Easy Shop Vac Fix for noisy bearings (WnW #43)

It sounded like it was about to self-destruct, but the fix turned out to be simple.
⇊ Click below for more information! ⇊

My shopvac was making a nasty rattle during use, which turned into a nasty squeal as it was turned off. Rather than throw it away I disassembled it to remove the motor. I added several drops of machine oil to the top bearing (couldn't easily access the bottom bearing) and tested it, and then reassembled it.

It now works fine again. Not bad for a free shopvac that I picked up off the curb on trash day. At least now I know why the previous owner threw it out. But it was such an easy fix! When you have nothing to lose, why not try taking it apart and fixing it yourself!?

More details are on the project web page at

UPDATE SIX MONTHS LATER: Got a bit noisy again, but it was easy enough to pop it open and add more oil

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[Wordsnwood]

My shopvac was making a nasty rattle during use, which turned into a nasty squeal as it was turned off. Rather than throw it away I disassembled it to remove the motor. I added several drops of machine oil to the top bearing (couldn't easily access the bottom bearing) and tested it, and then reassembled it.

It now works fine again. Not bad for a free shopvac that I picked up off the curb on trash day. At least now I know why the previous owner threw it out. But it was such an easy fix! When you have nothing to lose, why not try taking it apart and fixing it yourself!?

More details are on the project web page at

UPDATE SIX MONTHS LATER: Got a bit noisy again, but it was easy enough to pop it open and add more oil

[cooperchesterpot]

5 years later and this video is still helping people. Thanks boss!

[johnforeman]

Thanks for the vid! I have almost the exact same vac with the same problem. The simple way to fix it without opening it up is to drill a hole at the top of the "L" where it says ROTO-LOC, with an 1/8 or 1/4 in bit. Then you can drop in your 3in1 oil and put a piece of tape over the hole. Anytime the bearing squeal comes back just lift the tape and drop in more oil and you're good! If your label doesn't say ROTO-LOC, then you should feel around center of the sticker for a dimple, then drill about a 1/4" down from there (towards the switch) and you will be right above the bearing.

[mguerramd]

There’s a number of videos here on YouTube that show how to replace that top bronze bushing/ bearing with a 608 ball bearing. But if you get good use out of it by simply lubing it frequently, that’s great. Once that bushing wallows out, you have to change it for a ball bearing. You can’t get the replacement sintered bronze bushing/ bearing.

[DRPowell]

I have three vacuum cleaners in my garage, all thanks to our throw away society. Each needed only a simple repair and are all working good as new. 1) The small rocker switch was bad. I replaced it with one from my work supply. 2) The motor power wire that simply presses into a slot had burned. I cut 1/4” off and pressed it back into place. 3) Noisy bearings. I applied oil to both ends as you did and have not had a problem since.

[danseman]

Yes, Time WILL tell. I think you found the problem right away. It seems to be that top brass bushing that you first oiled. That will quiet it for a short while, but you can expect that noise back again very soon. Perhaps you can find a way to replace that bushing? If you figure that out, let us know. If somebody makes a trip over to China, where they assemble them, perhaps they can bring back a bunch of those top pieces where the bushing is mounted. That's all we need to replace, to solve that noise problem. The Shop Vac people might not be too happy with that, as they are ready and hoping to sell you a new motor for about $50. Thanks for the video. You're teaching people to disassemble things to discover how to fix them.

[hinniehall]

Thank you from the Cayman Islands. Our shop vac sounded like it was about to go boom. It has been used without a bag, quickly emptied but left in crazy heat for a long time.
I stripped it down, oiled it and refitted the end nut.
I tested it out and, so far so good!
Thank you for your great video.
You are a star!

[matthiaswandel]

An impact driver with nut driver on the end of it works best for the nut on the end. But sometimes when you put it back together, the balance isn't quite right.

Pretty much all my shopvacs come from the garbage. The problem is almost always trivial.

[sniggitty]

Same noise on my shop vac 14 gallon which i have had for 30 years. I opened up as you did, and sprayed the whole motor assembly with silicone spray lube several times and added it to the top. Noise which was prevalent when the motor would shut down is now gone completely. These things last forever (at least the old ones!)

[LeighAnneFarrell]

Thank you! My husband and I just fixed our shop vac because of this good video.

[MattReiner]

My wife just grabbed a Shop Vac out of someones garbage, it was so dusty inside that the switch was no longer functioning. It's working now, and we'll be doing this repair to sort out the bearings. Thanks for sharing!

[ScottWright]

This video made my day. I've owned my Ridgid for 15ish years. It's just been sounding worse over time (partly my own fault for not taking care of it)... Today, restored! Thanks for the tips and the boost of confidence to get it done!

[scottjosen]

Great vid. I have several free, 2 and 2.5 shop vacs that needed a touch of lube - something to do on a rainy day. I've been using large Walmart special microfiber shop towels instead of paying for fresh filter after wet work, shake em and wash em, good for go. Cheap cable ties if rubber band rots. Thanks for vid.

[EvilXyzzy]

Thanks for the video. I have basically the same model Vac ( case looks identical ) and was making the bearing noise on spin-down. I had stopped using it and stuffed it under the bench but I needed a smaller vac than my dust collection setup so I could do some work in the house. A very quick search found your video. I didn't even bother going after the lower bearing, I just tried oil on the top bearing and the noise went away. I did pack in some moly grease.

[TheMarcball]

I love watching people fixin' stuff. Nice one.
Keep on trucking ! (from France)

[michaellapierre]

Great job! That Craftsman looks very similar to my Shop Vac model 2010A. I put a bearing in where you oiled the bushing. Here are the bearing specs to help in case anyone is interested: 608-2RS-8-22-7mm. That breaks down to 8mm (.315in), 22mm ( .866in), 7mm (.276in.) You'll need a bit of fine sand paper to clean up the shaft. Other tools include Torx T15, T20, Phillip's screwdriver. I used a hammer and small flat blade screwdriver to pry out the retaining ring that holds the original bushing. Wrap the new bearing with electrical tape twice on the outer diameter for a snug fit. $3.49 including shipping from qualitybearingsbeltsandchains on Ebay. Someone else has another video showing this procedure. This bearing seems to fit several different sizes of Shop Vac. The uploader of another video also found that applying grease or oil to the top bearing does not last too long. The bottom uses a long lasting bearing. So, no need to worry about that one in most cases.

[RG-yqzc]

Great video. I went with the hole drilling method. Used small hole saw to cut out plastic circle. Motor was right there. Used some good oil on end of motor and noise was immediately gone. Taped over hole with heavy duty tape.

[michelgauthier]

Thanks to this video my shop vac is back up and running again and my lungs will be grateful . Thanks so much for taking the time to do this video.

[samueltheweber]

I purchased a 2.5 gal wet/dry shop vac at a thrift store recently, it made an awful sound, so I disassembled it to see what was wrong. I then found a couple of mud wasp nests In the vent for the motor, and cleaned them out. I suppose now all I need to do is lubricate the bearing. Thanks for the video!

[markgrunenwald]

That series is a decent vac. I don't use light oil, I'd use gear lube or a dab of synthetic grease. My experience with several vacs like yours is the rear bushing is worn and will need to be oiled again in not too long, and with increasing frequency as time goes on, especially if you use your vac for water suction (which is harder and builds up more heat). But if you don't use it very much, you might be able to go years as it is. If it starts acting up more, I've epoxied a 1603 ball bearing in place of the bushing and that works great.