Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

[newbiesnob]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

Thanks Greg, will email him this week!

[gregpullman]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

Theres a pallet of roasters and parts on their way from Fremantle wharf to Robin this morning, so Id say he should have them available later today or tomorrow. Best to email him your request as we dont advertise spare parts on our site.

[newbiesnob]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

Thanks Greg Are they in stock in Perth with Robin or with you in Adelaide?

[gregpullman]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

We do have spare chute covers but not just the handle on its own. The complete chute covers including handle are $15 plus post.

[newbiesnob]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

Thanks Java B, I did wonder about that! Also, is it easy to replace the bakelite handle on the chute cover? I broke mine last night when i was roasting outside (poor light)

[JavaB]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

. Do you think its possible to put the drum cover (the front part with the viewing window) in the dishie too?  

Mmmmm.... I wouldnt recommend doing that!

Unlike the drum and the cooling tray (which are stainless steel) the front cover is a chromed casting of a fairly soft metal. The glass retaining "frame" is also held on with small screws. Water and detergent may well remove some of the chrome and attack the metal underneath.... and it will penetrate the tapped screw holes and possibly start corrosion which will make it impossible to remove them at a later date.

I disassemble mine and place the parts in a sink with hot water and dish washing detergent (manual dish washing detergent).... leave them soaking for a while and any coffee oils just wipe off.... let the parts dry thoroughly (no water in the tapped holes) and then re-assemble.

[JavaB]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

I would like a similar thing that would do 500 or 1 kg

So would a LOT of roasters.....

But unfortunately you then move into far more expensive territory (except for the Corretto, barbeque drum roaster etc).....

Anything above 300gms commercially made is a quantum leap in price (possibly as the manufacturers see them more as a commercial "sample" roaster rather than a home roaster....) and they assume far lower volume of sales.

Also getting enough heat using electricity - especially at the 1kg level becomes a significant problem.... requiring more than a 10A supply... generally 1Kg and above are gas fired.

But it would be nice none the less!

[newbiesnob]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

I was thinking of doing the same. Do you think its possible to put the drum cover (the front part with the viewing window) in the dishie too?

[fishinglizard1972]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

i stuck the bean barrell in the dishwasher the other night on pots and pans, came out like brand new, that was after 30 roasts. The cooling tray seems to work really well, the only down side on the HT i think is the volume, I would like a similar thing that would do 500 or 1 kg.

[A_M]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

Maybe post a photo of your tray so we can compare?

OK... Lets see if this explains what I have done..




I added a section of extra holes...

I did it this way, so that I actually end up with TWO potential options... As I only have one tray to work with  :  ( Spare parts R 2 $$$)

  When the tray is placed on the HT...

A: These holes go at the back and directly over the main fan outlet.

Thus the increase in bean surface and air flow should have some impact...

B:  Safety -  If the extra holes directly over the vent impact too much on the system, I only have to rotate by 180 and thus any negative impact will be reduced.

Still looking for a higher air flow fan for the bottom unit..  Considering when the HT was released and the advances in fans and Air flow... One of the internet sellers is bound to have a high flow unit...  Might even help to blow chaff up and onto the floor  




In line with of some other posts / info available; I wanted to put in a fines filter, as there are air holes at the back of the bean chute.   However I have roasted and with my workup mod ( Thanks KK for the mesh)....  Did not see many fines etc.

I suspect that in fact most of the chaff in the rear of the unit come at eject / dump time...   The FAN is at MAX, the beans are moving to the rear,  mixed up and when ejected, have further option to release more chaff.   Thus some of it is sucked back, into the rear of the system..  Future FIRE hazard.

When next I pull my system down...  I will be looking at how this can be reduced...  I do not want to put in some mesh at the rear of the bean chute flap, only to have it collect chaff and generate a nice little pile..... All ready to burst into flames..  

Risk management say... Do not rush in, until you have considered the outcomes..  Measure, check, measure again and then implement... Then measure and monitor..

[A_M]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

Really?? Cooling is one of the great positives of the Hottop. Unless perhaps yours is one of the really old ones with the original cooling tray that apparently didnt do as good a job. On mine (and all the units we sell), the beans are only warm at two minutes out of the roaster, and room temperature four minutes into the cooling cycle. Maybe post a photo of your tray so we can compare?

1: Had a look and found it as you said page 65... Um mm must have missed that page in my initial read...  Interesting

2: As to the tray it looks OK... Will try for a pic in the morning as I am going to put in another spoke of holes...

Currently one spoke goes all the way from out to in and the second spoke goes all but about 4 holes...

Am looking to add another spoke of about 4 to 5 holes per spoke..

Thats a lot of little holes in SS and I have lent my bench drill out to my old man... :

[gregpullman]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

ou havent been reading the latest issue of BeanScene have you?  I had that same thought and had thought of a mesh cooling tray rather than a steel plate. But the issue then would be whether the tiny fan has enough flow to utilise the lower resistance.

I did and went back but can not find any reference???

Ross Quails article on page 65.

Like any number of cooking principles...  Quite often after removal from the heat, the product still cooks...   While the cool down runs for 5 min on the HT...  The beans are quite hot for some time....

Really?? Cooling is one of the great positives of the Hottop. Unless perhaps yours is one of the really old ones with the original cooling tray that apparently didnt do as good a job. On mine (and all the units we sell), the beans are only warm at two minutes out of the roaster, and room temperature four minutes into the cooling cycle. Maybe post a photo of your tray so we can compare?

[Koffee_Kosmo]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

AM
I will give you some extra fine S/S mesh (the holes are 1/2 the size of the shaft of a pin)
Give me the size you require and I will cut it out

KK

Edit 4.3.09
Having had a closer look today
The mesh I have is finer than I indicated and is by eye closer to 1/4 size of the shaft of a pin :-/

[A_M]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

ou havent been reading the latest issue of BeanScene have you?  I had that same thought and had thought of a mesh cooling tray rather than a steel plate. But the issue then would be whether the tiny fan has enough flow to utilise the lower resistance.

I did and went back but can not find any reference???

Like any number of cooking principles... Quite often after removal from the heat, the product still cooks... While the cool down runs for 5 min on the HT... The beans are quite hot for some time....


I also thought that with a stronger fan, the beans may come off the boil (so to speak) a little quicker and that any stray chaff might also be ejected The fact that it ends up on the floor etc is not my problem!!! Well it will be but only when I am found out.

Mark

[gregpullman]

Re: Hottop Model d - Cleaning and Maintenance

Yep the sooner those new multimeters arrive the better. Interesting you talk about better air flow in the cooling tray... you havent been reading the latest issue of BeanScene have you? :-? I had that same thought and had thought of a mesh cooling tray rather than a steel plate. But the issue then would be whether the tiny fan has enough flow to utilise the lower resistance.

Yeah Hottop gear sure isnt cheap, but having seen more than most I can see where the money goes. It still irks me that the US ones are still notably cheaper in $US than the Australian ones are in $US. Perhaps if we got 500 people to all their hands up for a Hottop wed get a good group buy! ;D