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#1
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Yes I'm afraid I did go and buy one last week - hey, at £129 and a
3-year warranty it's got to be worth a go? Anyway, this afternoon's project was to assemble the beast. Took some time given that the whole kit was reduced to a box about 18" cube, and the instructions don't bear a whole lot of resemblance to reality... anyway, I now have the usual problem of having a small pile of components left over - which is never a good thing, is it? I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm - 4 'fibrous' washers - I already used 4 inside the drum, interposed between the blades and the inside of the drum - was that right? - Lots of spring washers which weren't mentioned at all, but aren't enough to use everywhere possible - where's most important? Plenty more small bits and pieces, and I'm sure most are just spare. I must admit though, it's the chain which has me most foxed! David |
#2
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Lobster wrote:
Yes I'm afraid I did go and buy one last week - hey, at £129 and a 3-year warranty it's got to be worth a go? Anyway, this afternoon's project was to assemble the beast. Took some time given that the whole kit was reduced to a box about 18" cube, and the instructions don't bear a whole lot of resemblance to reality... anyway, I now have the usual problem of having a small pile of components left over - which is never a good thing, is it? I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm - 4 'fibrous' washers - I already used 4 inside the drum, interposed between the blades and the inside of the drum - was that right? - Lots of spring washers which weren't mentioned at all, but aren't enough to use everywhere possible - where's most important? Plenty more small bits and pieces, and I'm sure most are just spare. I must admit though, it's the chain which has me most foxed! David I suspect the chain is for holding something into position or stopping it going further than its normal setting? -- Sir Benjamin Midllethwaite |
#3
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 19:03:27 GMT, Lobster
wrote: Yes I'm afraid I did go and buy one last week - hey, at £129 and a 3-year warranty it's got to be worth a go? Anyway, this afternoon's project was to assemble the beast. Took some time given that the whole kit was reduced to a box about 18" cube, and the instructions don't bear a whole lot of resemblance to reality... anyway, I now have the usual problem of having a small pile of components left over - which is never a good thing, is it? I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm - 4 'fibrous' washers - I already used 4 inside the drum, interposed between the blades and the inside of the drum - was that right? - Lots of spring washers which weren't mentioned at all, but aren't enough to use everywhere possible - where's most important? Plenty more small bits and pieces, and I'm sure most are just spare. I must admit though, it's the chain which has me most foxed! David One end connects to the frame of the mixer, the other to the ankle iron of the newly arrived Eastern European. Hurry up before the Chinese get him! -- Regards, Mike Halmarack Drop the EGG to email me. |
#4
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote:
Lobster wrote: I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end I suspect the chain is for holding something into position or stopping it going further than its normal setting? You'd think so, but I'll be damned if I can see where! It's only puny, too. David |
#5
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Lobster wrote:
The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote: Lobster wrote: I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end I suspect the chain is for holding something into position or stopping it going further than its normal setting? You'd think so, but I'll be damned if I can see where! It's only puny, too. David Throw some pics up of it in four different angle positions -- Sir Benjamin Midllethwaite |
#6
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 19:03:27 GMT, Lobster
wrote: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end Possibly attaches to a pin/peg to stop it getting lost. Does it have collapsible legs and a peg locking it in position. - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm Is it used for easing the drive belt on and off? If not, it must be a special free poking stick for poking people. - 4 'fibrous' washers - I already used 4 inside the drum, interposed between the blades and the inside of the drum - was that right? Possibly the other four go on the outside? I assume they are to prevent water leaking out. - Lots of spring washers which weren't mentioned at all, but aren't enough to use everywhere possible - where's most important? Anywhere that'll shake loose. Plenty more small bits and pieces, and I'm sure most are just spare. I must admit though, it's the chain which has me most foxed! It's always better to have too many parts rather than not enough.. sponix |
