Is your SNOO making grinding noise? So, don’t worry, and stay with us throughout the guide!
The unusual noise from your SNOO can be produced by faulty or improper components within the internal installation of the bassinet.
This article will help you learn about each component’s purpose and provide easy guidelines for repairing the SNOO baby bassinet by yourself at home.
Whenever SNOO makes a grinding noise, verify that each bearing underneath the middle layer is in proper condition and check the rotary brackets. If the issue persists, replace the O-rings of the motor.
So, let’s dive deeper!
Why is SNOO Making Squeaking Noise?
Here’s what could cause the SNOO to produce unusual grinding noises:
To learn more about SNOO’s motor and the function of each component, keep reading!
How to Identify SNOO’s Components?
Disassembling the baby bassinet will be much easier and more accessible if you’re informed of each component within the mechanism and how it works.
Since taking the bassinet apart will be necessary throughout this guide, knowing what each component does is boldly recommended.
| Guide to SNOO Bassinet’s Components | ||
| Outer Installation | Internal Layer | Motor Components |
| Sleeping sack and frame(stabilizing SNOO) | Top soft layer(baby’s sleeping place) | Rotary bearings(left to proper movement) |
| In-built speakers(producing white noises) | Middle metal panel(electrical wiring) | Motor bearings(motor rotary component) |
| Buttons panel(mode adjustments) | Bottom metal panel(motor housing) | O-rings(preventing friction) |
| Sound sensors(detecting sound strength) | Motor housing panel(motor installation) | Rotary brackets(side-to-side movement) |
Outer Installation
The outer installation of the bassinet combines the frame, the sleeping sack, and all components accessible by the user from the outside without disassembling SNOO.
Internal Layer
The internal layer of the SNOO is the metal panels that contain the mechanism and hold the motor in place, allowing for the movement of the sleeping sack horizontally.
The internal layer consists of:
- A Top metal panel where the baby sleeps.
- A middle metal panel housing all wires.
- A motor housing where the motor is installed.
The internal layer is one of the prime suspects when it comes to grinding noise produced from the SNOO due to all the moving parts and bearings the layer has.
Motor Components
The components of the SNOO motor allow for smooth and measured movement of the sleeping sack from end to end.
The unit’s motor mechanism includes the O-rings, the rotary brackets, the motor springs, and the PCB allocated for accepting movement mode requests from the buttons.
So, now that you know everything involved, let’s get started!
SNOO Making Grinding Noise – Proven Solutions!
Tip: Keep all screws removed from SNOO’s components separately since most of the screws are different in size and have their allocated carving.
1. Tighten SNOO’s Middle Layer
The middle layer holds SNOO’s motor housing and top cover intact, allowing proper movement on the horizontal ends of the bassinet.
If the middle layer is loose or one or more of the screws are missing, this could result in an uncanny noise from grinding parts.
Here’s how to tighten the middle layer of the SNOO bassinet:
- Remove the softcover from the top SNOO panel.
- Locate the 3 screws on each end, thus, 6 in total.
- Use a compatible screwdriver to undo the screws.
- Carefully take off the top layer from the brackets.
- Once exposed, check if the middle layer is loose.
- Tighten the screws on the outer sides of the panel.
- Then, install the top panel and tighten the screws.
There shouldn’t be any loose movement of the middle layer unless the base bearings are defective.
Keep reading if you’re sensing unusual movement of the middle layer’s bearings!
2. Inspect the SNOO Base Bearings
There are two types of bearings that can be found in the mechanism of the SNOO bassinet.
After removing the middle metal panel, you should see one large bearing in the middle that allows your SNOO bassinet to move horizontally and a small vertical bearing on each end.
How to Access the SNOO Rotary Bearings?
The rotary bearings can be accessed by uninstalling the middle layer of the bassinet.
You must locate 6 bearings in total that allow the middle layer to perform side-to-side movement.
Note: The squeaking noise is primarily produced by defective bearings!
How to Correct Base Bearings Movement?
