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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.

At that moment in time, I did not have any answers for this individual (as far as a local repairman) but, while researching these percussion massagers, I did come across many reviews that mentioned receiving assistance from customer service over the phone (with a real person) and being talked through some common but simple 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:

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 [https://www.goapplianceservice.com/service-area/appliance-repair-park-slope Good Old Appliance Service] 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.

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 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.

How to reply to the email 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 find out if anyone in the U.S. worked 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 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 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. 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. 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. 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. It is important that there is some friction so the belt doesn't slip. If this does occur you need to clean the lube back off using a cloth and denatured alcohol.