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How often do burrs need to be replaced?

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  • breakaway
    replied
    Originally posted by Sharnibell View Post
    Hi breakaway I know it's been a while since you wrote this post, however I am having the same problem. Just wandering how you went?
    Sorry totally missed this post. The machine is working fine still! Well the grinder is anyways. One of the solenoids blew out though which I’m going to replace.

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  • wattgn
    replied
    Sounds like a new grinder is in order...bearings. Get something decent. Burrs good ones should last decades in normal use. I suppose the same for bearings with a decent grinder.

    Leave a comment:


  • Sharnibell
    replied
    Hi breakaway I know it's been a while since you wrote this post, however I am having the same problem. Just wandering how you went?

    Leave a comment:


  • breakaway
    replied
    I'd say the play is no more than 0.5mm side to side - doesn't seem serious to me. Anyway - the I upgraded upper burr was only $34, so I ordered that and should have a shim kit coming soon as well. Hopefully installing the new revised upper burr fixes the issue. I will report back once I've done that.

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  • noidle22
    replied
    Originally posted by breakaway View Post
    noidle22 , Yes, they're be sharp enough to mess up your fingernails.

    On the note of tightness, how much play in the shaft is allowable (if the answer is zero, then I've got a problem)? I've definitely got some play in the shaft.
    There should be no play at all however it's normal after a few years for them to develop a very small amount of movement. It should be a barely perceptible feeling when moving it side to side. If you can visibly see the burr moving sideways, it's not so good. The play doesn't always tell the whole story but it's a reasonable indicator.

    I have a 2017 BES870 on the bench now and I just tested the play on it, the centre burr is solid and doesn't move at all. Coincidentally it did have a grinder problem but it was due to someone getting water into the beans.

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  • breakaway
    replied
    noidle22 , Yes, they're be sharp enough to mess up your fingernails.

    On the note of tightness, how much play in the shaft is allowable (if the answer is zero, then I've got a problem)? I've definitely got some play in the shaft.

    Leave a comment:


  • noidle22
    replied
    Those burrs will usually outlast the machine. Take the centre burr, run your fingernail across and down the cutting edges. Do the edges scrape away any fingernail? If so, they're fine.

    What's more likely is the plastics and bearings in the motor and gearbox are wearing out causing the grinder to not be as tight and accurate as when it was newer. Shims will probably help but it's possible it may need a new grinder sometime in the future.

    The grinder isn't cheap and considering the age of the machine, an eventual upgrade may be the best course of action.

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  • Dimal
    commented on 's reply
    Don't know if it's just me but the burr-set looks to have an incompatible inner and outer burr...

    Mal.

  • breakaway
    replied
    Ok - here’s the photo.
    Attached Files

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  • WarrenK
    commented on 's reply
    Breakaway. My first machine 2014 model was a dog for grinding, super temperamental with beans over 30 days old. Replaced by my 2017 machine, which with the upper burr adjustment can handle any bean.
    GOOD LUCK

  • level3ninja
    replied
    If you post a picture of your burrs, especially where you think they look blunt, we can advise a best course of action. If they're blunt they'll do a horrible job of grinding even if the shim brings the size back down again.

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  • breakaway
    replied
    Hi WarrenK and level3ninja - thanks for the responses.

    Yes, in my travels I did indeed spot many youtube videos / manuals referencing this adjustable upper burr that supposedly solves this issue, but my burr was not adjustable. My manual even (yes, I saved it!) is different to the ones I found online for the BES870/BES870XL.

    The burr I got with my machine looks like this: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....yQbhL._AC_.jpg

    This is the "latest" gen burr with adjustment: https://cf.shopee.com.my/file/ec1128...b44dd9625cb061

    I contacted Breville support - they are sending me a free shim kit. I take it this "shim kit" is just a bunch of washers that go under the middle burr (i.e. the biggest one) in order to raise it up a little bit? I've also asked if they can sell me the adjustable burr so I can upgrade my machine.

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  • level3ninja
    replied
    Originally posted by breakaway View Post
    I took apart the upper & lower burr - they look quite blunted (I was expecting them to be sharp enough to cut me, but they were so blunt).

    Edit - I guess what I'm trying to ask is, should I bother replacing the burrs and see if my issue goes away, or take this opportunity to buy a standalone grinder?
    Can you post a photo? It's entirely possible they're worn out. I would investigate the cost of the replacement parts, as you might be most of the way to a separate grinder cost anyway, and if you buy one second hand you'll get better results for the money. With it being built in it may seem a bit weird to use a separate grinder, but the grinder is the limiting factor in that machine, upgrade it and you'll get better coffee.

    Leave a comment:


  • WarrenK
    replied
    I have not done it, but I understand you can ask Breville for a set of washers of various thicknesses to pack the top burr and restore to original performance. About 2017 an adjustable upper burr was introduced which solved that issue.

    Leave a comment:


  • breakaway
    started a topic How often do burrs need to be replaced?

    How often do burrs need to be replaced?

    I've got a Breville "Barista Express" - BES870 machine that is just over 6 years old. This thing gets run hard all day every day - upwards of 5-6 double shot drinks. This machine has a builtin grinder which I always found to be adequate for my needs.

    I've noticed that over the years I've had to turn the grind level down lower and lower (finer) to get it to be able to build any pressure. It is now on the finest setting but it is now barely building any pressure. I've had to resort to using the double walled basket to get anything going off late. I took apart the upper & lower burr - they look quite blunted (I was expecting them to be sharp enough to cut me, but they were so blunt).

    Now I'm not sure if this is normal or not - but I am at a loss as to what else could be wrong? (I have already checked the group head seal which is good).

    Edit - I guess what I'm trying to ask is, should I bother replacing the burrs and see if my issue goes away, or take this opportunity to buy a standalone grinder?
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