If the bearing isn’t defective, you can correct the movement and eliminate the excess noise by applying WD-40 in the mechanism.
The anti-corrosion mixture will improve the movement of the bearing as long as the liquid is applied within the openings of the bearing.
If the bearings are faulty or no longer fit the assigned compartment, explore replacement possibilities by bringing the bearing to a tech store or ordering a new one online!
Alert: One or more defective bearings can significantly reduce the motion of your SNOO!
3. Reinstall the Brown Metal Brackets
SNOO motor’s housing panel contains two metal brackets that attach to the middle layer and allow for full rotation from left to right.
If the brackets are misaligned or don’t attach properly to the middle layer, the SNOO might constantly produce grinding noise when rotating right and left.
Hence, position both metal brackets on the motor housing and carefully place the middle layer on top so the brackets’ attachment poles come through the holes.
This is a tricky installation to fulfill, but the brackets will not move properly unless connected securely.
How to Attach Brackets to Middle Layer (Workaround)
Since fitting the brown brackets within the openings on the layer can be a challenging task, you can sew the bracket to the installation spot on the layer.
This will not require the bracket to fit within the tiny holes on the middle layer and will still allow for proper side-to-side motion.
Alert: The brown bracket is a moving part, so it mustn’t be taped or glued to the middle layer!
4. Install New SNOO O-rings
The Improper movement of the SNOO bassinet might have caused the installed O-rings to wear out exponentially and produce a grinding noise.
The O-rings are plastic covers that wrap around the motor’s bracket, preventing friction caused by the rotary brackets of the motor.
First, identify the O-rings on the bracket of the motor and find compatible O-rings that match the size and can pile up to cover the entire bracket.
How to Identify Damaged SNOO O-rings?
If you’re unsure whether the current O-rings of the motor are in proper condition, push the O-rings off the plate and check if the plastic is damaged.
Most O-rings get defective whenever the motor’s friction causes them to bend or pushes them out from the motor’s faceplate.
5. Correct SNOO’s Electrical Installation
Another example of SNOO making clicking noise is the bad electrical installation of the baby bassinet.
So, the next step is to expose all wires above the middle SNOO layer and verify each connector is installed and seated correctly.
How to Inspect SNOO Motion Wires?
The SNOO motion wires come out from the bottom of the middle layer and hook up with the external power and button connectors.
There are a total of two connectors, one for the button plate and one for the power adapter, coming out from the openings on the middle layer.
How to Inspect SNOO’s PCB?
The SNOO PCB is allocated on the right part of the middle layer and secured onto a dark metal plate.
To verify that the condition of the PCB is proper, secure the PCB with the metal block and check if there are excessive movements of the plate by pushing it left or right.
Alert: A defective PCB will send your SNOO for service repairs!
6. Replace the SNOO Motor Bearing
To inspect the motor bearing of the SNOO, you must detach the motor housing layer that covers most of the motor’s mechanism.
Thus, removing the housing is required to access all mechanism components and determine whether the bearing produces unusual noises.
Alert: Servicing or replacing the SNOO motor bearing requires uninstalling the robotic motor!
Here’s how to inspect and replace SNOO’s motor bearing:
- Uninstall SNOO’s internal layers and wiring.
- Remove the screws of the motor housing.
- Expose the robotic motor on the front end.
- Undo the screws holding the motor secured.
- Remove the power adapter and motion wires.
- Next, gently pull the motor out from the socket.
- Remove the faceplate and expose the bearing.
- Push the bearing out from the copper socket.
- Test whether the bearing’s movement is proper.
- Install a new bearing matching the same size.
Tip: You can identify the bearing size by the imprinted writings on the rotary part!
Quick Recap:
Whenever SNOO makes a grinding noise, first disassemble the bassinet and inspect the functionality of all moving parts.
In addition, replace the O-rings of the motor, test if the motor bearing’s movement is proper, and correct the SNOO’s electrical installation.
Follow us for more SNOO troubleshooting!
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.