gives me grief AGAIN!

My Hoover SteamVac Dual V carpet cleaner tank had serious leaks and the valves dripped onto and into the machine. As a result, the Power Scrub carpet brushes stopped spinning and froze up due to a rusted, seized bearing in the brush motor. The Vax Dual V and All Terrain also seem to share this problem.

I checked to see if a clogged inline filter had caused the brushes to stop, but the filter was sparkly clean. The brush switch was working properly, so I determined the problem was in the brush motor itself.

Fixing this usually requires a new brush motor assembly, and the expensive parts are becoming harder to find. More than that, I was simply tired of spending money on this machine.

I decided to give fixing it one more try before dragging the cleaner to the curb. It was DIY or death for the SteamVac this time!

Hoover SteamVac shiny new bearing next to old rusty bearing

Hmm… I wonder how I can tell which one is old, and which is new…

The solution:

I ordered a 10-pack of bearings for under $10 and replaced the bad one in the brush motor assembly. Taking it apart and putting in a new bearing is not too difficult, and it takes about a half hour.

The video below will walk you through the project step by step, and a link to the bearing I used is below.

It worked beautifully and kept the SteamVac alive to see another day. Being able to finally clean the carpets certainly eased the friction around here!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission on items bought using them. These are the same recommendations I would make regardless of any compensation. For products that I have older versions of, I recommend the items that I would replace them with if I were buying them new.

Resources for Hoover SteamVac and Vax: Brushes Stop Spinning

PGN – R4-2RS Sealed Bearing – 1/4″x5/8″x0.196″ – Lubricated – Chrome Steel (10 Pieces)

From Amazon
Make sure to use these specifications for your bearings

WD-40 Multi-Use Lubricant

From Amazon
Used as a rust penetrant, but not as a long-lasting oil

3-IN-ONE Multi-Purpose Oil

From Amazon
This is the long-lasting oil

There are more DIY projects in the works, so stay tuned to Uncharted DIY. Feel free to comment, post photos or ask questions about this project.

Uncharted DIY was created for people with the DIY spirit tackling uncommon projects, utilizing common tools and often on a limited budget

Waterfall pouring from Hoover SteamVac tank

Hoover SteamVac and Vax Hot Water Tanks that Crack and Leak

Uncharted Steve 01/07/2020 0 DIY Projects carpet cleaner, DIY, Dual V, easy, Hoover, leak, power scrub, repair, spinscrub, Steam cleaner, SteamVac

Hoover SteamVac and Vax Hot Water Tanks that Crack and Leak I Really “Mist” Having A Leak-free Hot Water Tank

The problem:

My Hoover SteamVac Dual V carpet cleaner tank has leaked since the day I brought it home. The Vax Dual V and All Terrain also seem to share this problem. I’d just chalk it up to a bad machine, but other than the constant leaking, it does a great job on my carpets. It was leaking from the water valves, but then the water tank/reservoir started to crack all over the bottom and that’s when the SERIOUS leaking began.

It seems that all Hoover machines of similar design have the same issue and I have heard of people going through 4 or 5 tanks, all of them cracking. Replacement tanks cost $90 and up, and the replacements are reported to be just as bad as the originals. That’s about half the cost of a new machine!

Hoover SteamVac tank with large cracks and leaks

Silicone sealant and epoxy were not successful in repairing the tank that was not just cracking, but actually falling apart

Using silicone sealant helped temporarily. Epoxy worked for a while. Finally, enough water had leaked into the cleaner that the built-in scrubbing brushes would no longer spin.

I couldn’t see sending an otherwise decent machine to the landfill and I sure as hell wasn’t going to buy a new Hoover steam cleaner! I was going to try one last fix before writing this whole thing off, and it worked! See how in the step-by-step video above.

The solution:

Even though the commercials are over the top, Flex Seal Liquid Rubber seemed like it might work. So, in combination with packing tape, cotton balls and nitrile gloves, I set out to try an experiment, figuring I had nothing to lose if it didn’t work out.

Well, it did work out and has continued to be leak-less with repeated use, and the best part is I have clean carpets! See how it was fixed in the step-by-step video above.

Resources for Hoover SteamVac and Vax Water Tanks Crack and Leak

Flex Seal Liquid Rubber in a Can, Clear

From Amazon
If you don’t mind not being able to see the tank clearly, black or white Flex Seal will also work if you can’t find the clear.

Wool Daubers Ball Brush with Metal Handle Applicator

From Amazon
Alternative to loose cotton balls below

Powder-Free Nitrile Utility Gloves – 100 Gloves, Blue, Large

From Amazon
This links to large size, but make sure to order the right size for you.

Gorilla Heavy Duty Packing Tape with Dispenser

From Amazon
Super tough packing tape

Solimo Cotton Balls, 200 Count (Pack of 1)

From Amazon
Alternative to daubers listed above

US Art Supply 24 Pack of 2″ Paint and Chip Paint Brushes

From Amazon
Using these means no messy cleanup after spreading the Flex Seal.

There are more DIY projects in the works, so stay tuned to Uncharted DIY. Feel free to comment, post photos of your Hoover SteamVac Tank or ask questions about this project.

Uncharted DIY was created for people with the DIY spirit tackling uncommon projects, utilizing common tools and often on a limited budget

Hoover SteamVac and Vax Valves that Leak

Uncharted Steve 01/07/2020 4 DIY Projects carpet cleaner, DIY, Dual V, easy, Hoover, leak, power scrub, repair, spinscrub, Steam cleaner, SteamVac

Hoover SteamVac and Vax: Valves that Leak - Easy Fix Hoover SteamVac Valves with Incontinence Issues

The problem:

My Hoover SteamVac valves have always leaked since the day I brought it home. The Vax Dual V and All Terrain also seem to share this problem. Even before the tank started cracking and causing serious leaks, the valves began to drip water and concentrated cleaning solution everywhere.

Soap left in the carpet will quickly draw dirt and grime to it like a magnet! Not to mention that you’ll go through the pricey cleaning solution much faster than you should.

This seems to happen to every one of these Hoover and Vax machines of similar design. The bad news is that if they continue to leak, the water can get into the machine and results in the brush motor bearing rusting out. This can cause the Spin Scrub brushes to stop spinning.

Isn’t the whole point of having a carpet cleaning machine that it will clean carpets without leaving water and soap all over the place?

The good news is that it is a quick and inexpensive repair.

Hoover SteamVac and Vax Valves that Leak

The good news is that leaking valves are fast and cheap to fix

The solution:

I picked up a 2-pack of the valve assemblies for about $20 and was able to fix both the hot water tank and the detergent container in about 15 minutes. You may only need to replace one, but it might be a good idea to do them both while the parts are in good supply.

In the short video below, I’ll walk you through replacing them, step by step.

You too can be have tanks that hold water very soon!