Robobrew pump blocked

[SteveH]

Hi all,

I'm having issues where my Robobrew pump gets blocked, tried with both leaf and pellet hops and it regularly gets totally blocked before it's time to chill.

I recently got a whirlpool arm for it, so I'd really like to be able to use the pump while chilling - anyone got any experience of adding a filter to the pump or similar?

I tried using a small stainless strainer/tea-ball over the inlet but it got dislodged during the boil, I guess I need something that fits more securely onto the pump inlet (or maybe just a heavier strainer?)

I could use a mash bag, and I did try this once but I worry about hop utilization, and it gets in the way of the chiller when adding whirlpool/steep hops.

Any experiences or workarounds much appreciated!

 

[melhaer]

I have a BrewMonk and it was blocked clogged on my first brew, because some of the grains fall outside the inner(mash) body in the main boiling kettle and I suppose they go trough the pump hole and clogged it. Then I removed the outer pipe and used a garden hose with a high pressure to pump water through each hole I think it was possible to be clogged and I succeeded to unclog it. Now I am thinking of some kind of a stainless net to cover the pump hole in order to prevent parts of the grains or the hops to go inside. I bought something like that - http://premiumvita.com/promedia/public/cl_shop/images/product/179/cedka_lujica.jpg - and I will use the stainless net to cover the pump hole.

 

[MrSarge]

Is the intake for the pump threaded? Maby one of these?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Homebrew...e&pageci=eb657249-9dfa-45ff-83d8-ebba1d451e28

 

[The Baron]

are you sure it is the hops that are clogging it and not a fine/floury grain crush with the hops. A hop spider should help with the hops but if it is a fine grain crush you should have a idea if you are getting a slow or stuck sparge. I always use a hop spider and i know some believe it stops the hops from re-circing fully but I have never noticed it a good stir in the hop spider a few times will help and also if you believe it is affecting the hop extraction just up the hop amounts slightly better than a clogged pump

 

[HarryFlatters]

My Hopcat pump tube clogs up too, very frustrating.

I'm thinking about getting a T shaped connector and putting two massive bazooka filters on it because the tiny filter supplied clogs too easily if the grain is milled slightly too fine.

 

[Stewart Brewing]

Hi All,
Did my first Brewzilla /Robobrew brew on Sunday and my pump worked fine until I tried to transfer the cooled wort. I've not had time to open it up to investigate, I suspect some grain got down past the screens. As advised on the Kegland website I am going to try a reverse flush with a garden hose. Everything else worked fine with the Brewzilla, happy so far.

 

[SteveH]

Is the intake for the pump threaded? Maby one of these?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Homebrew-Beer-Wine-Brewing-Mesh-Grain-Basket-Dry-Hop-Hopper-Filter-Strainer-Tool/174021236440?_mwBanner=1&ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F174021236440&rvr_id=0&rvr_ts=2d16925c16e0a4d12a54182cfff20e08&ul_noapp=true&pageci=eb657249-9dfa-45ff-83d8-ebba1d451e28

I don't think that it is unfortunately, although I might be able to remove the retaining nut and replace it with a 90 degree threaded elbow or something

 

[SteveH]

Thanks for the replies - I'm fairly sure it's hops causing the problem as recirculating during the mash works fine, it's just after the boil when I've often added 100g+ of hops that I have issues.

I'm going to try to find a heavier stainless tea-strainer as a quick-fix, and also got a couple of mesh bags if that doesn't work so I can bag the hops instead of adding them loose.

 

[kelper]

Can't you put the hops in a muslin bag and knot it?

 

[Alex.mc]

Firstly, and obviously a big disclaimer here to mind what you do and be careful and I'm not responsible etc...... I have a section of clean garden hose about 2 feet long that I keep nearby during boil. If the pump slows down or looks like clogging, I turn off the elements, turn off the pump, remove the arm and then push the pipe down into the camlock opening until it roughly seals on the silicone washer, then slowly blow! Best to leave the lid on for this! it's usually always possible to blow the wort and clog right out back into the main chamber. Then arm back in, pump restarted, elements back on and boil away.
Clearly this needs to be done carefully! And I'm not recommending it, but it's what I do.....

 

[SteveH]

Can't you put the hops in a muslin bag and knot it?

Yeah, I have done in the past, but it's inconvenient for multiple additions, and I worry about utilization compared to using them loose. Also it's a pain with large whirlpool additions because the chiller is in the way.

 

[SteveH]

@Alex.mc thanks for the tip - I'm not currently running the pump during the boil, maybe I should try it near the end to make sure it's not blocked.

Typically I try running it only after I've started chilling, so I don't really want to be putting hose water etc back through the pump at that point.

 

[HarryFlatters]

My Hopcat is fine during the mash, but when I want to whirlpool or use the pump to transfer to my cube, the tiny filter clogs with what I think it's a mixture of hop debris (even though I use a spider) and hot break material.

As per the post above, I am looking for a T or 90° elbow into which I can screw larger filters.

 

[Blackout84]

Hi,

Had the pump on my Robobrew block once on a good heavy brew before I had hop spider.

Tip I got was to have a syringe with nozzle to fit the silicone outlet hose on the spare arm. So if my pump got blocked during a brew you can use the syringe to push back what're the blockage is without having to reverse flush during your brew.

 

[Alex.mc]

Interesting experiment of bagged versus loose hops in the boil and what the results were.
http://brulosophy.com/2016/03/21/kettle-hops-loose-vs-bagged-exbeeriment-results/
The interesting thing to note is that the preference for the 2 beers at the end was pretty split. So TLDR..... there appears to be a discernible difference bewteen contained and free hops in the boil, yet preference is not the factor that ability to discern it is... As usual with beer tasted blind.... each choice is valid and personal.

 

[SteveH]

Ok blocked again during my brew last night - word of warning re the "backflush with a hose" solution, which has worked for me previously...

tried it again today and instead of unblocking the pump it's popped a hose off or something and sent water pouring out of the bottom and all over the circuit board

 

[HarryFlatters]

I've knocked this together to try to see if it helps. I've given it a dry run tonight and everything fits together fine.

It's a standard 6" bazooka filter with a 1/2" male thread, a 90° steel F/F 1/2" connector, and a 1/2" male thread to 10mm barbed connector reducer.

 

[foxy]

My Hopcat pump tube clogs up too, very frustrating.

I'm thinking about getting a T shaped connector and putting two massive bazooka filters on it because the tiny filter supplied clogs too easily if the grain is milled slightly too fine.

Have you got the little filter which fits over the pump in take?
I think the best whirlpool method is the paddle, those little in take filters could prevent the small particles of crushed grain going through circulation and dumped on top of the grain bed. Another thing to remember is those pumps are only recommended for 80 C though if it is a short time it shouldn't matter to much. I have played around with all types of filters and pick up tubes, put a reducer in the tap but still come back to the helix, even with loose hops.
In my Brau Wolf I have tried a bit of reverse thinking, the hop tubes to keep hops in when dry hopping in a keg, I will be trying as a bazooka to keep them out. Doesn't look pretty but I think it my just work.

 

[HarryFlatters]

Hiya @foxy , I think we've come up with similar solutions to the same issue.

 

[foxy]

Hiya @foxy , I think we've come up with similar solutions to the same issue.

This is the filter I use in the Guten/Hopcat/etc etc etc

Today's brew. Filtered by ole snakey.