Shark DuoClean Soft Roller Not Spinning- Solved!

While cleaning your home you might see that your Shark DuoClean softroller isn’t working. 

So, why isn’t the shark duoclean soft roller not spinning?

The soft roller might not spin if there’s debris stuck in the roller or panel. The brush belt might also be broken or the drive motor might be malfunctioning. A faulty microswitch or nozzle connection can cause this problem too. Lastly, the soft roller tab space might also be broken which hampers the spin. 

But there’s more to this topic to know. So be sure to read the article till the end. 

Shark DuoClean Soft Roller Not Spinning- Reason 1 and Fixes

The soft roller is the orange front roller in the Shark DuoClean. If it doesn’t spin, the cleaner won’t suck in the solid dirt. Here are some of the common reasons and how you can fix them:

Reason 1: Debris in The Soft Roller Brush

With continuous use, the soft roller brush gets caught in hair and dirt. After a certain point, it will hamper the movement. Thus, the Soft roller might stop spinning. 

Solution: Clean The Brush Roller

Simply cleaning the brush roller should solve this problem. Here, follow these simple steps:

1. Firstly, turn off the vacuum and turn over the base. 
2. Now, you’ll see two tabs near the roller access door. Press on it to lift up the panel and access the roller. 
3. Then, Pull out the roller and see if there’s any dirt stuck in the panel. Take a rag and wipe the dirt off.
4. Now, wet the rag and wipe off the dirt from the soft roller. 

After cleaning properly, put it back on and attach the cover. Turn on the machine and see if the roller spins. 

Reason 2: Roller Brush Belt Broken Or Improperly Seated

The bushroller is connected to a pulley and belt which is connected to a motor. Your roller won’t spin properly if the belt is broken or improperly seated. 

Solution: Lock In the Belt or Replace

After removing the panel, follow this process:

1. First, take a flathead screwdriver and remove all the screws necessary to access the inner system. The screw locations are like the following.

2. Next, roll over the base to access the screws under the lid and remove them.

3. Now, completely remove the panel and the brush roller. Then inspect the area to see if the belt is broken or improperly seated.
4. Then, if the belt is damaged, remove it. The belt is made of rubber material so you can stretch it a bit and it’ll come off.

5. Lastly, Take the new belt and put it on like it was before.

Now, attach everything back. Make sure to keep all the screws together safely in the first place. After attaching everything, turn the vacuum on and see if the soft roller spins. 

If the belt isn’t damaged but improperly seated, you can try to adjust it. However, some users face a problem where even a new belt doesn’t attach with the pulley properly. 

In that case, dremel a hole into the shaft and pulley. With the belt on them, Attach a brad with the pulley and shaft to firmly lock it in place. Although, if you’re not used to DIY projects, it’s advised to contact a professional.

Reason 3: Roller Brush Drive Motor Malfunctioning

If the drive motor is malfunctioning, you won’t get the torque necessary to spin the roller. In that case, replacing the motor is the only option. 

Solution: Replace Drive Motor

After following up to step 3 of the previous process, you’ll see the drive motor. Disengage the cables connected to it by removing the clips. The motor should come right off. Now, check if the motor is working using a multimeter or ohmmeter. 

If the motor works, you’ll see some resistance. If not, you’ll know for sure that the motor is faulty. Buy a new drive motor and replace the previous one with it.

Reason 4: Nozzle Not Fully Attached

Sometimes the floor nozzle might not be connected to the vacuum and wand connectors properly. If not, the soft roller won’t get the power to spin. 

Solution: Clear Debris from Connection

Inspect the place of connection for dirt or debris. If so, clean it with a dry rag or cloth. If the soft roller still doesn’t spin, push down on the vacuum handle while cleaning. This is necessary for the connection to be made. 

Reason 5: Micro Switch Malfunctioning

The micro switch tells your roller when to spin. It’s a major part of the vacuum’s Motorized Brush system. If it’s malfunctioning, you’ll need to replace it. 

Solution: Replace Micro Switch

Again, follow up to step 3 of the previous process to access the micro switch. Here, you can see the micro switch:

Now, use a flathead screwdriver to remove the screws attached to the switch. If the switch is screwed with a cover, remove it too. Then, use a continuity tester to see if the switch is functioning. If you don’t get any reading, it means your switch needs replacing.

This is a complicated replacement. So, we advise you to contact a professional to do it for you. But, if you feel confident in your skills, you can watch this video for a guideline:

Reason 6: Soft Roller Brush Tab Space Broken

The soft roller is attached to the vacuum using a tab. It locks onto the soft roller. As the tab moves, it spins the roller. Over time, the tab space in the roller may get damaged. Thus, even if the tab spins, the soft roller won’t. Here’s how a damaged tab space looks:

Solution: Replace The Soft Roller Brush

Remove the soft roller from the vacuum the way you did before. Simply take a new roller and put it in place. Here’s what a roller with proper tab space looks like:

If none of these fixes work, check if your vacuum is in the right setting. Make sure it’s operating in the Setting I or II. The mode is also different for hard floors and carpets. But, even in carpet mode, the brush might not spin on the carpet for some reason.

Resetting Shark DuoClean

Lastly, if none of the above fixes work, try resetting your Shark DuoCleaner. If the thermostat in your vacuum malfunctions, it’ll think that the vacuum is overheating. So, your vacuum won’t run and the soft roller won’t spin. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t a hard reset button for the motor thermostat. Follow this process instead:

1. Turn off the vacuum and unplug it.
2. Check if the air filter is clogged. If so, replace it with a new one. Here, you can watch this video for help:

3. Now, wait 45 minutes to ensure the vacuum has cooled down. Then, plug it back in and turn the vacuum on. 

This should reset your thermostat and the vacuum should start working. If not, contact the customer service. 

Shark DuoClean Brushroll Maintenance

Prevention is always better than a solution. Properly maintaining your brush roll will ensure smooth service. For that, make sure to clean the soft roller regularly. 

There’s another roller behind it. It can’t be removed. So, clean it the best you can without removing it using your hands and a cloth. This should also be followed to prevent the Shark Lift Away brush not spinning. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Why is my Shark DuoClean Not turning on?

The main reason is a clogged filter or hose. You need to replace the filter and unclog the hose to fix this problem. Then, let the vacuum cool down for 45 minutes and plug it in again. Start the vacuum by turning the power switch to the ‘I-On’ Position. If you’re still facing problems call Customer Service. 

What is a Brushroll shutoff?

Brushroll shutoff means switching the vacuum to “Suction Only”. This mode is easier for cleaning hard floors. When you need to clean carpets, simply turn this mode and switch to the previous one. It enables your vacuum to clean your whole home. 

How Does self-cleaning Brushroll work?

The Self-Cleaning Brushroll vacuum has a Bristle Guard. It separates the hair and debris from the brushroll. It also has an integrated comb which removes the dirt from the bristles. This dirt is sucked into a dust cup. Thus the brushroll always stays clean. 

Bottom Line!

Hope you enjoyed reading our article about shark duoclean soft roller not spinning. Still, we’d like you to know one last thing. For the longest clean time with your Shark, use the Eco mode. A low battery will also cause your roller to not spin. Thank you!