Customer Reviews

Dyson DC07/DC14 Clutch Assembly #900252-04 - Genuine

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After 5 years of good service, my DC07 brush just stopped spinning. At first, I thought, no problem, just buy a new belt. Not with the Dyson. After a lot of research, when I found that you had to replace this clutch assembly, I seriously thought about just buying a new vac, but figured - wth - for (...) or so I'll give it a shot. There is a beautiful step-by-step instruction procedure on an Internet site which specializes in giving repair advice on Dyson vacs. The whole process took about 40 minutes, not counting the time I needed to go out and get a T-15 Torx screwdriver, which is absolutely essential to the process (make sure you have one of these before you start. Just be patient, follow the instructions, and you can do it.

My problem was caused by accumulated cat hair which the person (unnamed) who used the Dyson didn't take the time to simply clean out of the brushbar after each use. This built-up mess eventually causes the brush to be harder to turn, which heats up the belts and stretches them to the point that they don't have enough friction to spin the brushbar anymore. Probably could have gotten away with just replacing the belts, but you have to take the clutch out to do that, and for the additional few dollars it makes sense to replace the clutch as well. It was also a good opportunity to thoroughly clean all of the parts which had to be removed.

In retrospect, I'm glad I did this complicated, but not at all difficult task, as I now have what amounts to a good-as-new vac for (...). As long as you clean the filters as directed and exercise common sense in maintaining this machine, I can't see why it won't last for a long while.

Needed to replace the old clutch because hair & lint bunged up one end of the brush and made it hard to turn, which caused the old clutch to burn out. From what I've read, the clutches seem to be a common replacement item for these otherwise excellent vacuums (hence deducting a star from the rating). It comes exactly as pictured, with new belts and all. There is no reason to get the belts Amazon suggests in the "Frequently bought together" panel.

Replacing the clutch is straight forward if you understand how to take the cleaner apart, which is not obvious. I found a couple videos on You Tube that walk you through the process. The only tricky part is getting the new belt around the brush bar. Dyson apparently makes a tool for this, but if you have a helper (and some patience) it can be done with a long screwdriver to stretch the belt while the other works the brush in.

Also, the repair videos recommend a Torx T15 screwdriver to remove the screws for the clutch. The screws are cut such that a long 2.5mm Allen wrench will also fit. The latter I already had, saving me a trip to the hardware store for a one-off tool.

This is the part that goes out on Dyson vacuum cleaners, at least the DC07 and DC14 models.

When the vacuum cleaner starts making a really loud ratcheting noise on the carpet setting, unplug the vacuum, flip it over, look at the beater bar (there are three quarter turn screws at the bottom of the beater bar cover), and remove the balled up hair string, and other wonderful things. If the vacuum still makes the awful ratcheting sound, then it's time for a new clutch. This is the part.

There is a fantastic ten minute video that shows exactly how to replace this part. When you get to YouTube enter this in the search field: Replace Dyson Clutch & Belts DC04. Watch the video, if you think you can do the job, and then order the part. If it looks too complicated, take your vacuum down to the repair shop and pay them to do the job.

This is not a very difficult job; most people that are pretty handy could do this repair.
There is no need to purchase the custom belt replacer tool in the video. It is possible to replace the belt with a long screw driver, a bit of physics, and twisting and turning the beater bar. The key is to get the end piece inside the belt, then turn the beater bar to roll the belt all the way to the pulley location.
You must have a long (longer than 6 inches) number 15 Torx screw driver. Here is a suggestion: GearWrench 80086 18-Inch Long Torx Screwdriver T-15 - oddly I had one of these for disassembling a Macintosh SE/30 a long time ago.
Removing the Carpet / Bare Floor button is a little tricky. Pay close attention to that step in the video, it might be easy to ruin that cap.

It took me about 20 minutes to replace my clutch. The vacuum cleaner now works perfectly. The original clutch lasted about five or six years.

