Behmor and my stupidity

[Mike51]

Any thoughts on using CLR?

I'd avoid using CLR to clean your Behmor. CLR contains acids (Calcium Lime Rust, more commonly known as CLR, is a household cleaning product used for dissolving stains, such as calcium, lime, and iron oxide deposits. Its ingredients include water, lactic acid, gluconic acid, lauramine oxide, and Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether.) Use Orange Oil (mild detergent) as recommended. Easy to get at Woolworths. Do not use acids on metal, especially when you're going to heat the metal quite hot!!!! Your Behmor will disappear!

[DavidW1960]

Any thoughts on using CLR?

[CafeLotta]

Simple green works well but I don't like the smell much.
I prefer using the orange oil based cleaners.

After every 5 roasts max. I use the original green colored Simple Green sprayed onto a cloth and wipe the Behmor clean before doing a dry roast.

The dry roast seems to get rid of any residual toilet candy smell left by the Simple Green.

Simple Green also makes a non-toxic Microwave/Oven cleanerin a spray can. I guess this is more concentrated for heavier build-up.
Wonder if this is OK for the Behmor?

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I reckon!! The smell reminds me of those yellow tablets that float in urinals in public toilets!!!

Better keep a better hold of your Strepsils...

[bennett]

Simple green works well but I don't like the smell much.
I prefer using the orange oil based cleaners.

I reckon!! The smell reminds me of those yellow tablets that float in urinals in public toilets!!!

[Andy]

Simple green works well but I don't like the smell much.
I prefer using the orange oil based cleaners.

[B00sting]

Simple Green is available at Bunnings stores. They carry a good range of their products.

I just bought some at bunnings. they had most of the simple green products.

[CafeLotta]

What is the Aussie equivalent of clean green? I've been using diluted CLR cleaner and have also used some orange cleaner?

Simple Green is available at Bunnings stores. They carry a good range of their products.

[DavidW1960]

Behmor and my stupidity

What is the Aussie equivalent of clean green? I've been using diluted CLR cleaner and have also used some orange cleaner?

[robsal]

Thanks for the tips.
Phew. Nothing broken, just char residue. Close one.
I gave it a pretty good scrub with Simple Green and removed about 60% of the residue. Then a dry burn & now running my first roast post immolation attempt. 400g harrar on P2C. Bit of a lacklustre 1C but reached 1st signs of 2C around 5m left which is normal.
Wanted to post a short vid of the smouldering bean mass, but couldn't figure out how. A bit hard from my phone. I still can't believe how much smoke - I thought my neighbours would call Fireman Sam.

[barri]

Just did the same thing. I normally set a timer at the beginning of the roast to remind me around the time first crack should start. Forgot to set the timer and luckily my 5yo ran in to tell me about all the smoke. No fire, but what a lot of smoke.
Just running a cool cycle now. I've done over 200 roasts in the Behmor. Hopefully a good clean and it will live to do another 200.
D'oh.

After the first dry roast, make sure you scrub with something like an old toothbrush and as Bob from behmor said use Simple green or equivalent. Then do another few dry burns and some more scrubbing before doing a roast. Also unscrew the side and clean and vacuum what you can near the fan.

In my case I saw a lot of smoke in my first few dry roasts which subsided over time. Andy (thanks a million) sent me the wall sensor part and Bob for Behmor sent me the instructions on how to replace the possibly damaged old one. It didn't look damaged but my roasts were taking 3 to 4 minutes longer to reach FC. After replacing that part my roasts are back to normal. Yippee!!!! I still can't completely get rid of the smell but it is improving. I should keep scrubbing a little more.

Anyway my roasts are now good and the coffee still tastes great. What a durable little bugger this roaster is.

[robsal]

Just did the same thing. I normally set a timer at the beginning of the roast to remind me around the time first crack should start. Forgot to set the timer and luckily my 5yo ran in to tell me about all the smoke. No fire, but what a lot of smoke.
Just running a cool cycle now. I've done over 200 roasts in the Behmor. Hopefully a good clean and it will live to do another 200.
D'oh.

[barri]

Thanks guys. Here's the reply from Tech Support

"John:

Sorry to hear of what has occurred with your roaster. We realize accidents do happen.
No I would not give up on the roaster at this point in time. Simple Green is still the
best way to clean to your unit, and instructions on how to do so are attached to this email.
I would also suggest going to our website Coffee Roaster, Home Brew | Incline Village, NV and the Customer Support area
for The Behmor 1600 and the Critical maintainence Updates.
In addition regarding the smoke, it is likely just burning off sediment from the bean ignition., It should subside over time
However you might want to check and see if your afterburners are functioning. Just open the door,
locate the afterburners(located on the interior ceiling centered, with a perforated metal housing over them.) and hit the cool button.
Look closely as the afterburners should start to glow a faint orange within 10 to 20 seconds into the cooling cycle.

Let us know
In regards gards to slower roasting times, its quite likely replacing the walls sensor will help It was likely damaged,, and
the ERROR message you saw was because of this. This is a part we can provide for you at no cost,
and email you the instructions on how to replace it.
Thanks

Bob Rodda

Behmor Inc."

An excellent response.

Any way I have done a few more dry burns, more scrubbing with a toothbrush, still using simple green and the bottom line is that it seems OK. The smoke has gone and the roasts are good but are still taking a little longer. 400gms of Peru beans from beanbay used to take about 15 min for FC and now takes 17 min but the taste after a few days is still good. So I'll persevere with it.

Thanks for everybody's support

[lemoo]

Between Andy and Behmor Tech Support, i'm sure you'll get it sorted in no time!

Recently having dealt with the both of them for some help with my behmor and couldn't be more amazed at the dedication to customer service by both parties.

[Andy]

Yep... I agree with all the above.
* Email andy@coff... and I'm pretty quick to answer.
* Contact Behmor Technical Support and they will typically answer overnight (timezone differences).

I have already answered Barri's email but will echo some of it here to add to the discussion.

I would suggest giving it a good clean with a citrus based cleaner, one of those non abrasive orange oil cleaners from the supermarket work well and smell nice.

Update 3 is a good reference for inspecting and cleaning the fans and other likely points of failure after "bean ignition".
http://www.behmor.com/docs/Manual_Up...and_DC_Fan.pdf

In fact update 3 is a good reference for anyone who whats to do a regular "service" on the roaster.