How To Disassemble And Clean Your Roomba 560 Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          3 - 4 hours

Sections

How to disassemble and clean your Roomba 560
39 steps

Flags

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

BackiRobot Roomba 560
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              How to disassemble and clean your Roomba 560

Remove dust bin from Roomba. This will be the first sub-assembly cleaned.

Remove dust bin from Roomba. This will be the first sub-assembly cleaned.

1024

Step 2

Open red dust-bin cover. Remove debris from the dust-bin.
Remove the filter from the red dust-bin cover.
Remove the red dust-bin cover from the bin by gently pressing on the red cover near the hinge.

Open red dust-bin cover. Remove debris from the dust-bin.

Remove the filter from the red dust-bin cover.

Remove the red dust-bin cover from the bin by gently pressing on the red cover near the hinge.

Step 3

Turn over the dust-bin.
Remove 6 screws from the clear bottom dust-bin cover.
Remove the clear bottom dust-bin cover.

Turn over the dust-bin.

Remove 6 screws from the clear bottom dust-bin cover.

Remove the clear bottom dust-bin cover.

Step 4

Remove three screws from the remaining dust-bin assembly.
Lift to remove middle plate from dust-bin assembly.
Slide out and remove exhaust grill from dust-bin assembly.

Remove three screws from the remaining dust-bin assembly.

Lift to remove middle plate from dust-bin assembly.

Slide out and remove exhaust grill from dust-bin assembly.

Step 5

Turn over top dust-bin plate so the release button is facing up.
Remove screw from top plate.
Remove blower assembly, push-button, and spring.

Turn over top dust-bin plate so the release button is facing up.

Remove screw from top plate.

Remove blower assembly, push-button, and spring.

Step 6

Remove two screws from blower assembly.
Clean dirt and debris from top of blower assembly.
Carefully lift top from blower assembly. DO NOT DETACH WIRES.
Clean underside of blower cover and around blower.
Replace blower cover with two screws.

Remove two screws from blower assembly.

Clean dirt and debris from top of blower assembly.

Carefully lift top from blower assembly. DO NOT DETACH WIRES.

Clean underside of blower cover and around blower.

Replace blower cover with two screws.

Step 7

Turn over blower assembly
Clean underside surface of blower assembly.
Clean fan blades using a cotton swab.
Turn blower assembly on its side.
Again, clean fan blades using a cotton swab.

Turn over blower assembly

Clean underside surface of blower assembly.

Clean fan blades using a cotton swab.

Turn blower assembly on its side.

Again, clean fan blades using a cotton swab.

Step 8

Clean all surfaces of the top plate of the dust bin.

Clean all surfaces of the top plate of the dust bin.

Step 9

Clean all sides of vent grill and between grill slats.

Clean all sides of vent grill and between grill slats.

Step 10

Clean all surface of the middle plate of the dust bin.
Clean between the teeth on the front edge of the plate.

Clean all surface of the middle plate of the dust bin.

Clean between the teeth on the front edge of the plate.

Step 11

Re-assemble the blower assembly, vent grill, button, button spring, and top & middle dust-bin plates.
Make sure blower assembly slides into the two channels.
Replace 3 screws on middle plate and 1 screw on top plate.

Re-assemble the blower assembly, vent grill, button, button spring, and top & middle dust-bin plates.

Make sure blower assembly slides into the two channels.

Replace 3 screws on middle plate and 1 screw on top plate.

Step 12

Clean all surfaces of the clear dust bin cover.
Pull off the rubber strip and clean under the rubber strip.
Clean all surfaces of the rubber strip.
Re-install rubber strip.

Clean all surfaces of the clear dust bin cover.

Pull off the rubber strip and clean under the rubber strip.

Clean all surfaces of the rubber strip.

Re-install rubber strip.

Step 13

Clean all surfaces of the red dust-bin cover.
Use a small flathead screwdriver or pick to clean inside corners.
Replace filter with new filter for best results.

Clean all surfaces of the red dust-bin cover.

Use a small flathead screwdriver or pick to clean inside corners.

Replace filter with new filter for best results.

Step 14

Re-attach clear dust-bin cover to dust-bin assembly (see step 11) with six screws.
Insert red dust-bin cover.
Set clean dust-bin aside.

