Repair Oral B 3D Pulsating Toothbrush

N

Nelson

Guest
Braun Oral B 3D Pulsating Toothbrush, Model 4729

OK, so I know it would be cheaper to just buy a new one but I like the
challenge... and I just bought a pack of 7 replacement brushes... grrr!
This model charges a rechargeable battery inductively and is sealed up
tighter than a ... (supply your own metaphor).

Anyone know how to disassemble one of these? I'm assuming the battery
has reached the end of it's charging life cycle, but I have to open it
up to find out. And if it has, I'll probably have to jury rig in a
replacement since I can't find anyone selling replacement parts on the
web. My guess is that Braun doesn't make them available.

Google is pretty much worthless on this since it pushes all the
advertising sites to the top.

--
Nelson

** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
 
Nelson <nelson@nowhere.com> wrote:

Braun Oral B 3D Pulsating Toothbrush, Model 4729
Click to expand...
I'm curious..... how long did it last before pooping
out?

How old is it?
 
On Fri, 1 Aug 2008 07:39:03 +0100, N Cook wrote:

I looked at an Oral B (number 366 on the moulding), not opened, and the
closure line is at the charger coil.
I would try warming the end with hot air before trying to insert a large
blade across the 2 slots or a dart point in the join.
Click to expand...
Mine came with instructions on how to remove the battery to dispose of
it at the end of it's life and you do indeed twist the slot by 90
degrees. Unfortunately that breaks the wires to the pickup coil (I
think) since the instructions say that the brush will no longer work
and the battery cannot be replaced.

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail ngpsm4 (at) infohitsystems (dot) ltd (dot) uk
 
Bob Shuman wrote:

I had a similar 5 year old Sonic Care brush that failed. I tried to open
it, but had to resort to cutting open the case with my Dremel tool and
cutting blade. It was not repairable and never intended to be opened back
up after it left the factory. Good luck to you.
Click to expand...
Only after having bought a Sonicare had I access to the manual.
It says that the accumulator is not meant to be replaced and that I
should safely dispose of the device after its lifes end.
No need to mention that I'm foaming with anger and that that is the
last product I will ever have bought from Philips.

Regards,
H.
 
On Fri, 1 Aug 2008 01:13:05 +0100, "Martin Whybrow"
<aholeintheground@ntlworld.com> wrote:


I recently took a similar unit apart, the charger post engages in the base
of the toothbrush and can be used to twist the bottom of the unit off and
the guts then slide out. Mine had an O ring seal so it would, theoretically,
be possible to reassemble it;
Click to expand...
Yes - my wife's OralB toothbrush has stopped working a couple of times and this
is how it opens. The main problem is corrosion. It has suffered a corroded main
pcb track (along the edge of the pcb)to the power FET - replaced with wire link.
Also corroded through charging coil wire at the pcb solder pad. I think the
charging coil wires were short to begin with but I was able to get some extra
length (forget how) so that it now opens without breaking them.
I sprayed the pcb with varnish a couple of years ago but it has recently been
playing up again so will have to dismantle again soon.
Couple of 74 series chips LV00 and LV4060. The timer stopped working so
suspecting leakage/corrosion again.


Geo
 
Heinz Schmitz <HeinzSchmitz@gmx.net> writes:

Bob Shuman wrote:

I had a similar 5 year old Sonic Care brush that failed. I tried to open
it, but had to resort to cutting open the case with my Dremel tool and
cutting blade. It was not repairable and never intended to be opened back
up after it left the factory. Good luck to you.

Only after having bought a Sonicare had I access to the manual.
It says that the accumulator is not meant to be replaced and that I
should safely dispose of the device after its lifes end.
No need to mention that I'm foaming with anger and that that is the
last product I will ever have bought from Philips.
Click to expand...
And you expected them to include a service manual with schematics
and step-by-step repair instructions? Of course these things are
considered disposable. If the mfg. can save 0.01 cent on the
cost, that's significant. It's not like they stuck a couple
Alkalines and said they aren't replaceable. This is a rechargeable
batter which should last a reasonable length of time.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
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Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
 
In message <atcfzvasbuvgflfgrzfygqhx.k4x9px0.pminews@ouse>, Rodney Pont
<aspamscop@infohitsystems.ltd.uk> writes
On Fri, 1 Aug 2008 07:39:03 +0100, N Cook wrote:
Mine came with instructions on how to remove the battery to dispose of
it at the end of it's life and you do indeed twist the slot by 90
degrees. Unfortunately that breaks the wires to the pickup coil (I
think) since the instructions say that the brush will no longer work
and the battery cannot be replaced.

