I remove the back cover and blow that out, then vacuum as much out as I can. Cleaning the fan blades was not very easy.
~~~Yes, cleaning the fan blades is a thankless job but the soot build up impairs the motor's ability to turn the fan putting an extra load on the motor. I've cleaned mine with a paper towel soaked in a solution of Joe Glo espresso machine cleaner and hot water. It's tedious but gets the soot off
I was thinking of just getting a new fan from a computer or electronics graveyard in the future.
~~~I just purchased a new rear fan from Hot Top when i bought a new control panel board (to fix the sticking button issue), the new rear fan from Hot Top cost $25 & includes the plastic housing it is bolted into...plug and play as the fan wiring harness is set up for Hot Top's connector, but if you could replace just the fan for a whole lot less and splice it into the Hot Top connector, go for it. I felt at $25, it was just cheaper to buy the new OEM fan unit from Hot Top, but I was already ordering other parts from them
Unfortunately, I think I stripped the threads on the back cover, so I will be reluctant to take the whole back assembly off again.
~~~those 8 or so screws holding the rear cover are certainly a PITA to R&R w/o mucking up the heads. I'm going to guess the head of the fastnerer is what you stripped? I've heard of other Hot Top owners fitting different fasteners, ones with better heads that are not so prone to strip. I've been aware of the difficulty removing them so I have been extra careful whenever R&Ring and they have not stripped for me. Might be worth it to order 8 of those screws from them whenever ordering other factory parts and replace every other time the rear cover is removed as matter of course. I know Hot Top includes new screws with their top filter and the fan I bought also included four new screws, and I tossed the OEM fasteners when I replaced the fan and whenever I replace the top filter, which has been 3 times
The thick layer of coffee lacquer that has built up on my chute cover was a source of pride and pleasure. You're saying that is bad?
~~~I think it's worth cleaning from time to time to keep the build up from getting out of control. What if a good sized piece of the build up breaks off, unbeknownst to you, falls into the coffee drum and makes it out of the roaster along with the roasted beans. I wouldn't want that flavour going through my coffee grinder into my espresso basket along with the grinds I brew. This is the same reason I remove the lower burr carrier on my coffee grinder every 2 weeks and thoroughly clean it, so the built up coffee oils that attach themselves to the fingers of the carrier do not make their way into my coffee.
That oil turns rancid if left on too long. The spooge on your bean chute cover and chute if flakes and falls into the roaster drum may burn up before ever making it out of the roaster, but why let this stuff mix with the coffee you're roasting in the first place?
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
My great grandfather was an old indian fighter...he was married to an old indian...