Re-attach clear dust-bin cover to dust-bin assembly (see step 11) with six screws.

Insert red dust-bin cover.

Set clean dust-bin aside.

Step 15

Turn Roomba upside-down so the brushes are facing up.
Open brush cage by pressing on yellow tabs and pulling up on the green brush cage lid.
Remove both brushes, lifting from the right side of the brushes.

Turn Roomba upside-down so the brushes are facing up.

Open brush cage by pressing on yellow tabs and pulling up on the green brush cage lid.

Remove both brushes, lifting from the right side of the brushes.

Step 16

Remove the two yellow endcaps from the bristle brush.
Run the brush through the red bristle cleaning tool, included with your Roomba.
Repeat several times until the the cleaning tool no longer picks up hair/fibers.

Remove the two yellow endcaps from the bristle brush.

Run the brush through the red bristle cleaning tool, included with your Roomba.

Repeat several times until the the cleaning tool no longer picks up hair/fibers.

Step 17

Clip the zip-tie with a pair of snips and remove the zip-tie from the brush.
Remove four screws from the ends of the brush.
Pull apart green brush housing.

Clip the zip-tie with a pair of snips and remove the zip-tie from the brush.

Remove four screws from the ends of the brush.

Pull apart green brush housing.

Step 18

Spray bristles with an all-purpose cleaning solution.
Squeeze bristle rod with a paper towel and run bristle rod through paper towel.
Repeat several times until bristles are clean.

Spray bristles with an all-purpose cleaning solution.

Squeeze bristle rod with a paper towel and run bristle rod through paper towel.

Repeat several times until bristles are clean.

Step 19

Remove yellow bearing from green bristle housing.
Clean yellow bearing and hair/fibers from the axle.
Clean all surfaces of both parts of the green bristle brush housing.

Remove yellow bearing from green bristle housing.

Clean yellow bearing and hair/fibers from the axle.

Clean all surfaces of both parts of the green bristle brush housing.

Step 20

To re-assemble the green brush housing, push the green housing against the side of one row of bristles.
Push on the bristles until they no longer fan out and the bristle tips are lined up with the long slot in the green brush housing.
Rotate the green brush housing so the line of bristles goes through the slot in the green brush housing.
Repeat step for the other green brush housing.

To re-assemble the green brush housing, push the green housing against the side of one row of bristles.

Push on the bristles until they no longer fan out and the bristle tips are lined up with the long slot in the green brush housing.

Rotate the green brush housing so the line of bristles goes through the slot in the green brush housing.

Repeat step for the other green brush housing.

Step 21

Replace 4 screws on the ends of the brush.
Run the zip-tie through holes near the center of the brush. Secure the zip tie and clip of any excess.
Re-attach yellow bearing and two yellow endcaps.
Set aside for later installation.

Replace 4 screws on the ends of the brush.

Run the zip-tie through holes near the center of the brush. Secure the zip tie and clip of any excess.

Re-attach yellow bearing and two yellow endcaps.

Set aside for later installation.

Step 22

Remove plastic sweeper bar from brush housing.
Remove yellow plastic end-piece from axle.
Remove hair and debris from both ends of axle. You may need to use a small pick or manicuring scissors to remove hair from the axle.

Remove plastic sweeper bar from brush housing.

Remove yellow plastic end-piece from axle.

Remove hair and debris from both ends of axle. You may need to use a small pick or manicuring scissors to remove hair from the axle.

Step 23

Spray all surfaces with cleaning solution. Wipe clean with paper towel. Follow up with smaller cleaning tools if necessary.
Clean yellow plastic end piece with cleaning solution and paper towel or cotton swab.
Replace yellow plastic end piece on axle.
Set aside for later installation.

Spray all surfaces with cleaning solution. Wipe clean with paper towel. Follow up with smaller cleaning tools if necessary.

Clean yellow plastic end piece with cleaning solution and paper towel or cotton swab.

Replace yellow plastic end piece on axle.

Step 24

With Roomba wheels-up, grab onto front wheel and firmly pull straight up to remove wheel.
From the underside of the wheel housing, push the wheel out of the housing.

With Roomba wheels-up, grab onto front wheel and firmly pull straight up to remove wheel.

