Unexpected noises in the Hottop Coffee Roaster can be difficult to isolate and diagnose. These instructions are designed to assist you in finding the source of the noise as well as deciding on a course of action.

      To begin with, remove all beans from the roast chamber. Locate the roaster in a quiet place to make auditory analysis as accurate as possible. With the roaster completely assembled, start a roast as if you are about to roast a batch of coffee. Adjust the Gold Knob as the roaster heats up for the quietest operation.

      There are four main locations from which most noises can be created.

1 - FRONT BEARING PLATE
      The tip of the Roasting Drum's shaft rotates in the center of the front bearing plate. This will make a mostly-constant sound which will come from the center, front of the machine.

      If this is suspected, allow the roaster to completely cool, and remove the Roasting Drum and clean the tip of the Roasting Drum's Shaft and clean the the dimple in the center of the Bearing Plate with a nylon scrubbing or scouring pad and an appropriate cleaning agent. Allow to dry and reassemble. If the noise continues you can apply a SMALL amount of food-grade, high temperature grease to the dimple in the center of the bearing plate ("A" above). If the noise continues replace the Bearing Plate.
      The Roasting Drum's outer perimeter can rub against the Bearing Plate. This can usually be remedied by adjustment of the Gold Knob. If that adjustment does not work, remove the Roasting Drum and look for deformations or wear marks on the front edge of the Roasting Drum and on the inner face of the bearing plate (the area indicated by the red circle marked "B" above). If there are indications that the Roasting Drum is rubbing against the Bearing Plate, and adustment of the Gold Knob did not remedy the problem, refer to our Roasting Drum Alignment Procedure.

2 - HEATING ELEMENT
      Over time the Heating Element can move from its desired location, or when cleaning it can be displaced. If it moves away too far from the roasting chamber's wall it can contact the Roasting Drum and cause rubbing sounds. This sound can be cyclical or constant. The distance at "B" as well as at "C" should be roughly equal to that at "A."

NOTE: Bezel removed for better view of Heating Element. Do not remove the bezel.

      If those distances seem incorrect, you may attempt to align the Heating Element by following This Procedure.
      A warped heating element cannot be repaired and needs to be replaced.

3 - REAR ROASTING DRUM NOISE
      Just as the front of the Roasting Drum can rub against the Bearing Plate, the rear of the Roasting Drum can rub against the roasting chamber's rear wall. This sound will usually be cyclical.

      Try adjusting the Gold Knob to eliminate this sound. If that does not work, remove the Roasting Drum and check for scraping marks on the rear wall of the chamber in the area indicated by the red area marked "A" in the above photo. If the back edge of the Roasting Drum is free of foreign matter or damage that could be causing the noise, check our Roasting Drum Alignment page for further assistance.

4 - GEAR CASE AND MOTOR
      The motor assembly that turns the Roasting Drum also contains a gear box. Noises from that part will be in the location indicated by The "4" in the top two photos on this page. These sounds could be grinding or other similar mechanical noises. It is sometimes accompanied by a Roasting Drum that turns hesitantly or in severe cases may not turn at all.
      If the Roasting Drum is not turning or turns hesitantly or intermittently, when the roaster has completely cooled, remove the Roasting Drum and while it is out of the machine, plug the machine in and begin a roast as you normally would. Look into the roaster and see if the Motor Drive in the center of the rear wall is turning, indicated by the "B" in the photo below:

IF NO: contact Hottop for further diagnosis and possible Roasting Drum Motor replacement.
IF YES: Check the drum's drive pin at the rear of the drum and see if the drive pin is in place:

      If the drive pin indicated by the red arrow in the above photo is missing or is loose, the Drum needs to be replaced.