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Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on August 23, 2011 at 8:26pm

Can't Ambex provide you with the name of a dealer and a part number?  I presume they've ordered them before.

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Permalink Reply by zack burnett on August 24, 2011 at 4:55am

Thanks Jay.  I'll ask for specifics this time.  I'll post the tool and parts here once I find them for further reference.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Pellizzer on August 25, 2011 at 7:32pm

Zack,
I used Graingers and McMasterCarr for wire brushes. Thin flexible metal/fiberglass rod is needed. Remember to secure brush to the rod. You do not want to lose the brush in the roaster. If you use a power drill use locktite on the rod and brusch. I know someone who lost a brush in an Ambex. Good luck.
Tim

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Permalink Reply by zack burnett on August 26, 2011 at 5:14am

Thanks Tim, yesterday we removed the drum assembly from the rest of the roaster so we could access the top half and the bottom half of the internal airflow duct separately.  

 

We have a long attachment for our shop-vac that we used to scrape off and vacuum up any buildup inside of the duct.  The entire job only took 30 minutes or so.  When removing the drum assembly you will need 2 or 3 people as it is very heavy, I'd say close to 200 pounds, and a bit awkward.  You have to lift it straight-up about four inches to clear the burners that are 23 inches long and move it over the cooling bin before placing it on a sturdy table or work bench.  Lifting the assembly four inches over the burners and carrying it at that height for about 2 feet proved to be harder than it sounded for 3 relatively short men, the tallest of us being 5'8". It was best to sort of get under the assembly with 2 people in the front and one of us in the back to lift it up and over. 

 

I'll look up the brushes you talk about so we can clean the internal duct through the chaff collector during routine maintenance and cleaning and then perform the entire break down once every year or 18 months or so.  Thanks again.

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Permalink Reply by Joseph on August 26, 2011 at 5:50am

Zack,

You can achieve the same result by removing the bolts,disconnecting the gas hose at the burner assy., and twisting the drum on its axis(sort of) till you clear both ducts.One person can do it but its better to have two because if you are not careful it will tip. I clean the lower duct with a long piece of flat iron about 1 inch wide. The upper one: I also remove the hopper and chute and get in there as best I can from both sides with scrapers and wire brushes and a dryer vent brush. Maybe next time...

zack burnett said:

Thanks Tim, yesterday we removed the drum assembly from the rest of the roaster so we could access the top half and the bottom half of the internal airflow duct separately.  

 

We have a long attachment for our shop-vac that we used to scrape off and vacuum up any buildup inside of the duct.  The entire job only took 30 minutes or so.  When removing the drum assembly you will need 2 or 3 people as it is very heavy, I'd say close to 200 pounds, and a bit awkward.  You have to lift it straight-up about four inches to clear the burners that are 23 inches long and move it over the cooling bin before placing it on a sturdy table or work bench.  Lifting the assembly four inches over the burners and carrying it at that height for about 2 feet proved to be harder than it sounded for 3 relatively short men, the tallest of us being 5'8". It was best to sort of get under the assembly with 2 people in the front and one of us in the back to lift it up and over. 

 

I'll look up the brushes you talk about so we can clean the internal duct through the chaff collector during routine maintenance and cleaning and then perform the entire break down once every year or 18 months or so.  Thanks again.

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Permalink Reply by zack burnett on August 26, 2011 at 6:04am

Joseph, That seems like an easier solution for next time. Not as much heavy lifting anyway.  When you move the drum assembly over until both parts of the duct are exposed you say you have to disconnect the gas line but do also have to remove the burner assembly?  Thanks.   

Joseph said:

Zack,

You can achieve the same result by removing the bolts,disconnecting the gas hose at the burner assy., and twisting the drum on its axis(sort of) till you clear both ducts.One person can do it but its better to have two because if you are not careful it will tip. I clean the lower duct with a long piece of flat iron about 1 inch wide. The upper one: I also remove the hopper and chute and get in there as best I can from both sides with scrapers and wire brushes and a dryer vent brush. Maybe next time...

zack burnett said:

Thanks Tim, yesterday we removed the drum assembly from the rest of the roaster so we could access the top half and the bottom half of the internal airflow duct separately.  

 

We have a long attachment for our shop-vac that we used to scrape off and vacuum up any buildup inside of the duct.  The entire job only took 30 minutes or so.  When removing the drum assembly you will need 2 or 3 people as it is very heavy, I'd say close to 200 pounds, and a bit awkward.  You have to lift it straight-up about four inches to clear the burners that are 23 inches long and move it over the cooling bin before placing it on a sturdy table or work bench.  Lifting the assembly four inches over the burners and carrying it at that height for about 2 feet proved to be harder than it sounded for 3 relatively short men, the tallest of us being 5'8". It was best to sort of get under the assembly with 2 people in the front and one of us in the back to lift it up and over. 

 

I'll look up the brushes you talk about so we can clean the internal duct through the chaff collector during routine maintenance and cleaning and then perform the entire break down once every year or 18 months or so.  Thanks again.

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