Xerox XRX-81SDocument Shredder?

This shredder SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will never buy another Xerox machine.

Tami
February 2012

Same thing here with the broken gear teeth. Rebuild gear using JB Weld. Pack and form broken area as if a solid wheel and let dry, then use file or Dremel tool to cut out teeth or tooth

JB
December 2011

Purchased shredder Sept. 2008, it worked fine until today-Nov. 29, 2010. The motor works but the blades will not turn to shred. I will not purchase any ANY other XEROX products under any circumstances.

Ernest Crumb Washington, DC
November 2010

Loved it. Best $65 I ever spent. The thing has gone years (since 2004) and only recently has started to show its age. The plastic teeth that keep paper from wedging between the metal shredding blades have started to disintegrate, but as old as it is it can't last forever. I'll keep using it until it gives up the ghost. I'd be surprised if I could find a unit now as good as this one for the price I paid for it.

EJ
July 2010

xerox xrx-8x is a piece of crap. no assistance from xerox support unit. will never purchase another xerox product. small profit for them short term. financial ruin long run. will question use of xerox products in my office.

roy
February 2010

Xerox sells Junk!!!!!!!!.that is my conclusion. It took me 7calls/transfers for someone to tell me they can't help me regarding the plastic gear that seems to be a major flaw in the model XRX-8X.

JCJ from PA
September 2009

Yep My plastic primary gear chewed up as well. If anyone has a good one give me a call 204-878-2565. There are some good ones out there with other electrical problems etc. Cheers

GJH
March 2009

Another one bites the dust. After our XRX-8X shredder stopped working completely, I tried the banging method, and surprisingly it came back to life. The overheating light came on immediately after being off for an entire week (I guess a week was not long enough). Now it runs in reverse, but not forward, which might be good if I could run it inside out :-) Time for the trash heap.

Larry
January 2009

I too have the primary plastic gear eaten up by the steel drive gear. Anyone got one for sale? Will pay fair value plus shipping. Rest of machine runs fine - so far!

757-877-3119

SpiderKeith
December 2008

My Xerox XRX-8x and my daughter mistakenly thought that you could just running paper through the unit until your pile of personal address material is all gone! Whoops, I guess I should've told her that it's basically a 5 min ON and 30 min OFF design. In spite of that, I was favorably impressed by metal to plastic gears. The plastic just ripped to pieces. I would give my unit away free, but I doubt it's worth shipping.

Rich
December 2008

It won't even do you any good to contact Xerox. After contacting them via their website, I received the following message, "Effective January 1st 2007, Xerox no longer provides support on Small Office Home Office products."

It's painfully obvious that Xerox no longer gives a rat's posterior about the little guys and gals!!!

Go to http://www.xerox.com/go/xrx/xportal/forms/contactform.jsp?form_no=1910&view=confirm&Xcntry=USA&Xlang=en_US and see for yourself!

NO MORE XEROX PRODUCTS FOR ME, WHETHER IT BE FOR HOME, OR BUSINESS!!!

Kim Walker
November 2008

Same "motor metal drill abrases plastic cog wheel" problem over here. Guess I'll toss it away after reading the multitude of problems -- and yes, the motor was going berserk (as in "going faster and faster") after being able to rotate freely.

As far I remember the machine is eating way more power when not being used than neccessary (10 Watts or the like?), too. I'll probably dump it. Free spare parts for sale then.

amalsechsplusb@ ya hoo . com
November 2008

The only real answer seems to be TOSS IT. I had no idea others were in my boat, I figured it was all me. It start with it self starting with no one around; then pulling the plug to stop it, banging it on the floor to shock-start it... all of the previous comments. I unplug it when not in use. A friend blamed it on glue on envelopes and such; I've spent more time cleaning than shredding. I will go shopping for a new one today!

kmd
October 2008

Yep, the switch on my shredder no longer works correctly, I have to bang on it to start it and hit it again to stop it. My use of this device has been light overall, what a piece of junk, last Xerox product I buy.

Tim
September 2008

Add my name to the list of those poor souls whose XRX-8X shredder from Xerox stopped working - no paper jam, no other discernable problem...it just stopped working and will not start no matter what I try. BOO, Xerox!!

Kathleen
September 2008

It appears I have joined the club. My Xerox XRX-8X just quit without reason or warning. I got 2 years of occasional use out of it. I've gone through two Royal Orcas also. Has anyone found reliable brand?

