Appliance Repair Park Slope

I just received an e-mail concerning a mechanical problem with a Thumper massager.

A gentleman was asking me if I knew about possible places to get a malfunctioning Thumper unit back to working condition.

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 with the Thumper (MP2) I own seems to be the switch. It appears to be an easy fix.

Here are the instructions for correcting a malfunctioning switch.

Fixing the switch on the Thumper Mini Pro:

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

Fixing the Problem:

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

If the switch is jammed (not clicking), you will need clean the switch connections as well as the switch housing (the plastic part that the switch slides into) before reinstalling 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:

First, the unit needs to be opened and the panel behind the switch needs to be cleaned and the connection should be rewired if they are broken away from the contact points, if not, (and this is usually the case) the connection points need to be cleaned.

Before unscrewing anything try this first

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

Once Good Old Appliance Service 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).

Take a small flat-head screwdriver, and move the steel wool along the switch.

Move the switch upwards to clean the bottom contacts, and downwards to access the top ones.

Let's see if it works:

This is important:

Before reassembling the switch and testing it, you should blow out any excess wool particles.

When you plug your Thumper Mini Pro back in it should work just like new in all three speeds.

Enjoy!

If you have any problems or it still isn't working, please contact Thumper Inc. at 1-800-848-6737.

Getting Back To The E-Mail I Received

Mr. C was not able to fix his unit because the switch wasn't the problem. His problem sounded more internal than a dirty contact, but the parts were available. He wasn't too interested in fixing them himself, and he didn't want to send them away for repair due to the exorbitant costs of shipping.

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 that I have not had any deep mechanical problems with either of the thumpers that I own, just a minor switch problem, but on my website I did make reference to a review where a fella got quite a bit of over the phone help.

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

Unfortunately I was unable to help Mr. C with his problem but I do empathize with him because I own two Thumpers myself and have yet to experience any major problems with either of them (I'm knocking on wood as I type this).

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.

If you have squeaking or rattling kitchen appliance you know how annoying this can be. With cheaper devices this is usually the time to retire them and replace with something newer, but in some cases the appliances still feel quite solid and were expensive. There is a simple fix for many devices. This is to lubricate certain parts that have become worn out and are therefore making more noise.

After a few years, juicers, food processors and bread makers all make loud squeaks. Manufacturers usually lubricate gears, pulleys and axles with silicone or teflon-based materials. They last a very long time and are worth using again if you can locate them. You can buy them at electrical repair shops, or 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 inside and when you an see the motor, pulleys, and gears, just give the machine a turn by hand. 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. There has to be certain amount of friction here so the belt does not just slip. If this happens, you will need to clean off the lubricant using denatured alcohol and a cloth.