#7
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Lobster wrote: - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm This is for aligning the pulleys. CRB |
#8
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
crb wrote:
Lobster wrote: - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm This is for aligning the pulleys. CRB could be for locking the mixer drum in place while it mixes and taken out when the you empty the drum? -- Sir Benjamin Midllethwaite |
#9
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 21:04:04 +0000, sponix wrote:
On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 19:03:27 GMT, Lobster wrote: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end Possibly attaches to a pin/peg to stop it getting lost. Does it have collapsible legs and a peg locking it in position. - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm Is it used for easing the drive belt on and off? If not, it must be a special free poking stick for poking people. - 4 'fibrous' washers - I already used 4 inside the drum, interposed between the blades and the inside of the drum - was that right? Possibly the other four go on the outside? I assume they are to prevent water leaking out. - Lots of spring washers which weren't mentioned at all, but aren't enough to use everywhere possible - where's most important? Anywhere that'll shake loose. Plenty more small bits and pieces, and I'm sure most are just spare. I must admit though, it's the chain which has me most foxed! It's always better to have too many parts rather than not enough.. There could be even more after it's switched on :-) -- ..andy |
#10
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
sponix wrote:
On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 19:03:27 GMT, Lobster wrote: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end Possibly attaches to a pin/peg to stop it getting lost. Does it have collapsible legs and a peg locking it in position. Yup, I have seen some used like that - a bit like attaching the chuck key to the flex of the drill ;-) -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#11
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
"Lobster" wrote in message
... Yes I'm afraid I did go and buy one last week - hey, at £129 and a 3-year warranty it's got to be worth a go? Anyway, this afternoon's project was to assemble the beast. Took some time given that the whole kit was reduced to a box about 18" cube, and the instructions don't bear a whole lot of resemblance to reality... anyway, I now have the usual problem of having a small pile of components left over - which is never a good thing, is it? I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm - 4 'fibrous' washers - I already used 4 inside the drum, interposed between the blades and the inside of the drum - was that right? - Lots of spring washers which weren't mentioned at all, but aren't enough to use everywhere possible - where's most important? Plenty more small bits and pieces, and I'm sure most are just spare. I must admit though, it's the chain which has me most foxed! David LOL - it makes me glad I didn't buy one.. ;-) |
#12
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Paul Andrews wrote:
"Lobster" wrote in message ... Yes I'm afraid I did go and buy one last week - hey, at £129 and a 3-year warranty it's got to be worth a go? Anyway, this afternoon's project was to assemble the beast. Took some time given that the whole kit was reduced to a box about 18" cube, and the instructions don't bear a whole lot of resemblance to reality... anyway, I now have the usual problem of having a small pile of components left over - which is never a good thing, is it? I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm - 4 'fibrous' washers - I already used 4 inside the drum, interposed between the blades and the inside of the drum - was that right? - Lots of spring washers which weren't mentioned at all, but aren't enough to use everywhere possible - where's most important? Plenty more small bits and pieces, and I'm sure most are just spare. I must admit though, it's the chain which has me most foxed! David LOL - it makes me glad I didn't buy one.. ;-) Not everyone can put a flatpack together. ;-) -- Sir Benjamin Midllethwaite |
#13
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Lobster wrote:
I now have the usual problem of having a small pile of components left over - which is never a good thing, is it? Buy another three mixers and you should have enough bits left over to build another one! :-) -- Dave The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk 01634 717930 07850 597257 |
#14
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
John Rumm wrote:
sponix wrote: On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 19:03:27 GMT, Lobster wrote: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end Possibly attaches to a pin/peg to stop it getting lost. Does it have collapsible legs and a peg locking it in position. Yup, I have seen some used like that - a bit like attaching the chuck key to the flex of the drill ;-) That's certainly the grade and length of chain you'd expect for that sort of job; but no, there's nothing like a locking pin anywhere. It's actually one of the machines's disadvantages which I can see immediately IMHO, which is that it doesn't collapse easily (ie you'd need spanners and it would be awkward) like those proper Bell jobs which sit on removable stands; ie, really it needs a trailer or van to transport it. Where's Chris P. Bacon when you need him!? ISTR he bought one of these too? Seems to have been made in Doncaster, and amazingly, a phone number is provided, so I'll give them a bell (no pun intended) tomorrow and hopefully find out! David |
#15
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Lobster wrote:
Answers from the manufacturer below!: Anyway, this afternoon's project was to assemble the beast. Took some time given that the whole kit was reduced to a box about 18" cube, and the instructions don't bear a whole lot of resemblance to reality... anyway, I now have the usual problem of having a small pile of components left over - which is never a good thing, is it? I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end The housing covering the motor is in two halves; one mounted to the mixer frame, the other (like a lid) is attached to the first half with three bolts. Cable feeding the motor (also attached to frame) is clipped to inside of the 'lid' to avoid it snagging the drive belt, also within the housing - however that means that if you ever need to undo the lid it will hang on the electrical cable if not restrained. So the chain connects the lid to the other half of the housing to take the weight of the lid if it's unscrewed. - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm "Ah yes, quite a few people have phoned about that." Mistake - shouldn't be in the pack! - 4 'fibrous' washers - "Erm... shouldn't be any loose ones of those...!" (used in the manufacture but not needed at the diy assembly stage). Oh well - at least I was able to readily talk to someone who knew what they were talking about, which you might not expect for an el cheapo Aldi product. David |
#16
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Lobster wrote:
Oh well - at least I was able to readily talk to someone who knew what they were talking about, which you might not expect for an el cheapo Aldi product. You saved £70 compared to buying the same product from Tesco... I'm glad you started this thread - I haven't put mine together yet! |
#17
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
On Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:03:45 +0000, Chris Bacon
wrote: Lobster wrote: Oh well - at least I was able to readily talk to someone who knew what they were talking about, which you might not expect for an el cheapo Aldi product. You saved £70 compared to buying the same product from Tesco... I'm glad you started this thread - I haven't put mine together yet! I pray I'll never need a cement mixer again, so I can't say I inspected the offer at Aldi very closely. I do know that they usually sell very good quality stuff at lower prices than the traditional stores. I also know that a lot of people wish they wouldn't and act accordingly. -- Regards, Mike Halmarack Drop the EGG to email me. |
#18
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
On Mon, 06 Mar 2006 10:42:30 GMT, Lobster
wrote: Lobster wrote: Answers from the manufacturer below!: Anyway, this afternoon's project was to assemble the beast. Took some time given that the whole kit was reduced to a box about 18" cube, and the instructions don't bear a whole lot of resemblance to reality... anyway, I now have the usual problem of having a small pile of components left over - which is never a good thing, is it? I'll probably try ringing the manufacturer next week, but I wondered if anyone else had been there, done that, and had the answers? Here's the list: - Short length of chain with retaining bolts at either end The housing covering the motor is in two halves; one mounted to the mixer frame, the other (like a lid) is attached to the first half with three bolts. Cable feeding the motor (also attached to frame) is clipped to inside of the 'lid' to avoid it snagging the drive belt, also within the housing - however that means that if you ever need to undo the lid it will hang on the electrical cable if not restrained. So the chain connects the lid to the other half of the housing to take the weight of the lid if it's unscrewed. - Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm "Ah yes, quite a few people have phoned about that." Mistake - shouldn't be in the pack! - 4 'fibrous' washers - "Erm... shouldn't be any loose ones of those...!" (used in the manufacture but not needed at the diy assembly stage). Oh well - at least I was able to readily talk to someone who knew what they were talking about, which you might not expect for an el cheapo Aldi product. David Didn't know you could speak Chinese, or was it a call to Meccano? :-) -- ..andy |
#19