Mine said that too. It didn't. Obviously I can't vouch for yours but if
Click to expand...
it's dead anyway....
--
Clint Sharp
 
On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:27:44 -0400, Nelson wrote
(in article <0001HW.C4B79880000916A9F0182648@free.teranews.com>):

Braun Oral B 3D Pulsating Toothbrush, Model 4729

OK, so I know it would be cheaper to just buy a new one but I like the
challenge... and I just bought a pack of 7 replacement brushes... grrr!
This model charges a rechargeable battery inductively and is sealed up
tighter than a ... (supply your own metaphor).

Anyone know how to disassemble one of these? I'm assuming the battery
has reached the end of it's charging life cycle, but I have to open it
up to find out. And if it has, I'll probably have to jury rig in a
replacement since I can't find anyone selling replacement parts on the
web. My guess is that Braun doesn't make them available.

Google is pretty much worthless on this since it pushes all the
advertising sites to the top.
Click to expand...
Well, as life would have it, after sitting over night (not in the
charger) the thing miraculously came back to life. I let it run to
fully discharge the battery which took about two hours so I know that
the original problem wasn't that the battery was discharged. During
the discharge cycle it spontaneously stopped for about 10-15 seconds
and then restarted two or three times. After it finally stopped for
good, I fully recharged it and it has been working without a hitch for
the last day or so. However, I doubt if I have seen the last of
whatever the problem was.

I also found the manual and, as others have said, it says to break the
case open by twisting on the base to recover the battery for disposal.
This will render the toothbrush permanently inoperative according to
them. It seems to me that you could do this a little less aggressively
and perhaps worry the case apart gently doing less damage.
My current guess is that the problem was/will be caused by some kind of
corrosion or mechanical contact malfunction within the handle, but the
only way to troubleshoot that is to take it apart.

Thanks to all who provided information and suggestions. I have always
found this a friendly and helpful place and a great source of
information and knowledge.

--
Nelson

** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
 
On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:11:03 -0400, me@privacy.net wrote
(in article <v2e494d61fh3f1krpi0u4rcfemi368csq7@4ax.com>):

Nelson <nelson@nowhere.com> wrote:

Braun Oral B 3D Pulsating Toothbrush, Model 4729

I'm curious..... how long did it last before pooping
out?

How old is it?
Click to expand...
I received it as a gift over 5 years ago but have only been using it
regularly for the last two years. I initially thought it would be
about as useful as an electric ass wiper but can really notice the
difference in plaque and tartar buildup since using it. In fact, I
have been able to stop getting regular cleanings at the dentist ("Oh,
your teeth are so clean!"). One of those alone will pay for the
toothbrush. I am now a convert :) I use it in conjunction with a
Water-Pik.

--
Nelson

** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
 
Samuel M. Goldwasser wrote:

And you expected them to include a service manual with schematics
and step-by-step repair instructions? Of course these things are
considered disposable. If the mfg. can save 0.01 cent on the
cost, that's significant. It's not like they stuck a couple
Alkalines and said they aren't replaceable. This is a rechargeable
batter which should last a reasonable length of time.
Click to expand...
Would you please define your phrase 'reasonable' in terms of time.

Why didn't they print onto the box
'Usable during a period of <reasonable> <eg years>' ?

Regards,
H.
 
Michael Kennedy wrote:

In the end everything stops working. Nothing lasts forever.. And to that end
most products don't list their MTBF on the retail package. I understand why
your upset, but we live in a disposable world and thats just the way things
are
being pushed along. Don't tell me that it would have been
Click to expand...
a major task to make the rechargeble replacable.

Physicians make efforts to prolong life, Philipsicians to shorten it.
Finally, we will live eternally, with products dying after purchase

Regards,
H.

PS
To decrease energy wasting we
make tremendous efforts to decrease
the longevity of our products :).
 
In message <v82dnTPCcv7IQwvVnZ2dnUVZ_g6dnZ2d@comcast.com>, William
Sommerwerck <grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> writes
I've never had one fail other than by battery failure.


I know that mine survived the 'disposal' procedure for dead batteries
Click to expand...
because I opened it to see why the motor was whizzing around but the
brush wasn't oscillating. The reason was that the shaft connecting to
brush to the 'gearbox' was broken and rusty. The battery was fine,
indeed, it replaced the failing one in my beard trimmer.
--
Clint Sharp
 
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