About floor machine brushes and their use

Floor machine brushes scrub the floor with water and detergent. The J45 carries one disc brush, driven at 180 rpm; the J115 carries two brushes. The working width for the J45 is 510 mm, and for the J115 it is 800 mm.

Brushes are fitted onto the disc coupling without tools, with the brush switch off. Change the brush if you notice uneven cleaning.

The J45 uses a 20 inch brush, which is about 508 mm, to give its 510 mm working width. When you fit a new brush to the J45, make sure the disc is raised off the floor and hold the brush level as you place it onto the coupling. This helps the brush lock into place without forcing it and avoids damage to the coupling or the brush.

A worn brush shows in the cleaning result before it looks worn. Bristles that are short and splayed need more passes to clean the same area, and the floor may show streaks or patches that stay dirty. Tire marks or ground-in dirt may stay behind because short bristles no longer press evenly on the floor or reach into its texture. Uneven cleaning is a clear sign to change the brush, as it means the bristles are not making full contact with the floor.

After each use, rinse dirt and hair out of the bristles to stop buildup that can harden and reduce cleaning. Store the brush so it does not stand on its bristles, as this would bend them and shorten the working life. For example, hanging the brush on a wall hook after rinsing keeps the bristles straight and ready for the next shift.

Scrubber dryer squeegee blades: front and rear strips

Each floor scrubber uses a squeegee with a front and a rear strip. The squeegee collects dirty water after the brush scrubs the floor. The J45 has a squeegee width of 800 mm, and the J115 has a squeegee width of 1080 mm. The squeegee rubber strips must be checked if the machine leaves water behind.

Worn or damaged floor scrubber squeegee blades, the rubber strips, show as streaks or incomplete water pickup; turn or change the strips when you see them.

The two strips on the squeegee do different jobs. The front strip has openings that let the dirty water flow into the squeegee body, while the rear strip wipes the floor dry as the machine moves forward. If the machine leaves water behind, check both strips for wear or damage, since either one lets water past.

A rectangular strip can often be turned: when the edge on the floor wears down, turn the strip so a fresh edge touches the floor. This extends the life of each strip before you need to buy a new one. Turning the strip at the first sign of streaks or a wet track helps keep the floor dry and safe. A wet track at the sides often points to worn ends of the strips or a squeegee that does not sit level on the floor.

If the strips look sound but water is still left behind, check the other causes: a blocked or torn suction hose or a full recovery tank. When fitting new strips, set the squeegee so the rear strip bends back evenly across its whole width, so it wipes the floor dry from one side to the other.

Overview of available parts by machine

The table below shows which floor scrubber parts are available for each SMITH floor scrubber model. You can use it to check which brushes and squeegee rubber strips fit your machine.

To use the table, find your machine in the first column; each yes leads to the product page of that part. The product page gives the size of the part, such as the brush diameter or the length of each rubber strip. For example, the J45 brush page confirms that the machine takes a 20 inch brush, and the strip pages give the length of the front and the rear strip.

How to identify the right scrubber dryer parts

The product title always shows the machine name, such as J25, J45, J85 or J115. The product page lists the size of each part. Each part is made for the floor scrubber named in its title.

The SMITH floor scrubbers differ in working width and squeegee width, so their floor cleaning machine parts differ too: always check the machine code and the part details before ordering.

You can find the model code on the rating plate of your machine. Before you order, compare the old part with the size on the product page: the brush diameter or the length of the rubber strip. The strip page of each machine gives two lengths, because the front and the rear strip differ in length. Keep the old part until the new one is fitted, so you can compare them side by side.

If both squeegee strips are worn, order them together so the squeegee wipes evenly again. If you are not sure which part to order, use the Get offer button on the product card and write the model code and the size of the old part in the message box of the offer form.

Brush or pad: which floors each suits

Brushes suit rough and structured floors, where the bristles reach into the grooves. Pads on a pad driver suit smooth floors and polishing.

Pads are made of fiber and are marked with colors to show how hard they scrub. Dark pads are for stripping, lighter pads for polishing. A pad sits on a pad driver, which is a disc that takes the place of the brush on the machine.

Brushes are better for cleaning grout lines, textured tiles and rough concrete because the bristles reach into grooves and uneven surfaces. Pads suit smooth, sealed floors, vinyl and polished concrete, where they work with full contact on the surface. Pads wear faster than brushes and are turned over to use the other side, then replaced when both sides are worn. Try a new brush or pad on a small area first to see how it cleans your specific floor.

Spare sets and care after cleaning

Keeping one spare set of floor scrubber parts, such as brushes and squeegee rubber strips, on the shelf helps avoid downtime. If a brush or strip wears out, you can replace it without waiting. Keep the spare strips flat and away from heat and sunlight, so the rubber does not deform or harden before it is used.

Keep one spare brush for each brush position on your machine and one set of squeegee strips per machine. For example, the J45 needs one spare brush, while the J115 needs two, as it has two brushes.

After each shift, empty and rinse the recovery tank, rinse the squeegee and the brush, and look at the strips for cuts or tears. Raise the squeegee and the brush off the floor to prevent them from deforming, and charge the batteries so the machine is ready for the next use. Once a week, clean the suction hose and the filters, and take out any string or wire that may be caught in the brush.

Write down when you change each part. This record shows how long brushes and strips last in your operation and helps you plan when to order the next set. For example, if your record shows how many weeks a set of strips lasts on your floor, you can order the next set before the current one wears out.

Difference between floor scrubber pads and brushes

This category holds brushes for SMITH floor scrubbers. Pads are not sold in this category; they are fitted to a pad driver for smooth floors.

For the J45, the maker’s parts list includes a 19 inch pad base, called the pad driver, and a 20 inch cleaning pad. These are separate from the machine’s 20 inch brush. When you use a pad instead of a brush, the pad covers the same width as the brush, so the working width stays the same.

The parts listed here are the brushes and squeegee strips for each SMITH model; the choice between brush and pad depends on the floor, as described above.

Before ordering floor scrubber parts

Before ordering floor scrubber parts, check the model code of the machine, such as J25, J45, J85 or J115, and how many of each part it carries.

Count the parts your machine carries before ordering: the number of brushes and the front and rear strip of the squeegee. This makes sure you have the right number of parts on hand for a complete change. When a squeegee strip is worn, also look at the squeegee body and its wheels for damage. When a brush is worn, check the coupling for wear or debris that could affect fitting the new brush.

Order new parts before the old ones are completely worn out. This avoids having the machine stand idle while waiting for a replacement. For example, if you see the bristles on the brush getting short or the squeegee strip starting to leave streaks, plan to order the replacement.

Prices of floor scrubber accessories

The price of each floor scrubber accessory is shown on its product card. Check the card for the current price before ordering.

You can order spare parts directly with the Add to cart button, or add several parts to one request with Add to inquiry. Brushes and squeegee strips are the main wear parts of a floor scrubber.

Running a worn brush costs more than a new one: it cleans poorly and needs more passes for the same result. This can slow down work in a warehouse or production hall, as floors may need to be cleaned twice. Replacing brushes and strips at the right time keeps the machine working as intended and helps avoid extra labor or missed spots.

Questions about floor scrubber parts

How do I know if the brush on my floor scrubber is worn?

A worn brush shows as uneven cleaning and bristles worn short and splayed. Change it as soon as the same floor needs a second pass.

Why does my floor scrubber leave water behind?

If the machine leaves water behind, check the squeegee first. The squeegee has a front and rear strip that may need turning or changing.

Do these parts fit other brands of floor scrubbers?

Each part is made for the SMITH machine named in its title. For another brand, compare the size on the product page with the part on your machine.