dyson ball animal 2 brush bar keeps getting tangled with hair immediately, is it broken?

Diagnosis

This issue is rarely a sign of a "broken" motor, but rather a failure in the mechanical clearance of the brush bar or a misuse of the floor-type settings. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 utilizes a high-torque brush bar designed to agitate carpet fibers; however, when long hair or synthetic fibers enter the cleaner head, they wrap around the brush bar and the end bearings. If the hair isn't cleared from the bearings specifically, it creates friction that slows the rotation, causing the brush to "stutter" and pull in more debris, leading to an immediate tangle. Furthermore, the "tangle" often occurs because the vacuum is set to the "Hard Floor" mode while being used on medium-to-high pile carpets. In Hard Floor mode, the brush bar is disabled or slowed significantly, meaning it cannot flick hair away into the suction stream. Instead, the hair simply lays across the rollers and gets wound up as the machine moves forward. You can confirm this by checking if the brush bar is spinning freely when the vacuum is off; if there is significant resistance, you have a bearing clog.

How to Fix It

Follow these precise steps to deep-clean the brush bar and reset the drive system:

1. Power Down: Completely unplug the vacuum from the wall outlet to prevent the brush bar from engaging unexpectedly during maintenance.
2. Access the Brush Bar: Lay the vacuum flat on its back. Locate the brush bar release button on the back of the cleaner head. Press and hold this button while pushing the end cap upward by 90 degrees.
3. Extraction: Slide the brush bar out of the housing. Do not just cut the hair while it is inside the machine, as small fragments of hair and thread will remain in the bearings.
4. The "Precision Cut": Use a pair of heavy-duty scissors or a seam ripper. Cut the hair along the length of the bar. Crucially, use a needle-nose plier to pull out the tightly wound hair "donuts" from the left and right end bearings. If these bearings are clogged, the motor will overheat and trigger the automatic shut-off.
5. Clear the Airway: Check the intake throat (the plastic tunnel leading from the brush bar to the bin). Use a flashlight to ensure no clumps of hair are lodged at the bend, as this restricts airflow and forces hair to wrap around the bar rather than being sucked up.
6. Reinstallation: Slide the clean brush bar back into the housing until you hear a distinct click. Ensure the end cap is snapped firmly back into the locked position.
7. Setting Adjustment: Locate the suction control slider on the handle. Ensure it is set to "Carpet" (the icon showing a rug) when cleaning rugs. This engages the full RPM of the brush bar to flick hair upward.

If That Didn't Work

• Replace the Brush Bar Assembly: If the plastic bristles are worn down to the core or the rubber drive belt is slipping, the bar won't rotate with enough force to propel hair into the bin. Replace the brush bar with an OEM part (Part #968333-01 or equivalent) to restore the original agitation power.
• Inspect the Pre-Filter: A clogged pre-filter (the foam filter inside the bin) reduces the overall CFM (cubic feet per minute) of suction. If the suction is weak, the brush bar does the all the work, but the hair isn't actually lifted into the bin, leading to immediate wrapping. Wash the filter with cold water and let it dry for 24 hours.
• Check the Head Seal: Inspect the rubber gasket where the cleaner head meets the main tube. If this seal is torn or warped, air leaks occur, causing a drop in suction at the floor level. Use a small amount of silicone sealant or replace the head gasket to ensure a vacuum-tight seal.
• Bearing Lubrication: If the brush bar is clean but rotates sluggishly, the internal bearings may have lost lubrication. Apply a tiny drop of synthetic sewing machine oil to the axle ends before sliding the bar back into the housing.

Heads Up

• Avoid "Hard Floor" Mode on Rugs: Never use the hard floor setting on any surface with fibers; this is the primary cause of rapid hair tangling.
• Weekly Maintenance: Set a calendar reminder to clear the brush bar every two weeks if you have pets or long-haired residents to prevent bearing burnout.
• Dry Filter Only: Never reinstall the pre-filter while damp. This can lead to mold growth and a permanent "musty" smell that cannot be removed from the motor housing.
• Avoid Wet Debris: Do not use this vacuum to pick up damp hair or wet spills; moisture causes hair to clump and adhere to the brush bar, making it significantly harder to remove.