CocoaTown Belt Shredding

Nichole Warner
@nichole-warner
04/21/14 09:15:56
5 posts

I just used my CocoaTown ECGC-65A for the first time last week and ended up with black powder all over the floor and under the bowl that appears to be shredded rubber from the belt. I pre-ground the nibs and it was a very small batch, less than 15 lbs so there should not have been any undue stress on the belt.

When I called CocoaTown they told me it was because the room temperature in my facility is too cold (65-68F) and needs to be at least 80 degrees F. Is this true? If so, you obviously would need to have a separate heated room for the melanger.

Any insight at all would be greatly appreciated as I am so very frustrated with their customer service!

Thank you!

Nichole Warner

Just Good Chocolate


updated by @nichole-warner: 04/09/15 12:15:24
Mike3
@mike3
04/23/14 10:27:32
63 posts

This same thing happened to me after just a handful of batches. Its my experience that the folks at CocoaTown will do and say anything to not have to replace the belts on their machines. I ended up buying replacements from http://www.royalsupply.com/store/pc/viewcategories.asp (you will need to get the number off your belt to make sure you get the right size).

Good Luck!

Paul Picton
@paul-picton
05/04/14 14:23:57
11 posts

That is the craziest thing I have heard in a long time. Any good V-Belt can handle a wide temperature range. My car back in Canada would not shred belts at -40. It seems that the alignment is not correct. I would also recommend using link belts.

Paul

Nichole Warner
@nichole-warner
05/05/14 08:17:46
5 posts

Thanks, you guys - I will definitely look into getting a different belt. Moral of the story being, once you buy a CocoaTown don't plan on utilizing their customer service :)

Potomac Chocolate
@ben-rasmussen
05/05/14 11:41:41
191 posts

As has been suggested by Paul and in other discussions here on TCL, take a look at Power Twist fiberglass link belts. They don't stretch and seem to last forever. I used 3 small cocoatown melangers for a few years without having to change or even tighten the belt.

Mike3
@mike3
05/05/14 17:21:28
63 posts

As far as I know, they don't make the power twist in the size required by the ECGC-65 (at least they didn't when I bought my replacement belts).

I concur though that for the santha's they are a must.

Potomac Chocolate
@ben-rasmussen
05/06/14 07:15:01
191 posts

What size belt does it use?

Sarah Ann Lesslie
@sarah-ann-lesslie
05/07/14 16:29:18
4 posts
My friend had this same problem, and the first time she cleaned her cocoa town, the adhesive which binds the stone to the cylinder disintegrated and it virtually fell apart. She also didn't receive great customer service. She just had a local engineer fix it for her. I'm looking at one myself, but am apprehensive. Would you recommend one other than this hiccough?
Nichole Warner
@nichole-warner
05/13/14 11:05:18
5 posts

That sounds awful! I haven't used it enough to be able to recommend or not recommend, but the chocolate I have been making so far has turned out really good. I have to say, if I felt like there was an alternative I would certainly purchase from someone else.

Tags

Member Marketplace


Activity

kapil jain
 
kapil jain
 
kapil jain
 
@kapil-jain • 7 years ago

Chocolatevenue is an online chocolate store in India.We are specialized in customized chocolates  .Chocolates can be customized as chocolate message and chocolate bars.

You can get written your message on chocolates and can get customized your chocolate bars by selecting the desired ingredients.

for more details

 

colorchocolate
 
@colorchocolate • 7 years ago

FOR SALE / BARGAIN / FINE CACAO LIQUOR, COLOMBIA ORIGIN

Enjoy a delicious premium chocolate from the Boyacá region of Colombia, considered among the best in the world. We offer a 200 kilograms lot of pure origin cocoa liquor,  fair trade / ethically sourced. N o other ingredients added.

The price for this high quality product is as follows:

1 kg - US$ 13

100 kg - US$ 12 per kilo

200 kg - US$ 11 per kilo

Inquires: equalcolombia@gmail.com

- See more at: https://www.thechocolatelife.com/colorchocolate#sthash.JFDWYFuK.dpuf

- See more at: https://www.thechocolatelife.com/community/forums/my_posts/18453/fine-cacao-liquor-colombia-origin#sthash.2pUq4Eu3.dpuf

Clay Gordon
 
@clay • 7 years ago

FCIA Recognition of Excellence Nominations close in one week:

Clay Gordon
 
The 4 Chocolatiers
 
@the-4-chocolatiers • 7 years ago

Two changes we made with the chocolate is that this time we winnowed the chocolate. This time we didn't use a blow dryer to melt the chocolate. Two improvements with the chocolate is that the melanger didn't get clogged this time and everyone put in work.