Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brady on October 11, 2010 at 3:12pm

Is it one of the rebadged Super Jollys?

If so, here are my suggestions, in order of what I think is likely:

1. Operator error. Adjustment to a finer setting MUST be done with the grinder running. Must, must, must. I've run into a couple of situations like you've described and they've always been user error. If you adjust finer without the grinder running, beans will crush between the burrs, jamming them and possibly deforming the carrier. To check if this is the case, adjust the burrs to a much coarser grind setting and fire it up. Or, better yet, carefully disassemble and clean, then reassemble.

2. Gunked up grind chamber or extremely dull burrs. Ask when they were last changed, if more than a year ago (assuming flat burrs) they are probably due to be changed. A clean grinder is a happy grinder.

3. Bad switch. They do go occasionally. Pretty easy to check with a meter - look for continuity when the switch is closed.

4. Could be a loose wire... those terminals are pretty good though. Could also have some sort of short. Check for loose connections, and check for power at the motor leads to eliminate this possibility. Also check for a short to ground.

5. Start capacitor issue. This component helps the motor get up to speed against a load. You can test a cap with a meter, if you eliminate the other possibilities google the procedure for testing. Handle capacitors with care, though - they can store lots of energy for a while and discharge when you short the contacts. Sometimes they make diagnosis easy by blowing up all over the place and being visibly broken. I think this is unlikely though, since the grinder runs sometimes.

6. Motor issue. This is kind of a "if everything else is ok" thing. However, for many grinders, if the motor is gone, the grinder is gone... so hope its not this.

I hope this helps.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by luke leffel on October 11, 2010 at 3:45pm

I'm not very experienced on troubleshooting grinders in particular, but from my electrical experience it does sound like a loose wire.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion