Niche adjusting feels like it binds too much

dndrich

Love my Niche. I use it every day for drip and espresso. So, each morning I make my drip set at about 60. Then, with the motor running by pushing the red safety with a chopstick I adjust to my espresso setting of about 11. Trouble is, the turning of the large ring is just not very smooth. Doesn’t feel good. I am using moly 111. Is there an easy way to clean the threads? I lubricated once early with olive oil instead, and that seemed better. So, how best to clean the threads, especially the outer threads that are built into the machine?

DavecUK

dndrich If you try and turn a large amount closing the burrs too quickly even when running, it will create pressure forcing the thread upwards and thus feels a little less smooth. Either go much slower or do as mark said and take it in smaller steps, so the burrs clear nicely..

MWJB

Are you trying to go from 60 to 11 in one, smooth turn? If so, turn the setting down a little until you feel resistance, open it up again & then go back down past it and repeat whenever you feel resistance.

The problem is most likely bean particles jamming in the burrs (this is normal), rather than the thread binding/lack of lubrication.

dndrich

DavecUK I do have it running, but I do move it fairly quickly. Perhaps I will go a bit slower. Still feels a bit sticky. I may clean out the threads again with some organic degreaser or something, and use olive oil this time. Hmm.

CoyoteOldMan

dndrich Careful with food oils… they do tend to polymerise a bit and leave sticky residues. If you need to lubricate and Molykote 111 isn’t adequate, use food-safe mineral oil (e.g. the one retailed for oiling chopping boards such as this https://www.thecornishchoppingboardcompany.co.uk/shop/p/choppingboardoil)

dndrich

CoyoteOldMan I have some. I will try that.

dndrich

OK, so I cleaned the threads carefully with some simple Green and dried it. I applied some food grade mineral oil that I use for my cutting boards, and now it is moving very smoothly. So this seems like a good plan going forward.