Cricut Maker 3 Rubber Rollers Replacement

Written By: Spencer Pennington

Comments: 0

Cricut Maker 3 Rubber Rollers Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the rubber rollers in your Cricut Maker 3.

If your work material is not feeding properly, or if your projects are misaligned, you may need to replace the rubber rollers in your Cricut.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Be very careful not to cut yourself when working near the Cricut's small, sharp blade, located in the tool holder within the Cricut.
Power off the Cricut and unplug all cables.

Step 2

Flip the Cricut over so the bottom is facing up.
Use your finger to pry up and remove all four rubber feet from the bottom of the Cricut.

Step 3

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 41 mm‑long screws securing the top cover to the base. There's one screw under each foot.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Step 4

Flip the Cricut over so the silver lid is facing up.
You may replace the rubber feet before flipping your Cricut to avoid damaging the Cricut or your work surface.
Open the Cricut by lifting the top silver lid. The front tray will also open.

Step 5

Inside the Cricut are seven screws securing the top cover to the metal track that guides the tool holder. You can reach these screws by putting a screwdriver bit in a ratcheting socket wrench. If you're using iFixit bits, the smaller bits work with a 4‑mm socket and the larger bits work with a 1/4‑inch socket.
Remove the seven 9.8 mm‑long Phillips screws securing the top cover to the metal track.

Step 6

The lid hinge cover is located at the base of the silver lid and is held in place by five pegs which are lightly glued in place.
Insert the flat end of a spudger between the right side of the lid hinge cover and the top cover.
If there's not enough space to insert a spudger, push the silver lid to the left.
Use the spudger to pry up the cover.
Firmly pry near the pegs to avoid cracking the cover.

Step 7

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up along the long edge of the lid hinge cover until the cover is free.

Step 8

Lift and remove the lid hinge cover.

Step 9

Use a Torx T8 screwdriver to remove the four 10.2 mm‑long screws securing the lid to the hinge.

Step 10

Use the flat end of spudger to pry the lid out of the hinge while lifting the lid.

Step 11

Lift and remove the lid

Step 12

There's still a cable connected to the inside of the top cover. Don't attempt to fully remove the top cover yet.
Lift the top cover up from the Cricut just until it comes free of the base.

Step 13

Rotate the top cover to the right and prop it up so the right side of the cover is resting on your work surface.

Step 14

There's a cable that connects the buttons on the top cover to the Cricut.
Use a spudger to disconnect the sliding connector from the button board by pushing on one side, then the other, until it's free.

Step 15

Peel up the tape securing the button wires to the inside of the top cover.
During reassembly, if this tape isn't sticking well, replace it with a piece of electrical tape to make sure these wires don't get caught in the gears.

Step 16

Lift and remove the top cover.

Step 17

Only grip the spring by the hook on either end. Gripping the middle of the spring can deform it.
Make sure to organize and keep track of all of the small parts you'll remove in the next few steps.
Use a pair of needle nose pliers to lift the tensioning spring on the right side of the Cricut off of its top post.

Step 18

Use a pair of needle nose pliers or your fingers to lift the spring off of the roller bar bracket.

Step 19

The hinge assembly above the spring contains sticky damping grease. Be careful not to accidentally remove the grease by touching it. If you do accidentally remove some grease, apply more grease before putting the top cover back on.
Use a pair of needle nose pliers to lift the tensioning spring on the left side of the Cricut off of its top post.
Identify the correct spring by pressing down on the roller bar and noting which spring expands.

Step 20

Use a pair of needle nose pliers or your fingers to lift the spring off of the roller bar bracket.

Step 21

Be careful when removing the E‑clip in this step so you don't lose it.
On the right end of the roller bar, insert a small flathead screwdriver or similar prying tool into one of the notches of the E‑clip that secures the roller bar.
Use the screwdriver or prying tool to pry the E‑clip off the roller bar.
You can place your thumb or a small piece of tape over the clip to keep it from flying away.
During reassembly, you can hold the E‑clip in place with a small piece of tape, then use a pair of needle nose pliers to squeeze the clip onto the roller bar.

Step 22

Use a pair of angled tweezers to remove the plastic washer from the right end of the roller bar.

Step 23

Use a pair of angled tweezers or your fingers to remove the bearing from the roller bar bracket.

Step 24

Remove the roller bar bracket.

Step 25

On the left side of the Cricut, use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three 7.3 mm‑long screws securing the roller bar motor assembly.
Be careful not to lose the washer and locking washer under each screw.
During reassembly:
Make sure each screw has a washer and locking washer, with the locking washer between the washer and the head of the screw.
Make sure the grounding wire is secured to the body of the Cricut with the top‑left screw.

Step 26

The roller bar motor assembly includes a pin that goes through a gear and into the frame of the Cricut. Pull the assembly straight out to avoid bending this pin.
Grab the roller bar motor assembly and move it out of the way.
Try to avoid touching the white lithium grease behind the roller bar motor assembly.
During reassembly:
If the white grease on the pin came off during disassembly, apply a small amount of new grease to the pin before putting the motor assembly back in place.
Use paper towels and isopropyl alcohol to clean up any stray grease.
Make sure the pin in the motor assembly goes through the gear and into the hole in the frame.

Step 27

Use a pair of angled tweezers to remove the gear that was secured behind the roller bar motor assembly.

Step 28

Be careful when removing the E‑clip in this step so you don't lose it.
Insert a small flathead screwdriver or similar prying tool into one of the notches of the E‑clip that secures the roller bar.
Use the screwdriver or prying tool to pry the E‑clip off the roller bar.
You can place your thumb or a small piece of tape over the clip to keep it from flying away.
During reassembly, you can hold the E‑clip in place with a small piece of tape then use a pair of needle nose pliers to squeeze the clip onto the roller bar.

Step 29

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the plastic washer from the left end of the roller bar.

Step 30

Use a pair of angled tweezers or your fingers to remove the bearing from the roller bar bracket.
The roller bar bracket is hard to remove and can be left in place.

Step 31

If the tool holder ever feels stuck during this step, stop moving it and check that the tool holder motor on the right side of the Cricut is free of any obstructions.
Gently push the tool holder to the right end of its track.

Step 32

Slide the roller bar to the right, making sure it goes through the opening in the right side.

Step 33

Lift the left end of the roller bar up and towards you so it lifts clear of both the side of the Cricut and the tool holder.
Slide the roller bar to the left to remove it.

Step 34

The rubber rollers are very difficult to remove. If you're replacing them, you can cut them off. If you need to remove them intact, follow these directions.
Use a heat gun or hair dryer to heat the rubber roller until it's hot to the touch.
After heating, only grab the bar by the cool end.
Prop the roller bar up against a sturdy surface or have someone hold it.
Before proceeding, make sure your work surface can withstand the next steps. This process may damage your work surface.
Place the open end of a wrench around the roller bar, above the rubber roller, so it rests on the roller. The wrench needs to be big enough to fit around the roller bar while still resting on the rubber roller.
While holding the wrench with one hand, use a rubber mallet to hit the wrench and push on the rubber roller until it slides off of the bar.
During reassembly, follow the instructions included with the replacement rubber rollers. If they did not come with instructions, follow this process in reverse by heating the rubber rollers then using the wrench and mallet to place them.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

Author

Spencer Pennington

Member since: 09/09/23

13296 Reputation

Cricut Maker 3 Rubber Rollers Replacement

Introduction

Tools

Parts

0 comments