Pacojet Competitor? The Ninja Creami

[ElsieD]

25 minutes ago, jedovaty said:

I haven't used mine in a few months.  Apparently I didn't clean the lid well enough, it reeks of mold.  I can't figure out how to take it apart, shining a flashlight, I don't see anything but clearly there are some nooks and crannies. Ideas?

The surrounding nooks around the shaft seem to be prone to collecting stuff as well, I used a toothpick and guess I hadn't cleaned it well enough before putting it away last time. 

 

Yuck

 

If you move the paddle latch in the direction indicated on the lid, the blade comes right out for cleaning.  After cleaning the blade and lid, move the paddle latch in the same direction and the blade locks back in.

Edited Monday at 03:40 PM by ElsieD
Fixed a typo (log)

[jedovaty]

I appreciate the response, and sorry for the confusion.  Removing the blade is not my issue.  The lid with the paddle which holds the blade is what smells really bad.  When I have cleaned it in the past, I would run a soapy sponge through the hole, then block the hole and fill with hot soapy water and open/close the latch several times, and clean the whole thing with a sponge as well.  Then shake out and let air dry.  It smells pretty bad.  Since it has moving parts and a tensioned action, there should be a way to disassemble it.  If no one knows, I guess I'll give it a go and if it breaks, oh well, I don't want to use this for now due to the smell.

 

Could those of you who use the unit on an infrequent basis take a sniff of the lid and see if it's tolerable or gross?

 

The nooks at the shaft are also bothering me.. I found a few repair videos (here's an example quick teardown) and am going to try to take it apart and see if maybe my unit had different tolerances such that stuff got up inside (I bought a refurb unit).

[jedovaty]

Found a video where the dude uses water through the side ports and has the paddle half-way open.  It's for a deluxe model, my lid is from the first gen units so I'm sure it is similar.  He uses a waterpik for extra power if necessary.  That gives me a place to start.  If I manage to take it apart, will share.

[blue_dolphin]

49 minutes ago, jedovaty said:

Could those of you who use the unit on an infrequent basis take a sniff of the lid and see if it's tolerable or gross?

I’ve used my Creami very infrequently of late but I detect no odor. After use, I remove the blade, wash everything in hot, soapy water and air dry.  I don’t reassemble until I’m ready to use it again.

If I noticed an odor from the lid, I’d suspect something, even moisture, trapped under the big ridged O-ring in the lid and I was a bit surprised that Mr Water-Pik, in all his thoroughness didn’t address that.  
I didn’t try to see if that can be removed and replaced but if not, I’d try a scrub in hot, soapy water, a rinse in a dilute bleach solution and a nice sun bath outside for a few hours…or days 🙃
 

49 minutes ago, jedovaty said:

The nooks at the shaft are also bothering me.

If you mean the threads on the shaft that retract back up into the upper motor housing, I’ve run the machine with just water to see if there was any obvious debris there.  This was after I used it to make chicken liver pâté and was concerned about carryover.  I can’t say there was none but there was no hint of turbidity, cloudiness or foaming you’d expect to see if there was any protein in there. 

Good luck with your troubleshooting and keep us posted!

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 01:03 AM by blue_dolphin (log)

[jedovaty]

13 hours ago, blue_dolphin said:

If I noticed an odor from the lid, I’d suspect something, even moisture, trapped under the big ridged O-ring in the lid and I was a bit surprised that Mr Water-Pik, in all his thoroughness didn’t address that. 

Hah, didn't realize the gasket could be removed thank you!  There was a little moisture, and a little schmutz, cleaned right up.  However, the smell remained, and I took a closer look into the holes along the top side, and sure enough, there was growth inside.  Toothpick got some of it out, and since I don't have a waterpik, I aimed the faucet on spray mode at hottest into the little holes, wiggling the paddle the whole time.  Also soaked in hot, soapy water for a few minutes, eventually the toothpick got more gunk out.  Can't tell if any remains.

 

I rarely use bleach to clean things, and may consider it after this dries.  I suspect some lingering smell may remain if it was absorbed by the plastic.  On closer inspection, it does look like the lid can be disassembled, however, it is pretty tight and it may be a one-way install that'll break.  Curiosity may get the better of me since replacement lids are available, currently debating whether it is worth it given how detailed a cleaning needs to be uggh.  What I found fascinating: there are unbranded, knockoff lids available for same cost as the official lid.  Huh.

 

Thanks again

[jedovaty]

It still reeked this morning, I could see bits of stuff inside through the ports and toothpick extration proved frustrating.  Screwdriver leverage into a port and the thing came apart fairly easily - closer inspection, unfortunately, it is a one-way task, reassembly not logistically possible.

What I found inside.. the horror.. the horror (with apologies to Joseph Conrad).

I don't want to share a picture, it's rather gross.

Can this be prevented, I ask rhetorically, and promptly respond to myself, not sure.  The spacing inside is pretty tight and if you get thicker bases pulled up in there, simply rinsing/soaking will not be enough to evacuate.  So now I'm on the fence whether to even bother purchasing a replacement lid since this is likely to happen again.  Based on this thread only with the several users, it seems like I am the only one experiencing this issue.

Edited Wednesday at 01:50 PM by jedovaty (log)

[JoNorvelleWalker]

13 hours ago, jedovaty said:

It still reeked this morning, I could see bits of stuff inside through the ports and toothpick extration proved frustrating.  Screwdriver leverage into a port and the thing came apart fairly easily - closer inspection, unfortunately, it is a one-way task, reassembly not logistically possible.

What I found inside.. the horror.. the horror (with apologies to Joseph Conrad).

I don't want to share a picture, it's rather gross.

Can this be prevented, I ask rhetorically, and promptly respond to myself, not sure.  The spacing inside is pretty tight and if you get thicker bases pulled up in there, simply rinsing/soaking will not be enough to evacuate.  So now I'm on the fence whether to even bother purchasing a replacement lid since this is likely to happen again.  Based on this thread only with the several users, it seems like I am the only one experiencing this issue.

 

Ultrasonic cleaner?