Appliance Repair Park Slope

I received an email about a mechanical issue with a Thumper Massager.

A gentleman asked me if I could tell him where he could get a Thumper unit that was not working back in working order.

I didn't have any answers at that time (in terms of a local repairman), but I did find many reviews where customers had received assistance over the phone from customer service (with a live person) and were guided through some simple but common repairs on their Thumper Massage Units.

I'm not sure if the repair is the same for all massager models, but the most common problem Good Old Appliance Service with the Thumper (MP2) I own seems to be the switch. It appears to be an easy fix.

Here are the steps to fix a switch that is not working.

Fixing The Switch On The Thumper Mini Pro - Problems:

Both of these situations can occur when the internal connections or switch housing are faulty. I have the same model Thumper, the MP2, and experienced the same problem.

Fixing the Problem:

You should first check to see if the switch is moving freely.

If the switch is jammed or stuck down (not making a clicking sound) you will need to clean the switch connections and switch housing (plastic part the switch slides in) and then refit the switch.

Don't let the word "refit" scare you (it's just a cool word for 'put back together'), this is an easy to do job and you won't need any special tools, just a tiny flat head screwdriver and maybe a Phillips head screwdriver should do the trick; oh yeah, and a little steel wool.

What to do first:

The unit must be opened, and the panel behind it cleaned. If the connections are broken, they should be rewired.

Before unscrewing anything, try this first:

• Pry the switch off (it's actually a cover), and you'll see the actual switch beneath.

Once you access the switch, take a cotton swab wetted with 91% rubbing alcohol and clean the contacts (keep in mind that there are several sets of contacts that control the speeds).

If the simple swab with alcohol doesn't do the trick, roll up some steel wool (a small piece rolled nice and tight) and stick it into the switch openings that are clear on top of the switch (when you have the switch open in front of you, this will make more sense).

With the steel wool in place, take a small flat screwdriver and moved the steel wool up and down along the switch until you see that the contacts are clean.

Make sure to move the switch up to clean the bottom contacts and down to get access to the top ones.

Let's See If It Works:

This is important:

You want to be sure and blow any excess wool particles out of the switch before reassembling and testing the switch.

When you plug in your Thumper Mini Pro again, it should work like new at all three speeds.

Enjoy!

If you are still having problems, call Thumper Inc. on 1-800-848-6737.

Getting Back To The E-Mail I Received

Unfortunately the switch was not the problem with Mr. C's unit, his problem sounded a little more internal then a dirty contact but the parts he needed were made available to him, he just wasn't interested in fixing the machines himself and he wasn't to excited about sending them off for repair because of exorbitant shipping costs.

He told me that they had two Mini Pros in need of service. As you can imagine, shipping the Mini Pros to Canada and back would be expensive.

He wanted to know if there was anybody here in the U.S. that works on them?

He received a few circuit boards and miscellaneous parts from the merchant he went through but he didn't want to get into fixing them himself (if he could avoid it).

I told him I had not experienced any major mechanical problems with the thumpers I own. I only had a minor problem with the switch. However, I did mention on my website a review in which a man received a lot of help over the phone.

I can understand not wanting to maintain the unit yourself but its nice to know that, if you were so inclined, these are machines that can be repaired by the owner (as opposed to being disposable) with the correct guidance.

I knew that this was not much of a help, but I did wish him luck.

My Personal Experience

I'm sorry I couldn't help Mr. C, but I can empathize because I own two Thumpers and have never had any major problems (I am knocking on the wood as I type).

I don't like having to spend money unnecessarily and a shipping expense to Canada and back for something that weighs 7 lbs is probably not cheap so I am very happy that Thumper is willing to provide replacement parts and instructions to get my machine going again, I would truly miss my Thumper if it was gone for three weeks.

It sounds like Mr. C would too, why else would he have one of each if they didn't do exactly what they said they do and do it well.

You will understand how annoying it can be to have a kitchen appliance that rattles or squeaks. It is time to replace the older, cheaper appliances with newer ones. However, some appliances are still in good condition and were quite expensive. Luckily there is an easy fix for many devices, and this is simply lubricating certain parts that are a bit worn and therefore are making more noise than they used to.

Juicers, food processors, and bread makers are all common culprits for making loud squeaks and extra noise after a few years. Manufacturers usually lubricate gears, pulleys and axles with silicone or teflon-based materials. These do last a long time, and if you can find them they are the best thing to use again. You can get them from electrical repair shops or try hobby shops. These lubricants are great because they're clean and won't leave ugly stains. This is why hobbyists like to use these lubricants. You will need to open the appliance's case in order to lubricate any noisy parts. Look for the screws holding the top, bottom, or side plate down. There should be 4-6. Most electrical appliances use phillips head screws, although some use security screws you will need special bits for. Once you're inside, turn the machine by hand when you see the motor, gears and pulleys. You will hear a familiar squeak. Find out where it is coming from. All you need to do is apply a few drops of the lubricant between the contact points (eg where an axle runs through a bush or bearing) and run a thin bead around gear wheels. The only place you should NOT put any lubricant is on a pulley with a belt over it. This is what bread makers do. It is important that there is some friction so the belt doesn't slip. If this happens, you will need to clean off the lubricant using denatured alcohol and a cloth.