Nelson
August 2008

Yea, ours broke too! Metal to plastic gears -- great idea, oops gears stripped, another one bites the dust
and Xerox made another $$.

Roy & Val
August 2008

Yet Another Metal to Plastic Gear Failure!!! My wife was shredding away then CLACK CLACK CLACK. At least I can use the base as a trash can to throw the rest of the unit away!

trashed
June 2008

my gears are fine right now but the motor is bad. shoots fire like a blow torch and can not find anything to fix it with. Is it worth the price of a Motor or even brushes if I can find them.

Darrell
March 2008

Another Xerox XRX-8X shredder bites the dust! Or should I say metal on plastic gear/cog strips and causes dust. What a poor design. I wish I could help you with finding parts, but after searching and reading this forum with no such luck, it seems like it would be more economical and safer to purchase a new non-Xerox shredder.

Brian
March 2008

Unbelievable. Ours did the same thing last night and after reading these (fire, exploding motors, etc.), I'm going to get it out of the house while I still have one (a house that is). Thank you all.

Unhappy
March 2008

It seems we all have a problem with the Model XRX-8X Shedder. I just went on line to contact the company and came accross all these e-mails. Looks like the thing is just plain JUNK. Just never buy XEROX equipment again.

MAD MAX
February 2008

Let's let Xerox know their products sucks.
send them feedback at:
http://www.xerox.com/go/xrx/portal/STServlet?projectID=ST_ContactXerox&pageID=ST_ContactXerox_Landing&metrics=HDR&Xcntry=USA&Xlang=en_US

Gotmad
January 2008

My plastic gear just broke...I guess I am in the same boat as all of you. Will not buy xerox again. It is around 1 year old. I am looking for receipt. I refuse to pay $35. when I can just buy a new and improved one(not Xerox).

George
December 2007

Mine just gave up the ghost too - mechanically fine (apart from the auto-off switch of course which has been broken for years) but one of the motor brushes has flipped out and intermittently shorts from the motor to the chassis of the mechanism - very dangerous.

The motor brush-holders are just pieces of bent copper strip which work-hardens after a while and then snaps. For want of 1/10th of a cent they could have used phosphor-bronze like you're supposed to - cheap, very cheap Chinese motor design.

Like others, I'm surprised Xerox would risk putting their name to such a design.
Anyone know if this same motor is used in other equipment? I might just try making a new brush-holder from phosphor-bronze.

dsl.pltn13.pacbell.net
November 2007

Well - after spending 3 nights trying to clean and unjam the damn shredder we finally searched the web for info on how to fix it. Came across your site and took it apart - the cog wheel was gone. We too have added it to the grey waste basket. Anyway, has anyone asked Xerox for some staisfaction??

Roy
November 2007

My XRX-8X has the same shaved gear, xerox you should be ashamed, it puts a bad odor on all of your equipment, who wants to buy from a company that does not stand behind their product, SHAME, SHAME xerox

Mark
October 2007

I also had the same problem with my xrx-8x shredder. Large plastic cog wheel that turns the blade lost several teeth. I took the machine apart and was able to remove the gear. I called xerox eager to buy a replacement gear but was told that no parts are available. How can such a large manufacturer not supply the end user with parts for repair? I do not think xerox even makes shredders anymore. I have lost all faith in their product and will never buy another xerox machine!!

joe
October 2007

I also had the same problem with my xrx-8x shredder. Large plastic cog wheel that turns the blade lost several teeth. I took the machine apart and was able to remove the gear. I called xerox eager to buy a replacement gear but was told that no parts are available. How can such a large manufacturer not supply the end user with parts for repair? I do not think xerox even makes shredders anymore. I have lost all faith in their product and will never buy another xerox machine!!

joe
October 2007

mine broke too. in the market for a new one. so who has a suggestion for a shredder that does work and is of good quality?

barb
October 2007

INSTEAD OF BUYING NEW GEARS OR A NEW MACHINE......MY HUSBAND BURNED THE PLASTIC GEAR THAT WAS SHAVED, WHICH MAKES IT SWELL AND GET BIG EBOUGH FOR IT TO TURN WITHOUT JAMMING!!! PROBLEM SOLVED!

