Littermaid Repair 101
I’ve been a happy Littermaid owner for a couple of years now, but lately I’ve had some bad luck.
I came home from Thanksgiving last year and found the rake stuck in the middle, not moving at all. My warranty long-expired, I just bought a new one for $70 on sale on Amazon.
The other day I found it stuck again, this time almost in the way back. I emailed the company to get it replaced under warranty. They responded with some cryptic instructions on how to find the model number and date code on it.
While looking for these I discovered a few things:
1) My cats have been pissing ON TOP of the Littermaid, like on where the battery compartment is. I can understand being a little off in your aim, but 3 inches up?
2) When I put in the new unit, I used the old AC adapter. It turns out that the newer one is 1000 mA, not 500 mA. I’m sure it helps to have a little more power when pushing litter. Of course swapping these out did nothing.
3) There are two contacts inside the tracks for the rake, at the very end near the bin. When either of them make contact, the rake reverses and goes back. One one side of mine, there was litter lodged in there, forcing the contact down. I removed that, flipped the power and presto, the rake moved normally again.
Now I’m wondering if that was all that was wrong with my last one.
April 26th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
I got a Litter Robot ( http://www.litter-robot.com ) a few weeks ago after scouring people’s reviews of automated litter boxes. So far it gets a huge thumbs up from me (it’s up there with Tivo and the Dyson vacuum as far as I’m concerned). While it does have a motor, it relies on gravity to filter clean litter from the clumps so there’s much less to gum up (and with 2 cats I only need to dump the collected clumps once a week). And when you do clean it, you can take it outside and hose it down (the litter-containing portion just sits on top of the motorized base). It’s expensive but it’s worth it.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:45 am
Hey Jeff, I have had 3 litter maids since last year. One was a classic and two were the larger models. So far two have burned out and the company replaced them. I decided not to use them at the present time.
One problem is the low level of litter allowed in the pan(ends up being more work scraping it out than a regular litter box), then there is the the cat urine that solidifies in the bottom of the pan(burns out the motor), then there is the cat defecating and peeing around on the unit(not easy to clean all of that up all of the time and unless a urine-be-gone type of product is used, it gets worse), then there is the odor and the little flecks of cat litter that end up being dispersed throughout the litter pan(can spread disease since cats lick their feet), this also increases the odor around the litter box(the fancier model offers an ionizer for odor control, but that is like nothing as far as odors that the constant raking causes from the cat litter).
The company is very helpful and cooperative and will replace the units within the warranty, no problem, but they will burn out again in my opinion(motor too weak and not double insulated). The wire rake on the newer model was a bit worse as far as motor stress, than the plastic rake on the cheaper model, and harder to keep clean.
The only solutions offered for the mud(that I think is the reason that the motor burns out) that forms in the bottom of the pan, from the cat urine, was to spray the pan with silicone spray before filling, but that is just one of many problems with that machine.
I am still looking for something so that I don’t have to get on my knees as much as I have to right now, to keep things clean. At least since I dont use the littermaid anymore, the house smells better and I feel that the cats are healthier.
June 19th, 2007 at 7:32 am
over the past couple of years I’ve own serveral littermaid pan. my first one lasted for many years. but recently in the last two year i have nothing but problems with them. the newer modles they are crape. i have had part fall off, motor stop working ;to the mechine just stop working. im looking for an new product. don’t weast your money and i mean that.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
[...] on the wall right in front me. He’s not good at subtlety. Unfortunately it wasn’t the same problem as last time. Actually it was the opposite. It would go forward, but not [...]
November 24th, 2007 at 10:26 am
I have never had a problem with my littermaid up till now, but then, I have 2 cats and the littermaid system for over 10 years and I wouldn’t trade it for nothing. I guess I have gotten my money out of it and will be purchasing a new one again if need be, but as far as checking the sensors, thanks for that info as that is all I needed and now it is back to working like a charm. Maybe I will have it for another 10 years, but then I won’t hold my breath as things usually don’t last a lifetime.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
The problem with the sensors is the most common. Even if no litter comes into them, just the dust from the clay can make them not to conduce electricity and the rake will start making noises.
