LMichaels
TVWBB 2-Star Olympian
So, I came across a couple Baratza Encore grinders listed as "for parts not working". I managed to grab them for $30 ea. So I started work on the first one late this AM. Come to find out the person had purchased it brand new only in September of this year. Showed a video of how it just won't grind anymore. OK, I open it up and the chute is literally packed solid. They'd never so much as cleaned it once. They simply "dumped it" for parts. Literally had to chisel the residue out, and thankfully no damage to anything in the machine. Did a full disassembly of the grind chamber, brushed and blew it all clean. Working as slick as brand new.
Second one just finished it. Claimed it worked but for some reason the "paddles" were bent/broken. OK, another full grind chamber disassembly. And I'm tryin to figure out what the ring of plastic I am seeing is under the burr. Not plastic literally coffee residue so heated up had solidified. The PO had pulled the cone burr out and decided to replace the paddle and the felt washer. Well somehow they'd managed to place the paddle into the machine upside down, with the gasket on top. The little paddles are shaped to eject coffee into the chute in direction of rotation but being upside down coffee residue simply built up to the point, it literally turned to "cement". So, yet another, full cleanout, removed the case cleaned out the entire unit, new paddle and new felt gasket and working like a champ. Not too bad for in between work while I'm waiting for a new gear on a customer's KitchenAid mixer
Now the choices. Flip, keep for gifting, or a travel machine. LOL got super lucky on these 2.
Just completed a purchase on a near new Fellow Ode Gen 2 for "parts". Hopefully I get as lucky in it as well. Person claims it runs but jams up and doesn't eject coffee. Hopefully the "I didn't know they need cleaning" gods are with me on that one. As I have a little more $$$ in it. Hopefully it's a good gamble

Second one just finished it. Claimed it worked but for some reason the "paddles" were bent/broken. OK, another full grind chamber disassembly. And I'm tryin to figure out what the ring of plastic I am seeing is under the burr. Not plastic literally coffee residue so heated up had solidified. The PO had pulled the cone burr out and decided to replace the paddle and the felt washer. Well somehow they'd managed to place the paddle into the machine upside down, with the gasket on top. The little paddles are shaped to eject coffee into the chute in direction of rotation but being upside down coffee residue simply built up to the point, it literally turned to "cement". So, yet another, full cleanout, removed the case cleaned out the entire unit, new paddle and new felt gasket and working like a champ. Not too bad for in between work while I'm waiting for a new gear on a customer's KitchenAid mixer
Now the choices. Flip, keep for gifting, or a travel machine. LOL got super lucky on these 2.
Just completed a purchase on a near new Fellow Ode Gen 2 for "parts". Hopefully I get as lucky in it as well. Person claims it runs but jams up and doesn't eject coffee. Hopefully the "I didn't know they need cleaning" gods are with me on that one. As I have a little more $$$ in it. Hopefully it's a good gamble