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Post by reelchemist on Jul 12, 2008 5:46:24 GMT -5
Just had an issue with my Spectra 10, it was making a funny noise so I stopped it and took it appart to have a look. Tracked down the noise to the motor which when I turn the belt the motor sticks at a certain point in the rotation with a metal on metal grinding sound. So suspect inner part of the motor is sticking / grinding on the cylinder that it is in. I have ruled out a piece of crud in there as the motor sticks in the same spot each rotation so I would assume that some sort of particle would move around.
Anyway just thought I'd throw it out there if anyone has had the problem before and knows how to fix it. I have not finished my investigations I will be taking appart the actual motor in a moment. One other thought is that it may just need some oil. Anyway I shall see shortly.....I hope it is an easy fix as I am midway through a big batch of Dominican and am all out of chocolate so if it is broken I don't have anything to console myself with.
Cheers for any advice.
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Post by reelchemist on Jul 12, 2008 18:01:15 GMT -5
Once again a self answer.
After having a google conclusion is that the sleeve bearings need oiling and as a matter of maintenance I should vacuume the crud and dust out of the housing on a regular basis - quite a lot accumulates in my Spectra from gradual breakdown of the belt. Here is the advice from a website called Maintenance World.
Oiling Sleeve Bearings:
As a general rule, fractional horsepower motors with a wick lubrication system should be oiled every 2000 hours of operation or at least annually. Dirty, wet or corrosive locations or heavy loading may require oiling at three-month intervals or more often. Roughly 30 drops of oil for a 3-inch diameter frame to 100 drops for a 9-inch diameter frame is sufficient. Use a 150 SUS viscosity turbine oil or SAE 10 automotive oil.
Dirt and Corrosion:
Wipe, brush, vacuum or blow accumulated dirt from the frame and air passages of the motor. Dirty motors run hot when thick dirt insulates the frame and clogged passages reduce cooling air flow. Heat reduces insulation life and eventually causes motor failure.
Feel for air being discharged from the cooling air ports. If the flow is weak or unsteady, internal air passages are probably clogged. Remove the motor from service and clean.
Check for signs of corrosion. Serious corrosion may indicate internal deterioration and/or a need for external repainting. Schedule the removal of the motor from service for complete inspection and possible rebuilding.
In wet or corrosive environments, open the conduit box and check for deteriorating insulation or corroded terminals. Repair as needed.
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Post by Brad on Jul 13, 2008 0:14:54 GMT -5
Wow. That sounds like a lot of work.
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Post by reelchemist on Jul 15, 2008 21:34:29 GMT -5
Further update on the motor, I ended up taking it to an electric motor specialist. The bearings were shot and it has cost me a pretty penny (242 of them - substituting pretty pennies for dollars that is) to have the bugger fixed.
I don't know if I was just unlucky with the motor as I don't use it that often or for overly large a batches (typical usage would be about 12-24 hr per week with 1 kg batches for 9 months).
Though my learning maybe took its toll on the machine, I didn't realise the belt needed replacing at one stage until it stopped working so that may have contributed. Also I start with partially blended nibs so that may cause extra strain, I don't use lecithin so that may also contribute to extra strain on the motor. I also use powdered sugar to cut grind times as it is very cheap in Australia. When powdered sugar is added and you arn't using lecithin the chocolate gets super thick for a few hours and appears to be a sheer thickening liquid which wouldn't help strain on the motor. Lecithin solves this problem.
So recommendations from my learning experience here is to:
1. Use lecithin or add solid ingredients in portions over time so as to ease strain on the motor. Generally don't overload the machine.
2. Check the machine regularly, clean out dust, check belt for wear, bolts on the frame for tightness (the motor can slip forward overtime with the belt tension as the motor mount has eyelets for adjusting motor position.
The Spectra 10 really is simple to take appart and maintain properly, you just have to do it and know what your inaction can cost you. The guy assures me that the replaced bearings should be good for a long time - and being mindfull of potential contributors to motor wear all should be good for a long time.
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Post by Brad on Jul 18, 2008 0:36:16 GMT -5
IMPORTANT OBSERVATION:
You mentioned powdered sugar...
It contains cornstarch, and will cause your chocolate to thicken BIG TIME.
You're better off using regular sugar.
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Post by reelchemist on Jul 18, 2008 1:30:29 GMT -5
Hey Brad, one of tne of the luxuries of living in a country that produces massive amounts of sugar is that pure (with no cornflour) powdered icing sugar is only slightly more expensive than normal sugar, so no cornflour issues here. Still the powder grain size is just the right size to initially create a sheer thickening liquid, once it grinds down for a little while it thins out again. I wonder if it is the grain size that is the problem and not the cornflour in situations where the icing sugar is cut with cornflour. I wonder if anyone has done the experiment of adding just cornflour to their chocolate to see if it causes thickening??
Just musing really I have no intention of doing that experiment for fear of destroying precious chocolate.
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Post by reelchemist on Jul 18, 2008 1:34:33 GMT -5
Further update on the fixed grinder, plugged it in an ran it, wow it is better than new. Originally the motor made quite a racket, then after 8 months the sound got uglier and caused me the concern that led to the repairs. But now the motor runs almost silently!!!!! This will improve my wifes relationship with the grinder as we live in quite a small house and the noise can get on your nerves a bit. All for a good cause of course. Perhaps it was a bum motor - can't be lucky all the time - I will still keep with my above suggestions just in case.
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Post by Brad on Jul 18, 2008 15:06:00 GMT -5
Actually here in Alberta, we have one of the largest sugar factories in North America, and one of the main agricultural staples in Southern Alberta is sugar beets. In spite of that, I'm not offered the luxury of non-cornstarch-added powdered sugar.
Understand completely about the grinding, grinding on the nerves (pun intended here!). I've been running my "FrankenSantha" 24 hours per day for the past 2 months, testing various recipes in preparation for going into production for my store's opening.
I'm however lucky to have the luxury of running the machine in my garage. (Girlfriend insists on it.) That's ok though. My garage is clean like an operating room.
Happy chocolate making!
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Post by Brad on Jul 18, 2008 15:08:59 GMT -5
Further to your observation of it thickening at first.... This happens (at least in my case) because the sugar lowers the temperature of the overall mixture to cause it to thicken.
I now heat my sugar with the cocoa butter, and then add in the nibs to heat them before dumping the whole shooting match into the grinder. This process, along with heating the bin and granite wheels makes a VERY BIG difference.
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Post by reelchemist on Jul 19, 2008 5:53:24 GMT -5
The is unfortunate about the sugar, strange, orignially I just assumed everyone had that sort of product until I read on the forum.
Oh and put a batch on now, my new motor is almost silent amazing!!
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Post by kellymon on Aug 22, 2008 14:46:17 GMT -5
Hi, Glad to hear that your problem seems to have been resolved. I'm somewhat new to chocolate making, (been grinding by hand) just ordered a melanger from John.... but motors I am more familiar with. I expect you had a bad one to start with, your new/rebuild should be much better:) robert
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