Rancilio Rocky Mod - Easy Continuous Grind

by **tchad** on Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:00 am

Hi Everyone.

This is my first post, so I thought I would share my step-by-step modification of my Rocky.

The Rocky has two controls, the On/Off switch and the button. When changing settings and when grinding large amounts of coffee pushing the button can become quite aggravating. So I decided to simply bypass the button, making it redundant and only use the On/Off switch.

Disclaimer: Electricity is dangerous. Do not mess with it, if you do not know what you are doing! I take no responsibility whatsoever!

Step 1: Disconnect Rocky from power source. Remove the three Screw from the button and open up.
Step 2: Find the two sockets going to the button.

Step 3: Remove on of the sockets using an appropriate tool.
Step 4: Notice the missing socket

Step 5: [EDIT] It has come to my attention that the Aluminium Foil pictured have several risks like heat, expansion / contraction and oxidation. Use straight copper tube lugs with wire, like the one in the next post inorder to make the safe connection.

Step 6: Put the sockets together so the connector is placed in the middle of them.
Step 7: Apply a little snippet of tape around the two sockets, so the don't fall apart.

Step 8: Screw the machine together and try.

The modification can easily be reverted back to factory settings and doesn't require any kind of soldering.

/tChAd

by **cafeIKE** on Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:40 pm

Do it Properly :!:

Make a wire like this

and cover connectors with tubing to insulate.

The foil will not make a good long term connection and could become a fire hazard :roll:

by **mhoy** on Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:58 pm

Remember the aluminum wiring fiasco in housing from a while back...

Mark

by **JimG** on Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:48 pm

I've never used them, but these look like they probably would work, too:

Available as item no. 38021 at http://www.waytekwire.com, and probably other places.

Jim

by HB on Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:08 pm

Thanks Mikkel, this is similar to the mod Modifying Rocky Doserless switch for continuous grind I posted on CoffeeGeek:

dan_kehn wrote:One of the disadvantages of the Rocky DL is its lack of a timer. Here's a simple modification that alleviates some of this inconvenience at very little cost.

DISCLAIMER: ELECTRICITY CAN KILL YOU. IF YOU UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, STOP HERE. YOU ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE, YOU ASSUME ALL RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY. REMEMBER TO DISCONNECT THE APPLIANCE FROM ITS POWER SOURCE BEFORE WORKING ON IT.

Additional caveat: The main on/off switch is a safety feature, as this grinder is nearly silent when running without beans in the hopper. If you make this modification, be careful that you do not inadvertently leave it on.

As manufactured, the Rocky DL has two switches. A white main on/off rocker switch is on the right-hand side. It doesn't start the grinder, but simply enables the front spring-loaded rocker switch. The front spring-loaded rocker switch actuates the grinder. This requires that you hold the switch down for the 20-30 seconds that Rocky requires to grind a double-shot's worth. The situation is even more penible if you want to grind enough for several shots. This modification changes the main on/off switch to a continuous grind switch. The current grind switch continues to work as before, except that it can no longer be "disabled" by the main on/off switch.

These are not step-by-step instructions. If you need them, you should instead engage a qualified repair technician to do it for you. Thus this post is (a) an idea, (b) a diagram, and (c) a parts list. Refer to the diagram next to the attached photo of the bottom of the machine before modification.

All you need is little over one foot of 18AWG wire (or thicker), four female connectors (w/sleeves) and two male connectors. Fashion yourself two Y wires as shown in the diagram. Using the extra connectors avoids cutting any wires that were already there should you later want to restore it to original condition. Solder the Y connection and cover it with heat shrink tubing. Pay attention to the wire routing to avoid rub points and add extra protective tubing as necessary. Total cost is around $4.

When you're done, you'll have a leftover "original" wire that connected switch S1 to S2. Wrap it up tightly and stored it in the base, should you want to restore Rocky to his original condition in the future.

Subsequent posts in the above thread suggest refinements like using a Y terminal plug instead of building your own and splice taps. A few other noteworthy mods are documented in How to turn Rocky into an uber grinder.


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