Troubleshooting the Creatime Pyramid Gong Meditation, Reiki, Mindfulness, and Combi Timer

This article is for troubleshooting and repair of the Pyramid Gong Timer models with the mechanical setting dial made by Creatime in France prior to 2017. These models are no longer in production, having been replaced by the newer models with digital controls.

These older models of the Creatime Pyramid Gong Timer (Meditation, Reiki, and Combi Timer) are the original models and are generally quite reliable. However, they can malfunction, and this article offers some troubleshooting steps for getting them back into operation.

First, please see the image of the base of the timer to ensure that these troubleshooting steps apply to the model you have. Your model may be slightly different:

• The label may say Meditation Timer, Reiki Timer, or Combi Timer.
• The battery cover may have two screws or may be the newer slide cover.
• There may be a Reiki, Mindfulness, or other symbol burned into the wooden pyramid.

The controls are similar with these differences:

• The Meditation Timer has numeric controls reading from 5 to 60 minutes and rings at the beginning and end of each time period.
• The Reiki Timer has numeric controls reading from 2 to 60 minutes and rings a single gong repeatedly at the set interval.
• The Combi Timer has two sets of numbers around the time setting dial and can be set to a duration of time with single-gong interval chimes.

With the Meditation and Reiki Timers, simply turn the dial to the desired time and press the ON button. The Combi Timer is set differently.

Basic Instructions for Setting the Combi Timer

• Ensure the timer is off with no light on.
• Set the interval (repeating chime) — the circle of numbers beginning with “0” means no repeating chime.
• Press the ON button and the LED will light GREEN.
• Set the duration of the session — the circle of numbers beginning with “20.”
• Press the ON button and the LED will light RED.
• The beginning gongs will ring after 10 seconds.
• For more in-depth instructions, please download the Combi Timer Instruction Manual.

Troubleshooting and Repair

Batteries

Aside from the setting dial, power button, and volume slide switch, there are no mechanical parts inside the timer. Internally, the timer has a circuit board visible through the grid on the bottom. It is completely electronic with no motors, gears, or switches inside.

Batteries are the most critical part of the timer’s operation. The timer requires a lot of energy to produce the gong sounds. If the timer is shutting off during the gongs or mid-session, one or more batteries is likely dead or weak. Use 4 brand-new, brand-name AA batteries. Off-brand batteries and rechargeable batteries (which are only 1.2V each, for a total of 4.8V instead of 6V) may work briefly but often fail prematurely. Even if you’ve recently installed new batteries, it’s worth trying another fresh set.

If the ON button seems “flakey” — the LED lights briefly when pressed but turns off immediately — try resetting the timer. If this persists, it indicates a failed circuit board. No replacements are available, but someone skilled in electronic circuit repair may be able to help.

Resetting the Timer

• Open the battery cover and remove the 4 batteries.
• Leave the batteries out for at least one minute.
• When reinserting, ensure the negative (flat) terminal faces the springs.
• Do not let the batteries pop out during installation — this can cause a surge that confuses the electronics.
• If the batteries do pop out, leave them out for at least one minute before reinserting. Hold them down in the middle while refitting the cover.
• The timer is now reset.

Timing Is Off

If the timer ends too early or too late, the pointer on the dial is likely misaligned. Test this by turning the dial counterclockwise until it stops — do not force the dial, as this can break the internal mechanism.

If the dial never stops and feels very loose, the internal mechanism may already be broken. This can happen if the dial is forced too far or struck. Repairing it requires replacing the variable resistor on the circuit board.

If the dial stops but the pointer is off the scale, it needs realignment. The most common cause is a cracked knob that is no longer gripping the shaft of the variable resistor. Look closely at the image above — you can see the knob has split to the right of the pointer.

Re-aligning the Timer Knob

Place a small flat-blade screwdriver or table knife under the knob and gently pry it off the shaft. Once removed, you will see the shaft — the base will have what appears to be a “+” sign. Gently turn the shaft counterclockwise with your fingers until it stops. If it turns all the way around, the variable resistor mechanism is broken and will need to be replaced.

Once the shaft is at its stop, place the knob over the shaft so the pointer points to the lowest number (or lowest set of numbers on the Combi Timer). Gently press the knob onto the shaft. If the knob has a split, the gap will reopen slightly — you may want to apply a single drop of super glue to the end of the shaft before replacing the knob for a more secure fit.

Test the dial by turning it to the highest setting to confirm the pointer points relatively close to the highest number. Note that the label is somewhat approximate — the timer cannot be set to a precise number of minutes between increments (e.g., between 30 and 40 minutes). It will run for whichever increment the pointer is closest to.

Volume Setting

There have been no known issues with the volume slide switch. The smaller musical symbol is the lower volume; the larger is the louder setting. If you need more volume, try setting the timer on its side so the bottom faces outward — the sound will be noticeably brighter and louder, as the lower tones tend to resonate more when the base faces downward.

If the sound is distorted or crackling, this is typically a sign of weakening batteries. Replacing them should resolve the issue. Note that the timer uses a low-bit sound chip for the gong recording, so it is not hi-fidelity to begin with — the pyramid shape and downward-facing speaker generally produce a pleasant, quality sound under normal conditions.

I hope this troubleshooting guide has been helpful. If you have specific questions about your Creatime timer or our newer digital Pyramid Gong Timers, please reach out through our Contact Us page.