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Andy Hall wrote:
On Mon, 06 Mar 2006 10:42:30 GMT, Lobster wrote: Oh well - at least I was able to readily talk to someone who knew what they were talking about, which you might not expect for an el cheapo Aldi product. Didn't know you could speak Chinese, or was it a call to Meccano? :-) Doncaster actually - via a direct dial, standard rate number which was provided for a customer-service type in the instructions. And as Donny was in fact the town of my birth I was able to make out what he was on about! Seems like the mixer was actually manufactured there, in fact, rather than in the Far East - although maybe they just put Chinese-made components into cartons in Doncaster and call that 'manufacture', I don't know. Company's called Nutool. David |
#20
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
- Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm
"Ah yes, quite a few people have phoned about that." Mistake - shouldn't be in the pack! Far be it for me to suggest that the manufacturer rep doesn't know what he is talking about, but..... The Aldi machine looks like a clone of the Machine Mart model I bought last year, and the Machine Mart instructions said to use this 300mm x 8mm rod by placing it across the faces of the two pulleys to act as a guide to align them. How otherwise have you ensured that the pulleys are indeed aligned properly? CRB |
#21
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
On Mon, 06 Mar 2006 14:51:13 GMT, Lobster
wrote: Seems like the mixer was actually manufactured there, in fact, rather than in the Far East - although maybe they just put Chinese-made components into cartons in Doncaster and call that 'manufacture', I don't know. Company's called Nutool. It's just a Chinese box stuffing rebranding company, they have a huge warehouse close to the huge B&Q bulk distribution place next to the A1(M) North of Doncaster. -- |
#22
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
crb wrote:
- Length of plain steel rod, about 300mm x 8mm "Ah yes, quite a few people have phoned about that." Mistake - shouldn't be in the pack! Far be it for me to suggest that the manufacturer rep doesn't know what he is talking about, but..... The Aldi machine looks like a clone of the Machine Mart model I bought last year, and the Machine Mart instructions said to use this 300mm x 8mm rod by placing it across the faces of the two pulleys to act as a guide to align them. How otherwise have you ensured that the pulleys are indeed aligned properly? Sorry, you mentioned this yesterday, and I see what you mean now. I'm sure you're absolutely right about this! I had aligned my pulleys by eye, assuming that it wasn't too critical, because it didn't even warrant a mention in the assembly instructions. I've tried doing the alignment again,using the rod, and TBH I can't get it any better than I already had; however it's not easy is it, because the two wheels are of different thickness, and are quite inaccessible in the back of the housing. Anyway - any complimentary remarks I may have made earlier about aftersales service for Aldi tools are hereby withdrawn... David |
#23
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Lobster wrote:
I've tried doing the alignment again,using the rod, and TBH I can't get it any better than I already had; however it's not easy is it, because the two wheels are of different thickness, and are quite inaccessible in the back of the housing. Agreed. I cut an access hole to get a better sight-line, but it's probably not that critical. CRB |
#24
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
Lobster wrote:
4 'fibrous' washers - I already used 4 inside the drum, interposed between the blades and the inside of the drum - was that right? Sorry, forgot to mention that these washers (leather on the Machine Mart machine) are placed both inside the drum as you have done, and in the corresponding positions ouside the drum, under the bolt heads. CRB |
#25
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Calling all Aldi cement mixer fans...
On Mon, 06 Mar 2006 14:51:13 GMT, Lobster
wrote: Andy Hall wrote: On Mon, 06 Mar 2006 10:42:30 GMT, Lobster wrote: Oh well - at least I was able to readily talk to someone who knew what they were talking about, which you might not expect for an el cheapo Aldi product. Didn't know you could speak Chinese, or was it a call to Meccano? :-) Doncaster actually - via a direct dial, standard rate number which was provided for a customer-service type in the instructions. And as Donny was in fact the town of my birth I was able to make out what he was on about! Seems like the mixer was actually manufactured there, in fact, rather than in the Far East - although maybe they just put Chinese-made components into cartons in Doncaster and call that 'manufacture', I don't know. Company's called Nutool. David A warehouse rebranding operation with one or two people whose salary can be justified on the reduction in the returns that would otherwise happen.... -- ..andy |
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