From the underside of the wheel housing, push the wheel out of the housing.

Step 25

Remove the axle from the wheel.
Thoroughly clean the axle and the wheel with a paper towel and cleaning solution.
Thoroughly clean wheel housing with paper towel, cotton swab, and cleaning solution.
Re-assemble wheel housing by inserting axle in wheel and pressing wheel with axle back into wheel housing.
DO NOT insert wheel housing back into Roomba body. That will be done later.

Remove the axle from the wheel.

Thoroughly clean the axle and the wheel with a paper towel and cleaning solution.

Thoroughly clean wheel housing with paper towel, cotton swab, and cleaning solution.

Re-assemble wheel housing by inserting axle in wheel and pressing wheel with axle back into wheel housing.

DO NOT insert wheel housing back into Roomba body. That will be done later.

Step 26

Remove center screw from edge brush and set aside.
Remove brush from Roomba body by lifting on any set of bristles.

Remove center screw from edge brush and set aside.

Remove brush from Roomba body by lifting on any set of bristles.

Step 27

Place edge brush on paper towel and douse with cleaning solution.
Rub each set of bristles with paper towel until bristles appear clean and free of debris.
Place edge brush on a clean paper towel and douse with bleach water.
Rub each set of bristles with paper towel as you did earlier with the cleaning solution.
Set aside for later assembly.

Place edge brush on paper towel and douse with cleaning solution.

Rub each set of bristles with paper towel until bristles appear clean and free of debris.

Place edge brush on a clean paper towel and douse with bleach water.

Rub each set of bristles with paper towel as you did earlier with the cleaning solution.

Set aside for later assembly.

Step 28

Unscrew 4 screws from the underside of the Roomba. Screws will separate from underside plastic plate.
Spray with cleaning solution and clean with paper towel. Follow up with smaller cleaning tools if needed.
Set aside for later installation.

Unscrew 4 screws from the underside of the Roomba. Screws will separate from underside plastic plate.

Spray with cleaning solution and clean with paper towel. Follow up with smaller cleaning tools if needed.

Step 29

Unscrew 4 screws around the brush cage housing. Screws will not separate from brush cage housing.
Lift brush cage assembly from Roomba body.

Unscrew 4 screws around the brush cage housing. Screws will not separate from brush cage housing.

Lift brush cage assembly from Roomba body.

Step 30

Place the brush assembly with the blue housing facing down.
Open the cage lid
Remove the brush cage lid by firmly pulling up at the hinges. Remove one hinge at a time.
Clean all surfaces of the brush cage with cleaning solution, paper towels, and cotton swabs. You may need to use a pick to clean tight corners and slots.

Place the brush assembly with the blue housing facing down.

Open the cage lid

Remove the brush cage lid by firmly pulling up at the hinges. Remove one hinge at a time.

Clean all surfaces of the brush cage with cleaning solution, paper towels, and cotton swabs. You may need to use a pick to clean tight corners and slots.

Step 31

Place brush cage housing upside down (blue part up).
Remove screw securing daughtercard.
Move black and red wires inside the blue housing. This is required when separating the green brush cage assembly from the blue housing.

Place brush cage housing upside down (blue part up).

Remove screw securing daughtercard.

Move black and red wires inside the blue housing. This is required when separating the green brush cage assembly from the blue housing.

Step 32

Remove red sticker. This is holding down a small, round, weight attached to a cable.
Pull the cable through the channel. This cable limits travel of the blue housing.

Remove red sticker. This is holding down a small, round, weight attached to a cable.

Pull the cable through the channel. This cable limits travel of the blue housing.

Step 33

Flip the brush cage assembly over. Arrange so the two “arms” are facing you.
On one side, pull apart the green cage arm from the blue housing arm and lift out.
Repeat on the other arm. The green brush cage assembly will lift out of the blue housing.

Flip the brush cage assembly over. Arrange so the two “arms” are facing you.

On one side, pull apart the green cage arm from the blue housing arm and lift out.

Repeat on the other arm. The green brush cage assembly will lift out of the blue housing.

Step 34

Clean all surfaces of the blue housing with cleaning solution, paper towels, and cotton swabs. Use a pick to clean the debris out of tight spaces.

