Extractor problems

[boywonder]

In a reply on this thread, I explained my mixed feelings about my low-end 4-frame tangential SS extractor; basically OK, but querying the quality of this kind of kit. The response I drew was, “buy cheap, buy twice.” Too true.

So, today, after some other previous niggles, my extractor (only 4 years old now) has had a major fail. Basically, the gears are shredded. See attached photos.

I write this post as I cannot be the only one to have suffered an extractor gear failure.

I am also surprised - even though it is a super-niche item - that I cannot find a UK or EU-based supplier of generic spares. There are some items on flea-bay, but they are all from China, and - quite aside from fitness for purpose (which is a complete punt) - all have a decent lead-time.

I still have plenty of honey to extract this season. I could, I guess:

* try flea-bay, and seek to borrow the assoc. extractor in the meantime
* try and seek out a complete gear head / handle (e.g. http://www.giordaninox.it/en/products/1/26/243) - that fits (or I can make fit); though again, probably like rocking-horse droppings
* approach a local fabricator to see if they will make like-for-like replacement gears
* sod it, and just go and buy a decent new extractor
* … or, follow some alternative advice

What would you do / have you done in this situation ?

BTW, if I do get it fixed, I would like to grease the bottom bearing in the extractor (i.e. beneath the cage). Given this sits in close proximity to the spun honey (which I clearly don’t want to taint), what would I use ?

Thanks kindly.
Craig

 

[Ian123]

Hi boy wonder i would go the route of association extractor and invest in some better kit.......there is a food grade lubricant similar to wd40 i will find out its name tomorrow or you could just google...i normaly just nick it off my butcher friend who uses it in the mincer or sausage/burger mixer its 100% food safe

 

[oliver90owner]

Bottom bearings in most decent hobby extractors are a single contact point (cage sits on a ball bearing). Lubricated with honey?

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

Or convert to electric, Lega do a small motor conversion for about £175, speak to CWJ that is where I got mine from and has done four years with no issue, or the big T for a larger version.

 

[enrico]

I always use a food oil, sunflower or olive or such like to lubricate just in case it gets in the honey, but it never has,

 

[Ian123]

try this you may want to google it and confirm yourself........cd 90 nsf h1 chain and drive lubricant....rated for incidental food contact....just double check you get the food grade 1

 

[Tony19]

You can get food grade grease from coffee machine suppliers, I use it to grease the cam on my coffee machine, check out Bella Barista in Wellingborough.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

silicone lubricant spray - food safe, Thornes sell it for lubricating candle moulds. Cake baking suppliers sell it as well for releasing fiddly cake moulds

 

[Noddy]

Thorne's recommend vegetable oil be used on their Octimel extractor 'bearing' (which is in fact a bolt with a hole drilled in it to accept the bottom of the cage shaft) and state that honey should not be allowed to come into contact with said 'bearing'.

 

[boywonder]

Thorne's recommend vegetable oil be used on their Octimel extractor 'bearing' (which is in fact a bolt with a hole drilled in it to accept the bottom of the cage shaft) and state that honey should not be allowed to come into contact with said 'bearing'.

Interesting. Whilst I have taken the top bar off several times (to properly remove the cage, and thoroughly clean), I have never removed or otherwise got up close and personal with the bottom bar - in which the shaft of the cage sits. The clue being that that it looks like it hosts a bolt, and is an alleged 'Unimel' (?) bought sold as seen from Thorne's, on a Sale Day... maybe I am overthinking the complexity of the engineering here [emoji16] Crap welds, crap bolts, crap design and crap gears. However I end up limping through the rest of this season, I am now firmly decided on saving hard to buy some quality European kit for next season. Thanks all.

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[boywonder]

... before Brexit

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