Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 1:44pm Subject: Help! Am I Killing My Rocky?
I have a brand new Rancilio Rocky SD (doserless), which arrived just one week ago. I took the chute off today to install the thumb-nut chute modification and found brass filings in the chute! Yikes.
Since I was away last weekend, I have only ground 4 shots worth of actual coffee. Here's what I have done so far: To start using it, before I put coffee in it, I turned the adjustment toward zero till I felt the burrs touch and backed off one click. I ran the grinder briefly and heard slight metal on metal sound, so backed it off one more click till I heard spinning burrs. Then I put some coffee in and ran a few grams through--VERY powdery, almost dust. I discarded it along with any residual coffee that might have been in the chute from factory testing.
I then filled it with beans and gradually adjusted the dial upward to a position that produced fine coffee of what appeared to be the right consistency. On my grinder that is at #15. Moderately tamped this gives me a 25 second double shot that tastes good and looks good. I have not noticed any brass in the portafilter, but then again I have not looked for it!
Is there something wrong? Is this normal from the brief time the burrs touched during testing? Does anyone else see brass filings in their chute when cleaning?
Here is a photo of the grinder with the rectangular rubber chute gasket removed showing one of the tiny brass hairs and a spec of brass dust. I uploaded a couple more, of the rectangular rubber chute gasket removed here showing it from behind, and here showing the chute rubber gasket from the front (outside) side.
Obviously it's still under warranty. Advice, expertise and calming words appreciated. I'm not going to grind any more till I hear from some Rocky owners. Thanks.
Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 4:42pm Subject: Re: Help! Am I Killing My Rocky?
Hi Steve,
I'm guessing that the brass filings are either debris left from machining the burr carrier or the sweeper vanes hitting the side of the grind chamber.
I would suggest removing the hopper and upper burr carrier and looking inside for evidence of parts hitting each other.
In either case I think it is poor quality control but if there is no evidence of parts hitting each other I would just clean it up and use it. If the vanes are hitting the side I would demand a new machine.
samgiles Senior Member Joined: 1 Oct 2007 Posts: 44 Location: New Zealand Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola Grinder: Rocky DL / Zassenhaus 238...
Posted Tue Oct 14, 2008, 12:33am Subject: Re: Help! Am I Killing My Rocky?
Blimey. I don't like the look of that. I agree with Phil. I doubt you'd be voiding the warranty taking the hopper and upper burr carrier out to see what's going on. Please remember to unplug the machine before doing so ;)
AustinBaze Said:
Is this normal from the brief time the burrs touched during testing?
No. There is no brass on the burrs themselves so that can't be the source.
The burr carriers are brass and so are the sweeper vanes as Phil suggests. When you remove the upper burr carrier, check what sort of condition the threads are in. sg
Posted Tue Oct 14, 2008, 7:24am Subject: Re: Help! Am I Killing My Rocky?
Thank you kind members.
I think it was some sort of "manufacturing residue." I did a thorough cleaning, including removing the finger guard, hopper and upper burr while I was installing the new studs and thumb nuts for the chute.
I saw a few more fine gold "hairs" inside, but no evidence of wear on any of the brass parts. I blew everything out, cleaned the chute and gasket, and then ground some very coarse coffee through, examined and discarded it. Took it apart again and looked around, no brass found. After reassembling it twice (note to self: PAY ATTENTION to the position of the burrs when you reattach the hopper you dummy) and getting it to zero near zero, I ground some extremely fine, then fine, then espresso fine coffee at the setting I usually use (15) and checked it--no brass there either. I discarded an ounce or so, and knocked everything loose out and I think I am OK.
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