I wouldn't even think about, or bother with, trying to fix the clutch or replacing only the drive belts. There isn't that much money to be saved and you still have to take the darn old one out of the vacuum, the hardest job.

It is fairly straight forward but it takes a while to install because of the two awkward belt stretches that need to occur while reinstalling the brush roller. All the belts that you need do come with the clutch assembly so you do not have to order the extras.

I thought I would mention that bit about the extra belts since it is a little confusing when you look at it. In the picture they show belts but do not talk about them and Amazon has a set of belts available so it looks like you may need to order them do do the job. The answer is no. You don't need to order any belts, they come with the clutch assembly.

As for ordering the belts alone and not the clutch, from what I can tell, once any belt breaks, the clutch is usually fried. I took my clutch apart (#10 torx) and found it to be a mess of melted, burned plastic inside.

I used no special tools, just and two to three screwdrivers at various times to stretch the belt over the brush roller. The torx 15 driver is required to tighten down the screws. I'm sure it would have gone faster with the special dysan installation tools but I do not expect to repair these for a living. When I took it apart I found the video on the internet (just Google it) very helpful.

My son helped me stretch the belt off the bad clutch assembly (the other belt was broken) and it made the job much easier. I wish I would have waited until he was available to reassemble it as it would have been a much easier job with more hands.

I (and my wife and kids) have been using it for a few weeks now and it works like brand new. I found this to be a great investment as opposed to send the whole darn vacuum back to get it repaired at an "authorized facility".

Good luck,
John Eberhardt

This is a genuine Dyson clutch. It works quite well. Hopefully it will last as long as the last one.

The clutch is factory replacement and is simple to install; there are several how-to videos on youtube. I bought the clutch; new belts are already permanently installed on the new part,, so buying them separately as Amazon suggests, is a waste of money. I ordered the belt change tool, but had the clutch replaced before the tool arrived. The youtube videos show how to do it with large needle nose pliers instead. Make sure you have, or go buy, a 2.5 Hex key with a 5" reach. One of the bolts is recessed into the housing.

Other than that, watch the videos first and you'll have it done in 60 - 90 minutes. You'll save overall time and $90 to $100 in labor.

Instant shipment and so easy to do. My DC14 was only down for three days, including trouble-shooting with Dyson phone tech (a waste of time).

If your Dyson makes a ratcheting sound when you try to engage the carpet brush, the clutch is fried. IF the brush doesn't spin, it's the clutch. If your dog sheds, that's what did it. When you disassemble the vacuum, look everywhere for twisted and balled up fur. I use compressed air to blow out the tubes and a mini screw driver to scrape it out of crevices. Remember to pull the axle out of the brush roller and spray some lubricant in. I will spin much more freely and not abuse your new clutch.

Easy to change. Too bad Dyson build a clutch that breaks so easily. You'd think that for the high price you pay that the construction would be better.

Not having my vac working really stinks, but thank God there are still parts for my 2004 Dyson DC07. This clutch was an easy change-out. It came with a belt (and I ordered an extra) and according to my resident repair man (he's pretty handy!), "It was easy." That's what I like to hear! There is a video on Youtube that demos the process to replace a Dyson clutch that was very helpful, but he didn't need it once the time came to do the actual replacement.

The fact it's a Genuine Dyson part was a big plus for me--it came in a box marked "Genuine Dyson Parts." Recommend!!

I decided to try my hand at vacuum repair, and this part did the trick for me! The local shop said Dyson's are known to have this clutch assembly go out, especially if the vacuum picks up a lot of hair on the roller brush (my wife sheds like an Irish Setter). They wanted to charge $120 for the repair, but I found a how-to video on youtube and bought this assembly plus the belt tool. After watching the 10 minute video, I stepped out in the garage and had the vacuum fixed in less than 30 minutes. Saved myself about $70 to boot! BTW, the new belts are already included on the assembly so don't bother buying new ones unless you just want extras.

My husband used the Dyson belt changing tool and had no trouble changing out the clutch. Once completed and a new beater bar was put on, my Dyson runs like new.