Clean all surfaces of the blue housing with cleaning solution, paper towels, and cotton swabs. Use a pick to clean the debris out of tight spaces.

Step 35

Place green brush cage upside down.
Remove 2 screws securing the square sensor cover. Set sensor cover aside.
Remove daughtercard from daughtercard mount.

Place green brush cage upside down.

Remove 2 screws securing the square sensor cover. Set sensor cover aside.

Remove daughtercard from daughtercard mount.

Step 36

Flip the green brush cage over.
Remove the sensor by gently pressing on the silver disc.

Flip the green brush cage over.

Remove the sensor by gently pressing on the silver disc.

Step 37

Turn green brush cage over so the motor is facing up.
Remove 2 screws securing the grey motor support to the green brush cage.
Pull the motor sideways out of the gearbox.
Remove the foam bushing and set aside.

Turn green brush cage over so the motor is facing up.

Remove 2 screws securing the grey motor support to the green brush cage.

Pull the motor sideways out of the gearbox.

Remove the foam bushing and set aside.

Step 38

Remove 6 screws from the gear housing.
Pull front cover away from the brush cage body.

Remove 6 screws from the gear housing.

Pull front cover away from the brush cage body.

Step 39

Clean all surfaces of the green housing with cleaning solution, paper towels, and cotton swabs. Use a pick to clean the debris out of tight spaces.

Clean all surfaces of the green housing with cleaning solution, paper towels, and cotton swabs. Use a pick to clean the debris out of tight spaces.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      27 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 4 other contributors

                    HoyeBoye

Member since: 06/14/2010

1,312 Reputation

                                      2 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       12







                                                        +9 more badges

muccino - May 14, 2015

Just need to do that every few months and mine will probably last another year. I love the idea of the Roomba but the execution of the idea is worse than …%#*@ I can’t think of a poorer design built from as great an idea.

Thanks to the author for putting together such a complete guide to the most maintenance-heavy cleaning-maintenance device of all time.

Thanks.

Sam Good - Sep 1, 2015

I will add the companion guide for lazy people.

Step 1. Fire up your air compressor and attach a blower nozzle.

Step 2. Take the Roomba outside. Blow into everything you can. Dust will come out.

Step 3. Clip the wound-up hair out of the brushes, blow ’em clean again.

That’s it. If you’ve got compressed air, maintaining a Roomba is simple. You could also just use that canned-air duster thing you have sitting next to your computer keyboard.

As far as problems go, only two problems ever seem to occur in real life. The battery is obviously one. The other is a failure somewhere in the cleaning head gear train. This is solved by simply replacing the cleaning head, a five-minute repair requiring a part you can buy on eBay for $50. Now you don’t have to worry about taking the cleaning head apart and refurbishing it, because you’re lazy and have money. Go ahead, do it the easy way. Get a new cleaning head, blow some compressed air through it while you have it apart, and your bot will be good as new.

bobtins - Oct 29, 2016

I’ve had my roomba at least 5 years and I’ve had to fix the bump sensor twice. There is an LED deep in the guts of your roomba that gradually dims, and when it goes you get roomba going in circles and beeping nine times. You can fix it but it requires some crazy disassembly and some soldering. See here for a guide: http://www.schneordesign.com/Avi/irobot/…

I have some extra LEDs from the last time I did this.

PeterHenderson - Jan 9, 2023

An alternative is to replace a surface-mount component on the main circuit board with a different value to accommodate the dimming LED in the sensor. This modification was posted in I think 2011 by a USA uni prof - I forget who. The left bump sensor relevant component to be replaced is R87, a 20k resistor (marked 203 in sm value coding). For the right bump sensor it is R82 again a 20k resistor of course. In each case the component to be removed and replaced is sited adjacent and parallel to a 1k resistor (sm marking 102), R86 and R83 respectively. He suggested using 130k resistors as replacement components, I used 220k to get a few more years out of my ageing Roomba 530. 1/8th watt conventional resistors fit reasonably well in place of the sm devices. It seems the section of the main circuit board containing the parts to be replaced is common to many of the model numbers, including component IDs and layout even when other parts of the board differ to the extent of including extra switches for some models.

Member-Contributed Guide#

Introduction#

What you need#

Member-Contributed Guide

Introduction

What you need