NatureMill - Clip Fix update
Tuesday, July 8. 2008
Looks like the 'clip fix' failed. The unit still refuses to transfer waste from the top chamber to the collection tray.
The issue seems to be the design of the clips. The new ones have been bent over by the mixing arm, but the arm needs to catch on the clips when it transfers.
NatureMill are aware of the problem and have some new clips in development and in an email they have promised to ship me free replacement ones when they are ready. However they are not due until August so it looks like the NatureMill experiment is on hold for a few weeks.
I'll update you all when they come through.
NatureMill - Clip Fix
Tuesday, July 1. 2008
This weekend I replaced the broken clips which had caused a problem with the NatureMill. The machine had stopped transferring waste from the top compartment to the bottom.
The replacement clips arrived via UPS from the States, sent directly from the clip manufacturer. NatureMill had emailed me the instructions for replacement. Before starting the repair I dumped it's contents on our compost heap and hosed the machine down to try and make the job as pleasant as possible.
The instructions were mostly fine, and taking the machine apart went OK. The only 'issue' was how the new clips actually fitted. The old ones had completely broken and there was no hint as to how the new ones went in. In the end I had to refer back to the photo's I took when the unit arrived and luckily there was one which gave the answer.
Fitting the clips was OK once I'd managed to free up the trap door. The main thing is not to accidentally throw out the small plastic grommets which help secure the clips with a friction fit. The instructions also suggest ensuring the trapdoor 'arms' are parallel, so I checked and bent them as required.
Reassembly is disassembly in reverse. Because I'd hosed the unit down I decided to restart the composting process from scratch and I reset the NatureMill when I powered it up. I added some chippings and soil and eventually the machine went in to 'Mix' mode. The the clips seem to have held OK.
The real test will be if the transfer function works and how long the clips last for. 4 months is the record so far. Fingers crossed !
Photo of the original clip which broke after 4 months causing the transfer tray to fail.
Disassembled transfer tray with new clip fitted.
Inside view of the NatureMill reassembled with the new clips.
