Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Tue Mar 5, 2013, 6:43pm Subject: Just bought a Super Jolly. What did I get myself into?
So a guy on CL just sold me an old timer-less SJ for $120. It's old, smells a little gross, and is painted battleship grey. But this thing looks indestructible. We plugged it in to test it outside a thrift store because the guy wanted to meet in public. It wouldn't start up and he admited it hadn't been turned on in six months or more. He literally banged the poor thing on the pavement to try and get it to start but to no avail. While he went to his truck to get a wrench, I kept nudging the burr and flicking the switch until it finally came to life! I threw in some stale coffee I brought along, adjusted it, and a wonderfully fluffy grind came out. So I guess my main questions are 1) How do I clean it and do I need special tools or chemicals? 2) How do I tell if I need to order new burrs? 3) Did I get a good deal? Thanks!
Also, the adjustment ring seems to be missing the holes for the set screws. Is mine super old?
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 12:29am Subject: Re: Just bought a Super Jolly. What did I get myself into?
The Super Jolly is really easy to disassemble. Just take it apart and clean it out but take care with using water. Just unscrew the adjustment collar and unscrew the burrs and you'll be ready to clean. You can also take the plastic sightglass out of the hopper and remove the vanes by unscrewing the top screw and turning the knob until it comes loose. You can use Urnex Wipz and a copper brush to remove the old coffee which works nicely.
Getting new burrs on an old grinder is always a good idea because they only cost like 40 dollar and last the rest of your life. Just run a pound or 3-4 of beans through it to season them a bit. Those Mazzers are build like tanks and once you cleaned it out it will probably outlive you.
Just watch out with screwing the adjustment collar back on that you don't cross thread it.
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 3:41am Subject: Re: Just bought a Super Jolly. What did I get myself into?
The adjustment collar is kind of hard to screw in some positions, but still works. I took the bottom burr carrier out and cleaned tons of caked on gunk and descaled the carrier and both of the burrs (which are visibly worn). I'm only 30 mins away from SCG and they have the burrs in stock, but money's getting a little tight right now and I'm wondering if I should throw the new burrs in there and keep it, or just flip it as is. I guess my other issue is that the thing is LOUD, compared to my Vario, and already my roommates are complaining that it may be TOO loud. This is definitely something I have to take into consideration. Also, I'm trying to make it practical as a doserless grinder, using a soda bottle. I'm just trying to figure out if it's a worthwhile investment when I have the Vario-W already.
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 4:04am Subject: Re: Just bought a Super Jolly. What did I get myself into?
Making a dosered Super Jolly doserless is going to be a pain in the ass. It will spray and be static. Better to keep the doser on and put a tamper on top to singledose. That worked best for me. The Vario will stop working in a couple of years where the SJ will be there for you the rest of your life and the grind quality is really nice. Yes it's loud but every good grinder will be loud unless you're willing to spend a lot on a MK K30 Vario or a HG One.
Being another grinder when the Vario stops working is going to cost you more. You could try to put a rubber mat under the Super Jolly to see if it helps to dampen the noise. On the other hand the noise is only for around 20 seconds.
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 705 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 5:37am Subject: Re: Just bought a Super Jolly. What did I get myself into?
I did a little looking last night and there are tons of post on how to certain parts of a tear down but no one "how to that" covers everything from removing the lower carrier to a complete tear down of the doser. You can also get some good tips by reading Randy's Mazzer mod page. Sounds to me like new burrs and maybe a new start cap would be in order. I to agree the doserless is a PTA. Tame the doser and learn to love it or at least live with it.
P.S. The start cap can hurt you. If your not comfortable using a resister and needle nose pliers to discharge the old one before removing it get a friends who is. Obviously unplug the thing before you do anything besides grind with it.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 7:05am Subject: Re: Just bought a Super Jolly. What did I get myself into?
Hey Jwoody,
Thanks for the advice. I do know enough that caps are pretty scary stuff, since I used to work with computers a lot. Taking apart CRTs carries the same caveat.
My friend is currently modding a 2L soda bottle to be my doserless funnel. We'll see how it goes, but I don't have time to disassemble and de-gunk the doser. What I find weird is that NO ONE I have seen online has attached a cheap little gram scale to the PF fork on an SJ to make it so you can weigh out your doses. Is there something I'm missing here? The grinder has a slight rattly sound to it when it starts, though the bearing and shaft seem completely solid. I'm thinking of heading down to SCG and picking up some new burrs today, as the old ones definitely look worn down. The main reason I was interested in the grinder is because I'm tired of having to chase grind settings all around the Vario's notches and want something that isn't going to heavily drift. Also, the SJ seems to be the thing to have and $120 doesn't seem like a bad deal for one that runs.
Years ago one of my guys hired a kid one time that had just taken his A+ plus exam. On my way through their work area I see this kid adjusting a CRT with ground strap on his wrist. He dismissed my input that "you really don't want to be doing that with a grounding strap on". Needless to say a monitor or two later he got is tallywacker knocked in the dirt, lesson learned. :)
Anywho If you put a digital timer that will do .1 of sec on your Jolly you will find it is so consistent you only need to weigh your shots while your dialing in a new batch or trying to work out some flaw or the other. My Major is setup with a bypass on the machine switch, digital dark room timer and a foot switch. I stomp on the foot switch the grinder runs for 5.1 seconds viola an 18g does of fluffy lovelyness. It is worth mentioning that I package and thaw enough beans for only one day so i don't chase my grinder once it is dialed in for a batch. I had a Vario added the Major wound up selling the Vario.
I have tried the soda bottle, a pyrex lab funnel and home made spout or two. In the end the doser with a clean sweep mod and Andy's schnozolla is were i landed but your preference might be different. Check out the link at the bottom of Randy's page to the modded doser on that blue Major. It is about an awesome piece of work.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,761 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 2:56pm Subject: Re: Just bought a Super Jolly. What did I get myself into?
Best way to use a SJ is with the doser. If you are happy with your "mod" sell me your old doser, I have a SJ that was converted to doserless and I want the doser to put back on it.
As said, a digital timer to .1sec will be great. Grind into the doser the just give the lever a few flicks until it all is in the PF.
Adding a scale to a SJ, well it IS a commercial grinder designed for a compleetly different kind of service than you do in the home. I have tried several different ways to run them and for me, a digital timer into the doser is best. YMMV!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 705 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 4:06pm Subject: Re: Just bought a Super Jolly. What did I get myself into?
crap forgot the link to Randy's page on modifying a the Mazzer.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
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