Eventually, most LitterMaids I’ve seen end breaking the rake because the sensors do not send the signal to stop.
How to prevent this? I use compressed air cans. Just blow the dust and litter from the contacts once every other month. Just enough.
A self cleaning litter box does not means no maintenance at all, and some cleaning may prevent a lot of trouble.
My original LM-500 still working. The LM-9000 working fine, also.
March 29th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I found a different solution for why the rake won’t stop going back and forth, assuming yours works the same as mine: When the roller goes back up into the housing, it presses on a metal flap that is supposed to depress a switch, and the switch is what stops the rake from going out for another pass. Mine wasn’t making good contact, but a piece of paper folded up into the gap and taped there, so that it is easier for the switch to be depressed, has solved the problem. Hope this can help some others!
May 9th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Thanks man! The rake quit working and I took the whole thing apart, put it back together and it worked once! I finally just said screw-it and used it as a manual box (I’m too cheap to throw it out! LOL!). Today, I checked this again, and i went down and pushed the switches all the way and then let them release all the way on their own about 10 times each and viola! It works like new again!
Thank you!
May 17th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I cant tell you how thankful I am for your posting…I was so angry with it, it just stopped and well I take care of cats until I can find homes for strays, so needless to say, my house is a cat smelling hell!!! I have been without for a few months now, and after reading your blog, MINE WORKS AGAIN!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:03 am
Jeff, your instructions just allowed me to fix my Littermaid box with a quick brush in a few seconds, instead of sending it back to the manufacturer. As a friend of mine often says, “Every once in a while, the Internet is a beautiful place,” and this is one of those times. I’m not quite sure what it says about our society that we now need tech support for our catboxes, but still.
In appreciation, I’d be happy to send you a copy of my book, Why Software Sucks, with my compliments (autographed or undamaged, take your pick). Send me your snail addr using the contact form on the book’s web site http://www.whysoftwaresucks.com, and I’ll stick it in the mail.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Alas, the creatures we comfort often want more creature comforts!
September 17th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I purchased 3 litter maids a couple of years ago. One elite and two standard ones. Two burned out because of the cat litter gunk, mentioned by others.
I shelved the replacements for a year and now I have developed a way to put an end to a lot of the problems that the litter maid system causes.
My modified litter maid elite is not going to clog, has no odor issues and has no more motorn burnout issues.
This modificaton can be done to any models of litter maid. It involves two changes in the litter maid system that most folks can do at home.
I will be publishing more information on this modification that anyone can do with their litter maid on my website, http://marmay.net as soon as I have worked out some detail images and information(probably an ebook for a nominal fee). Please drop by, like I say, the information will be posted on my website soon.
My website is about house and garden, I have a cat family and I rescue cats. I have recipes and other information that a visitor may find helpful.
September 18th, 2008 at 1:08 am
thank you very, very much, that worked!!
September 26th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I have had my Litter Maid for one year now. The spring broke and I repaired it. However, I now have a problem with the unit not automatically starting after 10 minutes. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem? I have to turn the unit off and on so it can cycle through to clean the pan twice a day to keep it clean.
September 27th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I just purchased a second Mega Litter Maid.
My four year old Mega scoops very well, but
the new one doesn’t let the rake down deep
enough in the litter. The rake is only raking an eighth of an inch of the litter. How can the rake be set to a deeper level to rake the litter properly? I use corn litter in my boxes.
Don
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Thanks to everyone that has signed up for being the first to know when the modified litter maid ebook will be published. It is nearing completion.
Everyone that signs up for the soon to be published ebook will receive a bonus free ebook entitled, -having a constantly spring fresh yard even when you have goats, pigs, cows and elephants and of course cats and dogs-, this includes everyone that has signed up so far. Thanks Jeff for this site, I am putting a track back to your blog from mine.