Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cretors problem

This is topic Cretors problem - help please! in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Ronda Fitzsimmons (Member # 1418) on 08-01-2010, 02:08 PM:

Our Cretors 32oz Diplomat kettle isn't aligning properly with the lid after we dump it. Any suggestions until I can get the parts breakdown from someone, since it doesn't appear to be available online? Thanks for any help.

Ronda
FunTime Cinemas

Posted by Justin West (Member # 920) on 08-01-2010, 03:12 PM:

so, is it not aligning with the stirring shaft? Did this get banged around?

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 08-01-2010, 03:26 PM:

Need to be a little more clear.

If the lid on the kettle is not aligning to the kettle, it probably means one of the screws holding the lid on is loose and the top of the kettle has shifted. See if you can move the kettle top into place with your hand (when the lid isn't hot). If so, loose screw.

If the kettle is not aligning with the shaft by more than the little play, either the shaft has moved, which may mean the motor controlling the shaft has come loose and has shifted; or someone managed to loosen the dumping handle and shifted the whole kettle, which would be pretty obvious, or the shaft in the kettle got seriously bent, which would take a degree of dedication.

Anyway, sounds like loose screws somewhere. More detail if screws aren't the answer.

Posted by Cody Martin (Member # 2523) on 08-01-2010, 03:26 PM:

I'm not familiar with this model, but we had a machine do that after someone bent the oil fill tube into the kettle. A piece of all thread up the spout got the bend out and the kettle closed properly.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 08-01-2010, 05:32 PM:

The kettle pan stop is worn down some - why the kettle pan will not realign itself to the stirrer shaft and lid after you do a popcorn dump and return the unit back to begin the cycle again.

To realign the pan to lid, is you have to take the bottom off of the kettle. You have 6, 7/16" bolts to remove along with removing that small cover plate, which is held down by three screws on the end of the pivot arm (and it helps to have a very short, 1/8" flat blade screwdriver to get to those screws).

(while you have the pan cover off, this is a very good time to clean all of that burnt grease that ususally is inside that pan cover..)

The kettle pan is mounted on that horizontal shaft by two pinch brackets which each is held down by 4 bolts.

You loosen those 4 bolts so the kettle pan can be realigned by turning the pan on the shaft to meet the stirring shaft and lid to be square.

Then when square, tighten down the pinch bracket bolts. Then reassemble in reverse - pan installed then the end plate last.

-good luck .. Monte

Posted by Phil Ranucci (Member # 3820) on 08-03-2010, 12:39 AM:

Be sure to use anti-seize on the pan bolts when you re-install them, it'll be much easier if you ever have to do it again. You'll avoid breaking off the standoffs/studs. One other thing- I'm not sure if your machine has it, but there is a small bolt that the dump arm rests on when you put the kettle up. IIRC it can also affect the alignment.