Owners of the Chinese giant’s smart assistants often experience a device that starts to “whip” during cleaning. The robot can get stuck on doorsteps, lose orientation in space, or make extraneous sounds when moving. Most often, the root of the problem lies in the contamination or wear of mobile mechanisms, in particular, the front wheel guide, which ensures the maneuverability of the gadget.
Self-dismantling is an easy procedure for beginners who don’t have experience in electronics repair. Proper maintenance extends the life of the chassis and prevents more serious engine failures. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to safely remove the wheel, clean it of hair and dust, and determine if a component needs to be replaced.
Before you start dismantling, you need to prepare the workplace, you need a clean, well-lit surface that will not be accessible to pets or young children, and you also need to stock up on the necessary tools in advance, so that you do not get distracted by the search for a screwdriver or tweezers, which will allow you to carry out maintenance as efficiently and quickly as possible.
Causes of frequent failures in the front wheel
The main enemy of any robot vacuum cleaner is pet hair and human hair. The fibers are wound on the spin axis, forming a dense lump that eventually blocks free movement. The sliding bearing ceases to perform its function, and the wheel simply drags on the floor, scratching the coating and putting extra stress on the motor.
Another common cause is the ingress of small debris into the machine, and sand, crumbs, or building dust can act as an abrasive, destroying plastic gears and metal components, and if you notice that the device is getting louder or twitching when you turn, it's probably the mechanical contamination of the assembly that's the problem.
⚠️ Warning: Never try to pull out the wound hair with your hands without stopping the device and flipping it over.This can cause injury to the fingers or damage to the actuator if the robot suddenly activates.
Sometimes the cause of the malfunction is not the external contamination, but the wear of the plastic wheel itself, which may have cracks or chips on its surface that disrupt the grip on the floor, in which case simple cleaning will not help, you will need a complete replacement of the part with a new original part.
Tools and workplace preparation required
You don't need a sophisticated professional tool to do this successfully, and in most cases, the minimum set that you find in every home craftsman's drawer is enough, and the key is to make sure you're comfortable and lighting good, so you can see the little details of the machinery.
- 🔧 Screwdriver with a cross-shaped slime (size) PH0 or PH1) — will be required to unscrew the screws.
- 🔪 Thin flat object (medical scalpel, paper knife or thin screwdriver) - for careful slapping of fixers.
- 🧹 Tweezers and a small brush – to remove hair and dust from hard-to-reach places.
- 🧴 Compressed air or pear - for blowing the internal cavities of the mechanism.
Before starting work, be sure to disconnect the robot from the charging station. If the model allows, switch the physical power switch to the OFF position. This is critical for safety, since accidentally turning the engine on during disassembly can lead to pinching of the fingers or breakage of plastic latches.
It is also recommended to wipe the bottom panel of the device with a wet (but well pressed) cloth to remove surface dust, which will prevent dirt from entering the case when you remove the protective elements. Cleanliness during the repair process is the key to the durability of electronics.
☑️ Preparation for repairs
Step-by-step algorithm for dismantling the wheel
The front wheel removal process on Xiaomi models (Mi Robot, Roborock S5, S6, S7 and others) has its own peculiarities, but the general principle remains similar. First, you need to access the fasteners. In most designs, the wheel is held by two screws that can be hidden under decorative plugs or located directly on the visible part of the body.
Carefully inspect the wheel seat. If you see the screws, carefully twist them counterclockwise. Don't put too much effort into not breaking the soft plastic thread. If you can't see the screws, maybe the wheel is held on plastic latches. In this case, you need to use a thin tool to gently unclasp the locks on the sides.
