What's the matter with my La Cafetiere manual grinder?

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What's the matter with my La Cafetiere manual grinder?

Postby jon » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:57 pm

My La Cafetiere manual grinder has started grinding v v slowly - just under 5mins for 17g of beans, fairly course for French Press. It feels like the burrs aren't biting/cutting into the beans nearly as quick as they should be.

Could the burrs be blunt already? Under 6 months of use... Or anything else I should consider? (I've tried more than one lot of beans - so I don't think this is just awkward beans)
jon
 
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RE: What

Postby triptogenetica » Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:33 pm

Could the burrs be blunt already?

Did the problem come on gradually? Or was it sudden? If the latter, i doubt it's a blunt thing. Maybe new play in the assembly?
Bezzera BZ35 (ex Gaggia Carezza)
Grinders - Iberital MC2, Bezzera BB105, Hario Skerton
Aeropress, Cona C, Hario MCA-5 and TCA-5 vacpots
Beans - Behmor homeroast
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RE: What

Postby jon » Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:05 pm

Thanks - it's looking like a screw worked loose, and the grind setting swung round to way too fine.

Will have a play again this afternoon (don't like to waste beans by grinding what I'm not drinking ;) ) but hopefully having loosened the grind will help matters.
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RE: What

Postby triptogenetica » Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:14 pm

good luck!

AFAIK, grinders are all slower when grinding finer - it's just far more noticable when they're manually powered :)
Bezzera BZ35 (ex Gaggia Carezza)
Grinders - Iberital MC2, Bezzera BB105, Hario Skerton
Aeropress, Cona C, Hario MCA-5 and TCA-5 vacpots
Beans - Behmor homeroast
triptogenetica
 
Posts: 395
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:14 pm
Location: Oxford, UK

RE: What

Postby jon » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:38 pm

Hm, a screw keeps coming loose... Maybe this is a metaphor.

Anyway, will have more of a play tomorrow.
jon
 
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RE: What

Postby Skippy » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:28 pm

could you wrap some plumbers ptfe tape round the screw threads to tighten it up?
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Postby jon » Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:22 am

Ah - hadn't heard of that tape. Might give it a try, though seems to be working OK now...
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Postby jon » Fri May 01, 2009 11:41 pm

OK, now I think it's buggered :( I found a nut (the metal variety) had fallen off from somewhere on it, not sure where, and got into the tray the grinds go into. The mechanism now has way too much give when I turn the handle.

About 6 months old - think I'll just return it. Probably repairable, but not impressed that it breaks so quick :(
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