[yso191]

On my last brew day my grain mill still acted up.  It would crush for a while, then just sit there and spin for a while.  It didn't do that when new.  I don't know what else to do.  I have adjusted the gap, and cleaned the rollers well.  It is a Cereal Killer mill if that matters.

So now I am thinking new grain mill.  What do you recommend?

[svejk]

Most brewers like their mill, and I'm no exception with my adjustable JSP maltmill.  The biggest selling point for me was that I was able to add the option of a gear drive for the second roller.  There aren't very many mills that offer that ability.

[blatz]

I love my Monster Mill.  Got it after i got frustrated with Barley Crusher.

[Slowbrew]

My Barley Crusher does that when the bushings on the idle roller need to be cleaned and very lightly oiled.  My mill is in the wood shop/brewery so I always have a dowel to poke into the grain and get it started again.  If I ever buy another mill it will probably be a Monster Mill or one of the beefier units available now.

Paul

[yso191]

My Barley Crusher does that when the bushings on the idle roller need to be cleaned and very lightly oiled.  My mill is in the wood shop/brewery so I always have a dowel to poke into the grain and get it started again.  If I ever buy another mill it will probably be a Monster Mill or one of the beefier units available now.

Paul

Could you go into how this is done?  It will be a bit to save the money for a new mill - I'm sure I have more brews on the current one yet.

[klickitat jim]

I like my Cereal Killer. Dont throw it away steve, ill take it for parts.

[yso191]

I like my Cereal Killer. Dont throw it away steve, ill take it for parts.

I'm sure you have more grain through yours than mine, so glad its working for you.  Maybe it is just a maintenance issue that I don't yet know about... Like the bushing issue noted above.  Do you clean & lube the bushings on the passive roller? 

If it is not a maintenance issue and I do get a new one though, it is yours.  Glad to send it to a good home.

[duboman]

I have the barley crusher now going on 3 years with no problems.

I run 300-500 lbs of grain through it each year on average.

Once every couple months I'll do a good cleaning/ lube of the rollers but otherwise I simply blow it out with compressed air and it seems like a good maintenance program.

The rollers still have good bite to them as well so I'm happy with it.

[klickitat jim]

I like my Cereal Killer. Dont throw it away steve, ill take it for parts.

I'm sure you have more grain through yours than mine, so glad its working for you.  Maybe it is just a maintenance issue that I don't yet know about... Like the bushing issue noted above.  Do you clean & lube the bushings on the passive roller? 

If it is not a maintenance issue and I do get a new one though, it is yours.  Glad to send it to a good home.

No mine has about 3 batches on it. Pretty sure its got bearings rather than bushings.

[Thirsty_Monk]

Geared option is great.
I have Monster Mill and put a few lb thru it.

[gmac]

Three roller Monster Mill here. Been great. Driven by a half horse drill, no issues after 3 years and probably 800 lbs of grain.

[restlesnativ]

I use the Monster Mill 3. I have had zero issues with it.

[gymrat]

Three roller Monster Mill here. Been great. Driven by a half horse drill, no issues after 3 years and probably 800 lbs of grain.

If I ever have to replace my barley crusher that is probably what I will buy. But so far I have been using my Barley Crusher for 2 years with no issues.

[Slowbrew]

My Barley Crusher does that when the bushings on the idle roller need to be cleaned and very lightly oiled.  My mill is in the wood shop/brewery so I always have a dowel to poke into the grain and get it started again.  If I ever buy another mill it will probably be a Monster Mill or one of the beefier units available now.

Paul

Could you go into how this is done?  It will be a bit to save the money for a new mill - I'm sure I have more brews on the current one yet.

I can only describe what I do on my BC but I would guess it is applicable. 

Basically I dismantle the base of the mill.  On a BC it entails two bolts that hold it to the base, removing 8 screws from the sides, loosening the adjustment locks and pulling it apart.  Once disassembled you can use compressed air to blow out the dust and chaff and see if there are issues like deformed bushings. 

If it looks good I clean the insides of of the bushings with something like denatured alcohol and lightly oil them with silicon lube.  Then just reassemble and adjust the mill.

Paul

[yso191]

I can only describe what I do on my BC but I would guess it is applicable. 

Basically I dismantle the base of the mill.  On a BC it entails two bolts that hold it to the base, removing 8 screws from the sides, loosening the adjustment locks and pulling it apart.  Once disassembled you can use compressed air to blow out the dust and chaff and see if there are issues like deformed bushings. 

If it looks good I clean the insides of of the bushings with something like denatured alcohol and lightly oil them with silicon lube.  Then just reassemble and adjust the mill.

Paul
[/quote]

Thanks!  I'll give that a shot.