Hoover SteamVac Widepath Scrub Brush Repair

Tried to use the SteamVac today, heard a snap and the brushes stopped spinning after 20 years. Is it dead? Can it be fixed cheaply? Do I get to buy Rug Doctor X3?

[@lj5833]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was having a time getting my individual brushes out of the clear, 2-piece housing. I pulled out about a full cup of hair & lint from the brush assembly.

[@vlreviews]

You're welcome!

[@lindarowe4046]

You saved my life showing how to snap the clam shell off. Mine was packed with dog hair and I was trying to get it out with an old dental tool... Also, I had a little luck cleaning the bristles with a flea comb vs. toothpick. Thanks again!

[@VacLab]

Your welcome.

[@JimHytken]

Excellent video on how to disassemble the brushes in a Hoover carpet cleaner. I was trying to figure out how to open it, and finally looked around. Figuring someone else had already done it and came across your video. I did not realize how easy it was, and I think I was overthinking it too much. Thanks for sharing.

[@VacLab]

👍

[@D.Pensak]

“That VacLab man....boy he sure is somethin’!” Keep up the great work.

[@rtel123]

The repair shops say that hoover is notorious for downgrading their plastic quality. I got the last of the good ones 15 years ago. Nothing broken yet. And the stupid new idea of the complicated handle mechanism and valve transferring action to the hose is breaking thousands of flimsy hoses, "made of recycled condoms", as my repair guy says. Mine has the hose completely separate from the machine, and the transfer function is to simply take out the vacuum bypass tube from recovery tank to floor head, and substitute the hose fitting, with a very strong plastic hose that has never broken.

[@JoeWheeler]

I LOVED that one! I hope that repair does the trick because that SteamVac needs to live! But you may act quickly if you want a NEW X-3 because they seem to be phasing them out and right now the RED X-3 is the only option...and that used to be only available for rental markets and you could not legally own a red one. Maybe Rug Doctor is getting ready to be sold??? TTI would blend it into the Bissell Pro range and one thing that won't survive for sure is the "Vibrating Brush" which along with the disappearing "Spin Brushes" offered full-width cleaning...It'll be brush-rolls only soon I'm afraid and that means uncleaned gaps on both ends and somewhere in the middle where the belt runs. Not everything gets improved over time, look at the SteamVac as an example, you need a time machine to go back and get the best ones.

[@KareemTaha15]

Bissell is owned by TTI now?

[@J-nj8uv]

I have a newer spin scrub and my brushes too wouldn’t turn. I called Hoover and they told me i needed a new turbine, bought it on Amazon and working great.

[@marshallstudiosforever.4407]

That carpet cleaner look brand new to me

[@Blazerfan11]

this worked for the Bissell SteamVac too.

[@shaunkanary997]

I would buy another carpet cleaner but if you have enough storage space keep the old one and fix it as time and money permits.

[@user-22-]

My God! It looks like you’ve *never* even used this machine! Lol. My husband used it twice & my once *clean* machine looks like it was buried in a landfill! How do you remove the whole clear bottom plate?? I now have to DEEP clean my cleaner. 😢 Any ‘complete’ disassembly instructions/videos/charts would be *enormously* appreciated. 💜 (oh, he also broke something & the handle no longer stays completely upright like it should..😢)

[@VacLab]

Thanks for the kind words. Well, in 22 years now, I've never had to fully disassemble it.

[@farkinarkin5099]

Just how dirty is your Steamvac? The bottom plate stays relatively clean. Taking it off is almost a full teardown.

[@Marshallpuppy]

Good job

[@farkinarkin5099]

I saw the missing long shaft the moment you removed the assembly. Darn. It should have a clutch so the shaft is spared the load. Don't know how you got your fingers in to release the side tabs for the brush assembly --- it's really tight in there. I just remove the headlight covers and push the clips from the side.

[@Gatrests14]

People say that you should not put the carpet cleaner fully down that's why the hose has a split

[@VacLab]

At the factory, that hose wasn't installed with enough slack so too much strain caused a split after 10 years of normal use. Easy to fix.

[@christopherring1381]

I have a 2000 Hoover wide path steam vac and the issues I’m having the The water and shampoo won’t come out of the trigger part of the hose or even water won’t release and when I use the fall floor nozzle it barely sucks up water not even enough but I still have suction in the hose

[@VacLab]

Well, you've gotten 23 years out of it, which is great.

[@christopherring1381]

@@VacLab well I just got it a couple of years ago from a estate sale and it was working fine but now The trigger won’t release water and solution but still has a little bit suction and the then from the head it doesn’t have really suction when using it on my carpet

[@christopherring1381]

I didn’t know what you might know about what I can do to fix those problems I don’t want to to trash it or get rid of it I would love to fix it

[@VacLab]

@@christopherring1381 it's done. Not worth it to attempt fixing it.

[@christopherring1381]

@@VacLab oh ok and thank you so much

[@Tymetraveller.martin]

I need advise on my steamvac i dont have the one u do i have the normal one its leaking at the bottom the clean water

[@FreedomRock44]

How did you get the Broken green piece out of the machines hole??????

[@VacLab]

Simply pick them out. Easy.

[@FreedomRock44]

Thanks@@VacLab

[@HOWTONEVOLUTION]

I took off the brushes one at a time but having a hard time clicking them back on any advice

[@VacLab]

Rewatch the video around the 7 minute mark.

[@safmister]

Do you have a video on how you repaired the hose? You mentioned you’ve repaired it a couple of times. My hose has a split and can’t find a replacement. Can you please let me know where you purchased the new part? Thanks

[@VacLab]

I repaired (not replaced) the hose probably 10 years ago, long before my channel existed.

[@joshuaryanferguson3702]

But it had one of them turbo brush

[@joshuaryanferguson3702]

I used to have one like that but it was blue

[@erickort1987]

why didnt you turn it on at the beginning to see if they wernt spinning and just at the end of the video?

[@VacLab]

I already knew they weren't spinning.

[@VacLab]

I already knew they weren't spinning. That's why I made the video in the first place. 🤣

[@trentenfarmer4185]

I have the same one and the hose is split at the same part yours is.

[@VacLab]

It's an easy fix if you like fixing things.

[@eviecardinal]

If this stop working would you buy another Hoover, or something else?

[@VacLab]

Maybe a Rug Doctor X3.

[@barryhatcher2855]

No way to get Hoover 6 brush turbine replacement No parts availabilty on only 2-3 year old Steam-Vac. what is wrong with Hoover support? Can't find any!

[@VacLab]

Uh dude, I found 5 and 6 brush blocks in less than 20 seconds. Try Amazon, Walmart and eBay. It's easy.

[@gerriewatt6673]

Mine won't stay in now

[@Javi_Lacking]

Maybe once you get the new part, drill a small hole and reinforce the length of the shaft with a small nail. Then again, if the new "drive scrubber" lasts even 10 years you won't need it. Also, I sent you an email regarding a donation machine you might be interested in 😉

[@kennetheady1347]

I hate cleaning the brushes 😭😎

[@nancymmk]

I use our air compressor to blow the gunk out of the bristles. Fast and easy.

[@jettamcfly]

He doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing.

[@VacLab]

Seriously? 😆