Miele SEB 236 Electro Premium Powerbrush S8 C3 - Vacuum Repair 

This video is gold. It goes by quickly, and it's a bit confusing with the two or three different varieties of power brush being worked on simultaneously, but he's got lots of great tips in there. You can tell this guy does this for a living -- he assembles and disassembles these things like a marine field-stripping a rifle. I found this video after my Miele SEB 236 power brush kept tripping its breaker. I had already pulled a ton of hair out from under the belt with tweezers, without disassembling the head, but it would still get stuck, and the brush was hard to turn with my fingers, so I figured it was time to take it apart. Still, this was after eight years of service in a three-dog household. So it's not like this is something you have to do every year or even every three years (though it probably couldn't hurt). My brush had two squirrels' worth of hair inside it, especially tangled up in the motor gear that turns the belt! Gotta hand it to Miele though, the parts are solid as heck, metal and dense plastic, and after I pulled all the hair out it ran like new. The belt is toothed instead of smooth, and still looked great after a ridiculous amount of dog hair abusing it for years. I added silicone grease to the height pedal plate and tri-flow to the motor and the brush bearings like in the video. I just scrubbed out the inside with cleaning wipes instead of running it through the dishwasher, because I wasn't brave enough to totally remove the motor and re-tension the belt. But I figure I got 80% of the way there. Also, the tip about the bearing cooler holes in the brush was gold -- I made sure to clean those out as well. As other comments have mentioned, watch for the screw placements on the gray interior part. There are a ton of screw holes in it, but only five of them (on my model) were real top-side (gray-side) screws. The way to distinguish them was by shining a light through -- the top-side screw holes were the ones you can't see through. The bottom-side screw holes go all the way through, since they secure the bottom of the case to the top. On my model, the pedals are one solid piece instead of two like the video shows, so apparently they've changed the design to make it more reliable. The clear plastic rocker under the "lean-back" pedal was also a little tricky. You have to push it down into its socket pretty firmly to get it seated, otherwise the gray top won't go on easily. But just take your time, and it'll come together.

I was director of a large data center. A professional data center cleaning company came in. The used a Miele vacuum in the smaller areas. So when our home vacuum broke my wife and I went to a professional store and purchased on. That was over 15 years ago. Today I am replacing the belt on the power head. My wife loves her Miele.

A master Miele man (England, he would have a "Title" designating his unique, "for the greater good", with a forever staff, etc...). to me, I vote YES!!

Alex makes this look so easy. He definitely knows his stuff!

It it a very robustly built powernozzle that performs really well and the convince of being able to adjust the height with your toe is great. However it’s extremely complex and we’re I to install a central vacuum system in my house I’d most likely opt for the Sebo ET-1 powerhead instead. I believe that its removable brushroll encourages more regular maintenance thereby lessening the need for a thorough service as this very often. It also comes with a color selection which is cool.

I love these power nozzles. They're excellent deep cleaners and very well built like any miele should.

Huge thanks for posting this video. I just did a full service on my SEB236 and this made the whole process straight forward and easy to do. The machine is now quieter and smoother to operate.

Noticed you forgot to replace two screws, one on each side of the nozzle, after setting the light grey section in place. Just for the newbies following your every move.....Not me of coarse!!! ;) Great video...Thank you!

I really enjoy these take apart videos. I find it very interesting how miele vacuums and vacs in general work. Since watching your videos I picked up a c1 turbo team and a u1 cat and dog. Couldn't be happier!!! Take care and keep vacuuming.

Kinda wish I'd seen this video about a few days ago. I had a broken locking mechanism. Sorta had to figure all this out on my own (sans the lubrication.) But yes, very helpful. I was amazed at the amount of gunk I pulled out of the thing. I'd never heard the "every 2 years" service mantra. Great video though. I may disassemble it again just to lubricate everything.

I did call an authorized Miele repair place. He said spring will run $5- $10. Service of powerhead $69.00. I also called an authorized Miele shop that serviced the vac before in 2019. So I took it to him he said the release lever doesn’t need a spring. That was yesterday. He said someone is going to open it up today and give me a quote on how much it’s gonna cost. He’s thinking it needs a new lever and a new neck which is $200. So, which is it a simple spring? Or am I getting scammed? By going for a new neck and lever without a sprain

I love my 236 but it has one major problem. The air intake path is such that hair and debris get caked on the flat area behind the brush. In addition to that I have to take mine apart every couple months to clean the chamber because the self cleaning doesn’t work very well. The belt needs to be dressed regularly too from my experience. Thanks for the video!!

Thank you for sharing what you know! I would have probably messed this thing up without your tips

Followed your video--was able to take it apart and find the broken plastic wand release piece that was jamming the mechanism. I removed it and can use it again but obviously doesn't lock up in place.. Where can I order the internal plastic wand release piece? No local repair available in my area. Thanks for this video--super detailed!

