Feeder timer or motor? - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

ken800 · 05-22-2022, 07:25 AM

I have a Judge feeder that is about 6 or 7 years old and recently it has started to "stick" when it is supposed to run. I can go out and press the test button and it does nothing. If I use a stick to manually rotate the feeder plate then run the test again, the spinner plate will throw corn. Once that happens, it seems to spin at the regular speed and throw corn about the same as in the past. The battery shows a full charge but, interestingly, reports 6V even though the battery is 12v as is the motor. It has been this way a very long time. It is a "foreverlast" timer that replaced my second failed "the timer".

Before I shovel out corn and dig in there, what's the most likely culprit in your opinion?

Lynn21 · 05-22-2022, 08:18 AM

Corn husk or string from corn sack might be up in the funnel that u can’t see. When u move the plate around with a stick it might b moving that husk or string around just enough that it unplugs it temporarily. That’s been my experience a couple of times. If that ain’t it, my second guess is that your motor is going out.

Walker · 05-22-2022, 08:22 AM

First try it with a good 12v battery then a little oil on your motor shaft.

ken800 · 05-22-2022, 10:49 AM

Thanks guys. I’ll have to dig out corn first…

DUKFVR · 05-22-2022, 10:57 AM

Check any wiring you can too. I had a new feeder that would spin perfect ,then not spin. i would mess with it & it would work for a bit again.Talked to the manufacturer & he said I will send you a new motor. When I got ready to take it apart I found a spot that the wiring was uninsulated. It would hit the metal side when the feeder would spin next time & then when I messed with it would spin. After a few spins it would vibrate enough to make contact again. I put in new motor & no more issues for 7 years now.

twosixteens · 05-22-2022, 10:58 AM

If I was going to empty a Judge feeder again I would take the bottom plate off park a wheel barrow under it or other large wheeled container and then remove the spinner plate.

Walker · 05-22-2022, 11:10 AM

Put a volt meter on the motot circuit and try it and see if its getting current at startup on test. And true 12 volt and a little squirt of oil is too easy.

RMW · 05-22-2022, 12:03 PM

90% time it’s the battery, volt meter on battery is where I would start

05-22-2022, 07:25 AM	#1
ken800 Eight Point Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Liberty Hill Hunt In: Lampasas	Feeder timer or motor? I have a Judge feeder that is about 6 or 7 years old and recently it has started to "stick" when it is supposed to run. I can go out and press the test button and it does nothing. If I use a stick to manually rotate the feeder plate then run the test again, the spinner plate will throw corn. Once that happens, it seems to spin at the regular speed and throw corn about the same as in the past. The battery shows a full charge but, interestingly, reports 6V even though the battery is 12v as is the motor. It has been this way a very long time. It is a "foreverlast" timer that replaced my second failed "the timer". Before I shovel out corn and dig in there, what's the most likely culprit in your opinion?

05-22-2022, 11:10 AM	#7
Walker Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Antonio	Put a volt meter on the motot circuit and try it and see if its getting current at startup on test. And true 12 volt and a little squirt of oil is too easy. Last edited by Walker; 05-22-2022 at 11:13 AM.

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05-22-2022, 08:18 AM	#2
Lynn21 Pope & Young Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Mesquite,texas Hunt In: Childress, Tx	Corn husk or string from corn sack might be up in the funnel that u can’t see. When u move the plate around with a stick it might b moving that husk or string around just enough that it unplugs it temporarily. That’s been my experience a couple of times. If that ain’t it, my second guess is that your motor is going out.

05-22-2022, 08:22 AM	#3
Walker Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Antonio	First try it with a good 12v battery then a little oil on your motor shaft.

05-22-2022, 10:49 AM	#4
ken800 Eight Point Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Liberty Hill Hunt In: Lampasas	Thanks guys. I’ll have to dig out corn first…

05-22-2022, 10:57 AM	#5
DUKFVR Pope & Young Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sorry Azz Houston & Young County Hunt In: Young County & Anywhere A Duck Flies!	Check any wiring you can too. I had a new feeder that would spin perfect ,then not spin. i would mess with it & it would work for a bit again.Talked to the manufacturer & he said I will send you a new motor. When I got ready to take it apart I found a spot that the wiring was uninsulated. It would hit the metal side when the feeder would spin next time & then when I messed with it would spin. After a few spins it would vibrate enough to make contact again. I put in new motor & no more issues for 7 years now.

05-22-2022, 10:58 AM	#6
twosixteens Pope & Young Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: North Texas Hunt In: Young County Mostly Mack’s Creek Missouri on occasion	If I was going to empty a Judge feeder again I would take the bottom plate off park a wheel barrow under it or other large wheeled container and then remove the spinner plate.

05-22-2022, 12:03 PM	#8
RMW Pope & Young Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Burr Hunt In: Down South	90% time it’s the battery, volt meter on battery is where I would start