MONICA
September 2007

Same problem as the rest of you. The inability to turn the machine off when there is a malfunction is inexusableand what led to the damage (forward/backward/auto only). Major safety hazard too! Having to pull the plug from the wall while the motor is running is very dangerous. I think Xerox should rethink their position on this but I doubt they will at this stage.

On the positive side, I can still use the plastic container for a trash can! Can you guess what the first piece of trash I put in it will be?

Mark
July 2007

just wanted to add my name to the growing list of frustrated customers. some dumb ass piece of junk mail i didn't feel like opening was just too much for the shredder's plastic cog. i guess there's no way around it, i'm gonna have to open all the junk mail i get because today's shredders just aren't designed to handle the average sized envelopes of junk mail we Americans receive on a daily basis. it would be nice if shredders were at least smart enough to know when they've been fed too much so they don't rip themselves to pieces.

by the way, when i opened it up and tested it, sparks were visible by the motor so this thing IS a fire hazard if it craps out on you.

chris2fur
June 2007

Same problem here....sucks!!

Will
December 2006

I to have a Xerox -XRX-81S shedder, the gears were chewed up and the motor continue to run unless I unplugged the unit.
This is a very,very,very poooooor design. This was some quick money for Xerox to make and then get out. My advice is to check for the construction of the unit before buying it! What you pay is what you get!

Jazmstr
December 2006

RECOMMEND EVERYONE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR COLLECTIVE BRAINS - AND VOTE - AND CONTACT AS MANY CONSUMER INTEREST WEB SITES AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE XEROX PRODUCT(S) AND POLICIES IN QUESTION. "BUYER BEWARE" APPLIES TO US - BIG TIME. WE'RE PROBABLY THE SAME BUNCH THAT LETS OUR CONGRESS GO ON AS IT DOES - YEAR AFTER YEAR......

chris
December 2006

SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE. BASED UPON WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SAYING, I AM WILLING TO TRY AND BUY THE PARTS AS WELL..... SO.... WILL PAY FOR THE THREE MAIN PLASTIC GEARS AND THE THIN PLASTIC LEVER THAT SENSES PAPER "IN" AND "OUT" (I.E., THE PARTS FROM HELL). WILL PAY $15 PLUS SHIPPING FOR THE PARTS - OR - PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH PARTS OFFER. BELATED THANKS.
clh@widomaker.com; 757-930-1057.

CHRIS
December 2006

Same problem - plastic gear was shaved by metal one. This is very poor design though this shredder worked for couple years. Sensor arm which activates the motor when you insert paper broke during first days of use.

Roman Z.
October 2006

I took apart my Xerox shredder to find the metal drive spindle had sheared off the teeth of the plastic primary cog. I called Xerox and they do not carry spare parts nor will the honor a courtsey replacement for the deficient product, but they tell me they are truely sorry. So that's good, they are sorry. Thanks customer service.
My advise, make sure your next shredder has cogs made of metal only.
Preferably not a Xerox brand if you got screwed like we have.

david Olton
October 2006

My Xerox shredder has always been junk but tonight really makes me angry. Buying it was a total waste of money. Tonight was not the typical run continuously until it was unplugged routine. Tonight the piece of junk actually caught on fire. I was sitting in the office shredding a credit card statement and suddenly a loud boom that lifted the top unit off the base and sent pieces flying in several directions followed by fire. Yes, the motor literally exploded and caught the paper I was shredding on fire. The tiny pieces in the waste hopper quickly ignited and I had to grab the thing and carry it outside while flames rolled out of the top with the nice paper confetti in the wastebasket. Throw that Xerox shedder away before it does more than jam.

Now Scared of Xerox Products
October 2006

I contacted OfficeMax regarding the Xerox xrx 81s shredder that I purchased from them. I wanted to ask if there was a recall on the machine. The store manager told me no. My Machine shredds fine. But the problem is that when the paper has passed through it, the machine will not stop running. I have to unplug the machine to stop the motor. I was told to contact Xerox, but from what I can see reading the responses, it will also be a waste of time and money. I spent the extra money on this one because surely, I used to think of Xerox as a quality name. Not the case anymore...don't worry about mending it. Throw it out and get a new one!

Cheryl
September 2006

My search online for Xerox Shredder retail outlets led me to this website. Apparently, most, if not all, retailers no longer carry Xerox shredders. They are made of such poor quality!!!