What is the name of the part that broke when the connection socket was forced at the 6:48 part of your video? when you said someone must have forced it "shame". I did get a laugh when I wasn't to happy! Your video is very thorough and professional and I'm now subscribed. Thanks ahead Mike M.

I’m looking to solve the “wand length adjustment button is stuck” and wand is extremely difficult to extend and shorten for this same C3 Miele model. Can you point me to a video which addresses this problem?

Endless thanks for solving the “wand-release” dilemma with this otherwise excellent unit. Can you please point me to the solution for the Miele “stuck wand-extension button” for same C3 model?

Great tear down video. Will you ever make a diagnosing/troubleshooting video for a non working SEB-236?

Good video but I needed a spring for the release lever which this video didn’t show needed the dimensions, etc.

You washed a Miele vacuum head and a Bosch dishwasher. Tistis😂😊

Thanks!

Did you speed up the video? It seemed a little fast

Apparently, they don't sell these heads anymore because of the many problems. So, no height adjusting heads on Miele vacuum cleaners in Australia.

Please Help! Love the video. Followed it well. Fixed the debris problem (hair around the belt holder). But now the height adjustment will not work! I've tried flipping the inside spring in the knob, since one end is wider than the other. Still no luck. Stays on same number when i click metal lever. Does cover need to be on to function? Any help is appreciated!

Thank you for this in-depth video. I have a question regarding this vacuum head, I have the Electro Premium version. The vacuum sucks fine on normal floor mode, but when switched to the carpet mode, it runs for a few seconds and then the reset button light turns on for no apparent reason. The motor has a different muffled sound as well, compared to the usual sound. I'm wondering what could be the cause of this and whether I should purchase a new head altogether. It is about 5 years old. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I think you're missing the point as to why people came to this page.

How do you disassemble the locking mechanism for the hose that you step on? I can't seem to get the cap that holds the spring to slide downwards,

Thanks for the video. I had one that was quite a pain.. I wonder.. Do you own your own store? Your videos are stellar and you seem quite intelegent. I am looking for a partner / owner operator for a vac store on the texas coast. Like to fish? beach? Willing to offer ownership with sweat equity. business has been open for more than 50 years. any interest reply back!

Forgot the two back screws on the top plate either side of the tube attachment.

So where does the spring go that you sneak out of the view at 21:45??

What type of oil do you use to lubricate the wheels?

@Performance Reviews Hello, I took my Miele SEB 236 Electro Premium apart because the connection socket foot release button was not working and found that the plastic socket locking device was broken just like in the video. I also found the plastic cover on one of the brushroll black bearing end caps was damaged and needs to be replaced. I was wondering where can I purchase these replacement parts online and what grease did you use in the video on the certain parts? I do have Trident LP20 Silicone Grease which says I can use on rubber, plastic and metel, would this be okay to use instead? If so, would you recommend to use silicone grease on the rubber belt for longevity instead of a bar of soap? I also don't have the oil you used but I do have sewing machine oil, can I use this instead on the parts? Thanks.

I cleaned and regreased the height adjuster (just as you did) but my SEB 236 still slips when going 4 --> 5, instead going 4 --> 4. Do you know what could be causing it?

Am I seeing a wire spring that holds in place the plastic locking device for the handle release... the clear plastic lever? Because mine did not have that and it's impossible to keep it in place.

You guys open? Can I bring you mine to the HR location? It is going in and out of power seems to be linked to the angle of the wand.

I’m trying to put it back together but wires got a little loose and it’s hard to get them in place. Right now it’s stuck disassembled

Awesome video and thank you!!

found name myself. called socket locking device.

Is the reset button supposed to be orange or green?

I have the C2 Electro+. Is this power nozzle an upgrade over the 228 or are they the same? And why hasn't Miele offered some kind of mini power brush like they do for their new vacuum. I think it's $129. I would pay that considering the one that relies on sunction is $75.

Very helpful. Thanky you!

Why would my vacuum work only when I press the kill switch. Same head

Where can I buy that clear plastic lever for locking the nozzle?

Every well designed vacuum allows easy removal of the roller brush for regular cleaning. Thanks for showing why NO ONE should buy this vacuum. I own this vac and the roller clogs with hair every use. Hair also gets between the roller ends and vacuum sides. This is nearly impossible to clean without disassembly. These vacuums are for the very rich who can afford to have their butler take it to the repair shop every week to have the roller brush cleaned. If you don't have a butler, you can't afford this vacuum.

Understand…BUT you gotta slow down talking….holly smokes, rewind-rewind

Thanks!