Andis Pulse ZR II - Troubleshooting Guide

Are you facing challenges with your Andis Pulse ZR II Clipper? Despite its stellar reputation for being a powerhouse tool in the grooming industry, hiccups can happen. Before you resort to sending your clipper away for repair, take a moment to explore some helpful tips and tricks below that might just save you both time and money.

Clippers not cutting fur 

If your clippers aren't cutting the fur, there are a few things that can cause this. 

1- Dirty/Dry Blade

A blade clogged with fur or lacking lubrication will be unable to properly function. Here's what you can do: Remove the blade from the clippers and brush away any excess fur. Carefully clean between the cutters, ensuring not to push the cutter all the way out. Also, clear any fur buildup on the clipper head before reattaching the blade. Once reattached, apply a few drops of oil to the blade, let the clipper run briefly, and wipe off any excess oil. For more detailed cleaning and oiling instructions, click here.

2- Blunt Blade

If you've been using your blade for some time or have tackled a dirty or matted coat, a dull blade might be the issue. Blades can lose their edge quickly, which is why we always suggest grooming on a freshly cleaned coat. It's also why many groomers charge extra for matted shave downs (as it's tough on the equipment!). Typically, a blunt blade will grab or chew through the coat and may require significant effort to trim. (Note: We advise against forcing a blunt blade to cut, as this could cause discomfort to the dog.) If you've found your blade has dulled, you can have it sharpened here. We offer sharpening services for all full steel dog grooming blades, although we recommend checking the exclusions list in the product description.

3- Worn Blade Drive

If your blade is fresh out of the box or has recently been sharpened, the issue might stem from your blade drive. The blade drive is what turns the circular motion from the motor into a side-to-side motion to move the blade. Due to the nature of this part, it experiences regular wear and tear and often requires replacement. As time goes on, the blade drive naturally wears down, leading to a loosening of the blade's tension. You might notice that older blades with less tension still perform adequately. However, when you introduce a new or recently sharpened blade with standard tension, it may appear dull due to the worn blade drive. If you're uncertain whether your blade drive needs replacing, read our blade drive guide here.

Clippers not charging 

1- Charging Connection Interference

Charging your Andis Pulse ZR II clippers involves placing them on a charging dock, where metal connection points on the clippers meet those on the dock. However, if there's any debris like dust, fur, or dirt present, it can disrupt the connection and prevent the clippers from charging. Typically, if there's interference in the connection, your charging dock will flash red. To resolve this issue, thoroughly clean both your clipper and charging dock around the connections, ensuring the clipper is firmly seated in the charging dock.

2- Faulty Wall Socket

If your clippers aren't charging, the issue might not be with the clipper or charging station but rather the outlet it's plugged into. To confirm if the outlet is the culprit, try plugging in another device that you know works into the same outlet. If the alternative device functions properly, you can rule out the wall socket as the source of the problem.

3- Faulty Dock or Charging Plug

Occasionally, manufacturing faults can occur. If you've tried the above steps without success, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for assistance. It's possible that your charging dock or cable has a defect, and we're here to help diagnose and address any issues you may be experiencing.

Clippers turning off mid groom/flashing

The Andis Pulse ZR II Clippers are equipped with a safety feature that automatically shuts off the clippers if there's excessive friction to safeguard the motor from damage. Typically, this feature activates when there's a buildup of hair around the moving parts of the clipper or insufficient lubrication on the blades. To address or prevent this issue, it's essential to maintain regular cleaning of your clippers and blades. We recommend brushing away any loose hair from the blades and clipper head after each grooming session. Additionally, removing the blade drive cap to clean around the blade drive and foam filter at the end of each day can help prevent hair buildup. If fur accumulates around the clipper head, it may enter the clipper housing, potentially causing damage to the motor and circuit board, and leading to interference issues with the on/off switch. For more detailed care tips for your Andis Pulse ZR II Clippers, you can refer to our Andis Pulse ZR II Care Tips resource.

Here's a great video by Summit Sharpening on YouTube that demonstrates the safety feature on the Andis Pulse clippers, and how to avoid this from becoming an issue: 

Clippers not turning on

The Andis Pulse ZR II clipper features a switch located on the side of the device. This switch is housed in plastic and connects to a switch on the circuit board, responsible for controlling the power. If fur accumulates in the clipper head, it can gradually make its way into the clipper housing. This buildup can lead to various issues, with one common problem being the fur wedging itself between the plastic switch and the circuit board switch. This interference prevents the switch from functioning properly. Continuing to use the clipper with hair buildup on the circuit board poses a safety hazard and may even cause parts of the circuit board to burn out. In such cases, the only solution is to replace the circuit board, which is one of the most costly components of the clipper. Please get in touch if your clipper will not turn on. 

An example of hair build up inside the Andis Pulse ZR Clippers: 

We hope this troubleshooting guide has assisted you in resolving the issue you're facing. However, if you encounter a problem not addressed here or continue to experience difficulties despite following the provided advice, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for assistance. All our electronic products are covered by a 12-month warranty period for all manufacturers defects, and we're committed to ensuring you have a positive experience with our products.