Once the mounts are free, grab the sidewalls of the wheel and pull it down. The movement should be sure, but smooth. If the wheel does not respond, do not pull it sharply, check if all the screws are twisted. Inside it may be a spring mechanism or a sensor that also requires careful handling.
| Model robot. | Type of attachment | The necessary tool | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Robot 1S | 2 screws + latches | Cross screwdriver | Low. |
| Roborock S5 Max | Hidden screws. | Thin screwdriver | Medium |
| Xiaomi Vacuum Mop | Plastic fixers | Plastic spatula | Low. |
| Roborock S7 | Combined | Setting screwdrivers | Medium |
When the wheel is removed, look at the niche in which it was located. There is often a huge amount of dust and hair accumulated there. Clean this compartment carefully using tweezers and a brush. Pay special attention to the contacts of the sensor, if it is located in this area - they must be clean for proper operation.
What to do if the wheel is not removed?
Cleaning, maintenance and lubrication of the mechanism
Once you've successfully dismantled the front wheel, it's the recovery phase, visually assess the condition of the rubber tire and the plastic fork, and if the rubber is not deep cuts and the plastic is intact, the part can (continue to be used) after cleaning.
Remove all the hair from the axis. Often it penetrates deep into the bearing itself. It is convenient to use a needle or a thin screwdriver sting to fit and pull the hair lump. After mechanical cleaning, blow the mechanism with compressed air to blow out fine dust.
Lubrication is an important maintenance step, but you have to be very careful, use only silicone lubricant or special formulations for plastic. Oil-based oils (for example, WD-40 classic) can corrode plastic and rubber seals, which will lead to the destruction of the part.
- 🛢️ Apply a drop of lubrication to the wheel's rotation axis.
- 🔄 Scroll the wheel several times with your hand so that the lubricant is evenly distributed.
- 🧹 Remove excess lubricant with a dry wipe so that dust does not stick to them.
- 👁️ Check the ease of rotation - the wheel should spin freely, without jamming.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid grease on optical sensors or electronic contacts, which can cause false sensor alerts or short circuits when the device is turned on.
If you find that the axis of luftite is stronger than usual or the wheel is clearly skewed, this may indicate the development of seats, in which case even a thorough cleaning will not return the previous accuracy of navigation, and the part is better to replace.
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Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to clean the optical sensors in the wheel niche, which will improve the accuracy of the detection of obstacles.
Diagnostics of malfunctions and replacement of details
How do you know if a wheel needs to be replaced, not just cleaned? There are a few obvious signs that can cause the drive engine to break down, and careful diagnosis can save time and money.
First, pay attention to the beating. Turn the wheel in your hand, it should rotate evenly, without jerking or extraneous sounds. If you hear a crunch or feel a "stepping" of rotation, then the bearing or bushing is worn out. Also check the integrity of the rubber tire: bald areas or cracks reduce traction.
When ordering a new part, look for the markings. Robot models may look the same but have different versions of the wheels. Look for the part number on the inside of the old wheel or consult the official documentation. Installing an incompatible part can cause height sensors to malfunction.
The process of installing the new wheel is reversed by the removal process. Put the axle in the guides, make sure it sits before the click (if there are locks), and twist the screws. Don't pull the screws - the plastic can crack. Easy enough to stop.
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Replacement of the wheel is required if after cleaning there is a backlash, crunch when rotating or visible damage to the rubber surface.
Device assembly and final inspection
After installing a cleaned or new wheel, you need to assemble the device in reverse order. Make sure that all screws are twisted and decorative plugs (if removed) are installed in their places.
Before you start cleaning, do a visual test, put the robot on the floor and press it a little bit to simulate the work, the wheel should spring up and back down freely, and if the mechanism is stuck, you'll have to repeat the disassembly procedure and find an error.
Turn on the device and do a short cleaning in Local mode, or just send it around the room. Watch the robot's behavior: it should move smoothly, without jerking and trying to turn around in place without a command. The absence of errors in the application also indicates the success of the operation.
Regular maintenance of the chassis is the key to a long life of your smart assistant, and by doing this procedure every 2-3 months, you will ensure stable navigation and maintain suction efficiency, since the robot will not waste battery power to overcome the resistance of contaminated mechanisms.