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Drinkwell Help! Motor Issue & Rescue Remedy?

post #1 of 13
12/31/09 at 12:33pm
Thread Starter 
We got a Drinkwell for Christmas and I'm trying to set it up. I'm playing around with it before I fill it up with water to see where all the parts are and stuff and I, nor my fiance, can get the motor out, as you're supposed to be able to do to clean it. We stick out finger in the indentation and pull up, but it's not budging! Is this normal for a brand new one? Any suggestions?

Also, has anyone tried using their Drinkwell with any sort of water additives, specifically Bach's Rescue Remedy? I'd like to start adding it to the water to make Luna a little less skittish, but I don't want to gum up the works in there.
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post #2 of 13
12/31/09 at 12:45pm
Do you mean the little rubber cups are sticking really well to the surface? I get a nail underneath one edge, and pull it up that way - it seems to get a bit easier after you've cleaned a few times, but that little motor does hang in there tightly. I didn't want to put anything other than a finger nail to lift it up, because I didn't want to break or scratch the plastic flooring.

I found it really easy to take the motor apart - just make sure you're doing it over a towel or something, so nothing goes down the kitchen drain. There aren't that many parts, but they're small.

I'm not sure if an additive will work if you're using the filter - but, I've called the Drinkwell customer service line twice, and both times they were very helpful (I dropped the Platinum's reservoir and broke it - they were great about sending me another one quickly). I've got the 360 now, and we all love it at home.
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post #3 of 13
12/31/09 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
Little rubber cups? Maybe that's something on a nicer model- I just have the regular, original Drinkwell. Here's what the manual says:



It suggests that once you have it turned, if you still have difficulty pulling it out, to oush it from the bowl side, but we can't even get it to turn.
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post #4 of 13
12/31/09 at 2:10pm
We have several different fountains, all motors are held in with suction cups. Our Drinkwell is a platinum and looks different to your pics.

I've read that RR shouldn't be used in moving water, better to give directly to cat or from a bowl. You could certainly try it though.
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post #5 of 13
12/31/09 at 4:33pm
OK, sorry - yours looks pretty different from the Platinum or the 360. Someone here must have the original version!
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post #6 of 13
12/31/09 at 5:03pm
I have the original model. You have to stick fingers down beside the motor (thumb on one side, pointer on the other) then you have to twist it like you're unscrewing a lid to unlock it. Then you pull it out of the little opening to remove it.

Does that help?
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post #7 of 13
12/31/09 at 8:13pm
Thread Starter 
Yep! My mom was able to get it off! I don't know why neither of us could, but I'm going to put a little Vaseline on there so I don't have so much trouble next time!

Thanks!
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post #8 of 13
1/1/10 at 7:32am
That's what we ended up doing because only the DH could get the thing out and he wasn't always around when I needed to clean it.
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post #9 of 13
1/1/10 at 4:14pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I'm happy to report that Albus loves it and was drinking out of it within minutes. Luna is as elusive as usual, so I don't know if she's discovered it yet. I have the other bowl down still just in case, at least until I know she's drinking from the fountain.
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post #10 of 13
1/2/10 at 10:01am
Just be careful when twisting the motor in and out. I think I cracked the casing of the original drinkwell we had somehow by twisting too hard. It caused the fountain to leak all over the place and I had to get a new one.
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post #11 of 13
1/2/10 at 2:18pm
I found that the motor assembly was very challenging only the first time that I cleaned it. Afterwards, I've had no problems. I don't think I'd put Vaseline on any parts because it does come in contact with the water.

I've used Rescue Remedy with my boy for traveling, and he eats his food when I've added it, and I've also dropped it onto treats, and he eats them. He's a fairly fussy eater, so I suspect that the RR tastes OK to them (I haven't tried it
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post #12 of 13
1/2/10 at 11:09pm
Thread Starter 
Drinkwell actually recommends putting Vaseline on the o-ring on the motor if you're having trouble getting it off.

I've put Rescue Remedy into their regular bowl of water and they won't drink it- must give it a taste. I was hoping that the fountain is so irresistable to them that they'll drink it even with a little taste. I'll call Drinkwell first, though.
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post #13 of 13
1/3/10 at 2:30pm
I know that Rescue Remedy suggests putting it in the pet's water, but I think they're thinking of dogs. My boy prefers wet food, so he doesn't drink enough water for me to get it into him that way.

Of course, I use it only for 'stressful events,' so I don't have it available on a regular basis. And when I give it to him, I want him to get the dose right away.
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