Appliance Repair Park Slope

I received an email about a mechanical issue 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 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 Good Old Appliance Service 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.

The word "refit" is just a cool way to say 'put together'. This is a simple job that doesn't require any special tools. A small flat head screwdriver or a Phillips screwdriver will do. Oh, and some 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.

After you have accessed the switch, use a cotton swab soaked in 91% rubbing ethanol to clean the contacts. (Remember that there are multiple sets of contacts which control the speed).

If a simple swab of alcohol does not work, you can roll up some steel-wool (a small piece, rolled up nice and tight) to stick into the switch openings on top. (This will be easier to understand if you open the switch in front of you).

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.

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:

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 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

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 that you may not want to maintain the unit, but it's nice to know, if so inclined, that these machines can be repaired (as opposed being disposable) by the owner with the right 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 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. 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.

After a few years, juicers, food processors and bread makers all make loud squeaks. The manufacturer usually lubricates gears, pulleys, axles and bushes with either 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. 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 are secured with phillips-head screws, but some require special bits. Once you're inside, turn the machine by hand when you see the motor, gears and pulleys. You should hear the familiar squeak, and see where it comes from. You only need to apply a few drops between the contact points, e.g. where an axle runs into a bush or bearing. Also, you can run a thin film around the gear wheels. The only place NOT to put any is on a pulley that has a belt running over it, as bread makers often do. There has to be certain amount of friction here so the belt does not just slip. If this does occur you need to clean the lube back off using a cloth and denatured alcohol.