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 am not sure if these repairs are as simple for every massager model but the most common repair for the Thumper I own (MP2) seems to be with the switch and it appears to be a fairly easy fix.

Here are the instructions for correcting a malfunctioning switch.

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 MP2 and experienced the exact same problem.

Correcting The Problem:

First you want to check and see if the switch moves 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 Good Old Appliance Service will make more sense).

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

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:

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

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.

How to reply to the email 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 find out if anyone in the U.S. worked on them.

He got a few circuit board and other parts from the merchant, but he didn't really want to fix them himself.

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 was aware that this was not much help but I did wish him the best of 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 want to spend money on something that I don't need to. A shipping cost to Canada and back is not cheap for a machine that weighs 7 pounds. I am happy that Thumper will provide me with replacement parts and instructions so that I can get my machine working again. I would miss my Thumper for three weeks if it were gone.

It sounds like Mr. C might too. Why else would he own one of each, if they did not do what they said 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. 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.

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 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. To lubricate the noisy parts you will have to open the appliance case. Turn it off and unplug it, then look for the screws that let you lift off the top, side, or bottom plate - there should be about 4-6 holding it down. 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 should hear the familiar squeak, and see where it comes 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.