Questions about bread machine belt replacement
I have a bread machine, make Unold, model 68511 "Backmeister". I suspect, but am not certain, this is in fact a re-branded Zojirushi BBCC-V20 "Home Bakery Traditional". Zojirushi doesn't sell in the EU.
The machine is broken. I had to buy a 3mm three-wing screw-driver (like a Phillips screwdriver, but with only three wings, just like the Mercedes star) to unscrew the two screws that are on the bottom only to make our life more difficult, and after unscrewing the four rubber "supports", which are kept by normal Phillips screws, and taking away the bottom, I had access to the gear box. Overall, and if we except the three-wings screws, the machine is very easy to open to have access to the gear.
This machine has two paddles. As it is usual, the paddle on the right, near the motor and the keyboard, takes the motion from the motor. Coaxial to the gear of the right paddle is another gear, and this gives the motion to the left paddle.
The picture shows the opened bottom of the bread machine, the left side of the machine is on the left side of the picture.
I removed both gears with a 8mm wrench. I got rid of the remnants of the two belts, which decomposed in some twine and some goo. They were easy to get rid of, but I still have to clean well the goo in the grooves of the left gear.
I found online some replacements belts, which cost €17 the large belt, and €16 the small belt, and are sold for this specific model.
So far, so good, the machine appears to be repairable.
My questions are:
a) Are the transmission belts "standard" for bread machine in general, or is it really adviceable to buy specific belts for the specific model?
The larger gear is marked: XBM638-T5 >PA66+30%GF< 2
The smaller gear is marked: XBM638-T4 >PA66+30%GF< 2
What do these numbers mean exactly? Can I use them to buy the belts at a generic hardware store?
b) If by visual inspection the teeth on the gears appear OK, should I reuse the same gears, or does it make sense to always change the gear together with the belts (I ask just for doubt's sake).
c) Is there a nice and practical way to eliminate the goo? It seems something like melted rubber. I think I am trying with softening it with some hot water and then cleaning with a toothpick.
OK, these are the questions. My main motive in any case was to make the future forum readers with the same problem aware that opening an Unold 68511 Backmeister is not big fuss and repairing it should be fairly easy, but maybe there are cheaper options. This might also apply to Zojirushi BBCC-V20.
Hot water was a very effective way to remove the goo, the grooves of the gear are now like new.
The Unold order code for the large belt is 8656051, this belt is also used by models 8650, 8658, 8660.
The Unold order code for the small belt is 8656050, this belt is also used by models 8641, 8650, 8658, 8660.
There is an internet shop on Amazon which sells a kit with both belts at €20, certainly cheaper if one has to buy both belts.
Integralista, thanks for the detailed posts. I appreciate all the information. I've had that same model since the mid 1990s. I bought it from King Arthur Flour here in the US.
luckily I haven't had any issues with mine at this point. That may be because I've never used it to actually bake bread, so the heat hasn't gotten to the belts. I intended to bake with it, but was using it to mix sourdough at the time and timing made it easier just to mix in the Zo and bake in the oven.
I still use it to mix smaller batches of dough (16 oz flour approx. 453.6 g). Works like a charm.
Thanks again for the information.
Dave
The PA66+30%GF code is not a part number, though the rest of the numbers/letters might be. I once thought I had a eureka moment when trying to trace an obscure part with the same code. It was a blind alley!
It turns out that PA66 is merely an identifier for the type of plastic the part is made of, in this case polyamide (aka Nylon) 66, strengthened with 30% glass fibre (GF).
Lance
It seems that all is OK. I installed the new belts without trouble, it's an easy job. I look forward to my next loaf.
I don't see any more how to insert a picture of the final result.
Today I made the first loaf since I repaired the machine. After a few seconds of kneading, the left paddle stopped turning.
I opened the machine and I saw that the bolt of the left gear was loose. Tightening it is not easy because there is no way to easily keep the cog fixed while using the wrench on the 8mm bolt.
I did the job by placing a screwdriver on the inside of the machine, in a way that it blocks the movement of the part which gives the motion to the paddle.
I then proceeded with the bread making and it all worked very well, notwithstanding a 800g flour loaf kneaded for 30 minutes.