My second Xerox XRX-8X has just died of the same cause as everyone described here. After the first one broken down, I contacted Xerox customer service and spend $35 ($25 + $10 shipping) to get it replaced. I won't make the same mistake again.

If this serves as any example, no wonder Xerox has been rendered inrelevant by the competition. So sad.

Sonny
September 2006

I have EXACTLY the same problem . Metal eats Plastic (DUH) . Someone who has chosen to remain nameless shredded some junk mail and I have JUNK !! Xing XeroX off of my shopping list FOREVER !!! Steve .

Steve G.
August 2006

I just want to add to the list that yes, I come here looking for a gear for the said Xerox shredder because yes, the tiny metal drive gear has broken or shredded more accurately the cog.

Anyone find a better one????

Al, another one than preceding Al, no less
May 2006

I am amazed at the amount of the same problem bothering and effecting everyone!! Xerox should be made aware of this as a recall, YES??? Of course it happened to me also. I would tell you this is not the only brand name this has happened to. It seems that same large gear wheel is in all of them and the teeth shear off...built in obsolesence ala autos 20 years ago!!!

alan
February 2006

Here is the response that I rec'd from info@xerox-oa.com
I figure by the time I spend $10? to ship, it will be $35.00, I can get a real one for that.

Thank you for your inquiry.
Due to liability issues, we do not repair shredders or have their parts, we replace the shredders with new ones if they are with in warranty.
The shredder has a limited one(1) year warranty from the date on the receipt.
When did you buy your shredder?
If you have a receipt that indicates a purchase for the shredder with in one year, we can then replace your shredder under the regular warranty for you.
Your serial number is from January 15th, 2003.
The serial number is indicating that your shredder is out of warranty by 1 year and 9 months.
If the shredder is past the warranty period, we can offer to replace shredder one final time as a courtesy.
To replace a shredder under the courtesy replacement process, you will need to ship the top portion of the shredder to us with a check or money order for $25.00 ($10.00 for S&H and $15.00 for new unit).
Please provide us with your name and/or company name, shipping address, phone number and a copy of this email.
We will then issue you a reference number and an address where to ship your shredder to.
Upon receipt of your shredder we will ship a replacement to the address provided.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at (866) 889-3769.



Thank you,

Xerox Customer Service

Charlie
February 2006

Same problem for me; the large plastic gear that drives the blades is now missing two teath. Anyone with a broken version of this machine that doesn't involve this damaged gear is welcome to contact me at gjones9936@aol.com

Thanks!

Gary Jones
September 2005

Mine broke too and to think I was paying good money (not a cheap machine to purchase) for something that would last; boy was I wrong. I'm so disappointed.

Buyers Beware!!!

Robinson
August 2005

Lets swap gears... for the XRX-81S
The one I need is the large plastic gear that drives the roller blades.
The one that is driven by the motor is O.K.
EMail me.
I will send you the gear you need, you send me the one I need.
martin@pacificimage.wanet.net

Martin
August 2005

I tried to repair temporary the gear with epoxy glue.
I will see if it last and if so will give you the repair procedure.
Can't imagine i will scrap this machine, looks like new!

Francis

Francis
July 2005

Just spoke with Xerox regarding a broken sensor arm on the XRX-81S. Unless it is under warrenty their only solution is to be a new shredder. If I could get this part the shredder would be as good. I certainly will not by another Xerox shredder.

alby
May 2005

I am sorry to inform you that the Xerox XRX-81S is the shreder from hell. Here is why.

The blades that cut the paper are driven by a series of plastic and metal gears. The first gear is a metal gear that looks exactly like an electric drirll bit. That "drill bit" gear goes into a soft white plastic gear. The first time that you put in somthing that is thicker than 8 sheets of THIN paper (in my case it was 7 sheets of Office Depot 24lb copy paper) the plastic gear literaly gets shaved bald by the "drill bit gear" and from that point on the motor will run perfectly but the cutting blades will not turn. Xerox's web site says they do not provide parts for the XRX-81S. (It would not be a real simple repair but if you could get the part you would have an afternoon of entertainment) Xerox's web page does give a number for you to call 866-88X-EROX. When I was younger XEROX was a name that stood for quality and you always knew you could get service, the Xerox repairman was always at school or the library! In my opinion Xerox is a name to be avoided.

andy
January 2005