Anyone here own an On-Time feeder?

[Joshua Flournoy]

I'm having a problem with my "Lifetime" On-Time feeder and I can't get it figured out, not even with the "help" of their customer service people.

Here's the problem: Of the last 5 times I've hunted my ground blind near my feeder, the feeder only went off 2 of the 5 times I was there. When I left in the dark, though, I pulled the unit out and manually cycled the clock (this is not a digital one) around until the clips "triggered" the feeder to spin, and it worked just fine! Batteries strong, it spun good, for both the morning clip and the evening clip. Clock is working fine, too. Yet, it won't do it on it's own. The only thing that has changed this week is that we're having a heck of a cold snap. It hasn't been above 35 degrees all week, and it's been down close to 15 a few nights. Does it make any sense that the cold would be causing this issue? Any other ideas? On-Time's customer service advised me to pull the clips "up" a little, away from the clock face, to make sure that they were fully depressing the "trigger". Well, I tried that, and all it did was "hung" up the clock in that position. It wouldn't trigger, it got stuck with the clips further "up".

Any ideas or help?

Thanks.

Joshua

[tank]

Try a little grease, the only problem i had with mine was the batteries going out . New batteries off the shelf can be bad sometimes. Mines manual and theres not much that can go wrong unless the motors not getting the signal which would mean the little relay is out.

[Joshua Flournoy]

Since it works when I manually cycle the clock, I think that would mean that the motor is getting the signal, right? Where would you put the grease?

[jaspermac]

the only problem i had with mine was the batteries going out

I have had this problem- the batteries are stong enough to trip the feeder, but not strong enough to spin it.

[RobinHood]

That's the reason why I only use digital units. Had this happen to me with several brands- not just one in particular. I don't trust them and want something that I can depend on. Been burned too many times.

[glen]

they are a good company to deal with as have several of these units. I have the solar elite lifetime units. I had a problem with one of their lower end units and asked if I could upgrade to a solar elite an they did it. Ive been running them for 4 years without a single problem.

[TX_Hoghunter]

I have used them for the last 15 years or soand have never seen the problem. I would make sure all of the wire connections are good and change batteries. If it still happens send it back in. Also if the corn gets syopped up the motor can spin and you probably will not hear it from the stand so make sure your gap is set correctly.

-john

[JTS]

That's the reason why I only use digital units. Had this happen to me with several brands- not just one in particular. I don't trust them and want something that I can depend on. Been burned too many times.

interesting.. the new technology to me sometimes has more problems than the coolness of it is worth when out in the field... being all manual on the On-Time there is no room for error due to weather, moisture and such IMO... except in this guys case obviously.. LOL

anyways, I have had several of the on-time lifetime and never experienced this but I also didn't feed 5 times a day... *****, you must have a corn field. If the time is right when you look at it, and know it has rotated around and tripped the spinner.. then I have no idea why some work and some don't. I'd get off the phone and just send it to them and let them check it out or replace it for the shipping cost, it is lifetime. They are good at servicing and helping the customer.

[Devin]

I've had a few as well and the only time I've had this happen, I couldn't figure it out either. I sent it back to them and they replaced the innards.

I've never done more than 2 feedings either. Are you sure the clips are placed far enough apart to allow the trigger to fully depress?

[dbaio1]

We use a coule of the solar elites and have had only a few problems over several years. Just send it back and they will send you a re-built one all tested out. They have even warrantied our batteries and have covered us when hogs tore down the feeders and ripped them up. I have been to their location several times in Ruston, La and see where they are not equiped to service over the phone. They are more the type if it is broke send it to us, our warranty is our word and we'll send you one that works.

Good luck

[ultrastealth]

Just send it in, and they will send you a rebuilt unit. They are a great company to work with.

[canny]

I had a problem with a On Time Lifetime unit, that was atleast 9 years old, it was not keeping time. I called On Time and with just the cost of shipping they sent me a new clock, and dial.

[JTS]

how many of you old on-time owners had the metal feeder spinner throw blades off making it flat? I had that happen to a few and never figured out how it happened.. I guess coons working on them?

[Joshua Flournoy]

I'm only doing 2 feedings, not 5. I specifically checked to see if the gap was clogged up with moist/wet corn, as we had some rain a few days ago. It was not clogged, and the spinner could spin freely, as evidenced by it going off when I manually advanced the clock so the clip would trip the "trigger".

The electronics had a problem several months ago and they sent me a new electronics board and I changed it out myself, no problem and it's been working fine - until the cold weather this week. That is the only thing that has "changed", so far as I can tell. Still doesn't explain, in my mind, why the spinner would work fine when I advance the clock manually, but it's not spinning when it advances on it's own, and it is advancing on it's own, because every time I check it the clock is on correct time.

Guess I may end up sending it back, just not a great time to be doing that as it's right in the middle of hunting season here and I really want to keep deer coming to my place, especially since gun season opens Monday after Thanksgiving. I don't gun hunt my place, but my neighbors are gun hunting yahoos and wouldn't think twice about blasting the young bucks I've been passing on all season long.

[Mike Murphey]

New batteries....Batteries can show good but when they are under a load, i.e. motor spinning they will show weak...replace the batteries and see if it works then......