Motorized Barley Crusher

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mbaker33

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I am looking for a decent motor to power my barley crusher. I am looking for something similar to the old school "beefy bodine" but I believe that has been discontinued many years ago. Does anyone have a decent direct drive motor they can recommend?
 
Barley Crusher actually reccomend a against a motor and a pulley. They recommend a drill or drill type motor. That's what I did with mine. Many people have used this drill and love it. I get to use it for the first time tomorrow.

image-2153112184.jpg


image-4090320838.jpg
 
I have a drill that I use now, but fairly often I need to refill the hopper and stop the mill. I would like to be able to keep the hopper filled while letting it go. Also, with the drill it is hard to keep the same rpm and I find I often over crush my grains.
 
Just a thought, but if you could determine the right speed, then glue the trigger in that position (epoxy, super glue) - while it is unplugged, of course! - then rig a switch so that flipping the switch on turns on the drill at the set speed. A cable tie might help get the speed close as a temporary device.
 
The drill in the picture has a speed control lever and a trigger lock. Its plugged into an outlet wired to a switch.
 
I have seen many builds on HBT where guys have motorized the Barley Crusher....myself included. I can't speak to the longevity of my mill, as I just completed building it and have only used it for 3 batches thus far, but it's holding up fine. The mill is suprizingly study, so I was very comfortable motorizing it. I used a 1/3 hp 1725 rpm motor with a 1 1/2" pulley on the motor shaft and a 12" pulley on the mill (had to get a 1/2" to 3/8" reducing bushing). This got my rpms down to a working range (215 rpm's) and with the exception of fine tuning my gapping I have had not problems with the belts slipping, adverse torsional stress on the mill shaft, etc. Finding a 1/3 or 1/2 hp motor should be easy. Figuring out how to reduce the rpms is the next challange. Gear boxes are way to rich for my blood, so I went with the pulley route. I have clearance issues with the 12" pulley and the 7 lb. hopper, so I built a new hopper. Here's my build if interested.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ho...-grain-mill-cabinet-grain-storage-bin-355241/

Good luck! :mug:
 
The deal with a pulley as opposed to a direct drive is the 'pull' sideways against the oilite bearings. They will wear oblong in time. However, they can probably be replaced...Motion Industries shows 1300 returns on a search for 'oilite bearing'
 
Hang Glider said:
The deal with a pulley as opposed to a direct drive is the 'pull' sideways against the oilite bearings. They will wear oblong in time. However, they can probably be replaced...Motion Industries shows 1300 returns on a search for 'oilite bearing'
Click to expand...

Certainly makes sense Hang Glider. I'll keep a close eye on my sytem and look for any abnormal laxity or movement in the bearings. I could see where a unilateral tension from a pulley system could cause issues in a mill that is used very frequently, say in a HBS where it is being abused. I'm hoping that with milling grains once or twice a month, the bearing will hold up for quite a while. I guess we'll see what happens with my system. Thankfully, I only paid $60 for the mill. :mug:
 
BraxtonBrewery said:
Barley Crusher actually reccomend a against a motor and a pulley. They recommend a drill or drill type motor. That's what I did with mine. Many people have used this drill and love it. I get to use it for the first time tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Maybe I missed it, but what model is that drill? It looks like the low speed Harbor Freight drill sans handles. If so, how is it working out for you? I'm expecting a Barley Crusher for Christmas, and based on lots of research I that drill seems to be the best available option.
 
Once upon a time about 5 years ago I got a Bodine motor (internal gearing) from a surplus supply store that was VERY reasonable and wired it up to a Walmart TV cart and Crankinstein which worked out really well. I just search and cannot find the references but perhaps one of you can?
 
Can anyone identify the drill used here? Interested in this since it has a trigger lock and can control the speed.
 
I think I will just buy one of these to motorize the mill I am building. By the time I buy the appropriate sheaves for my 3450 rpm 1hp motor to get the RPM's down to below 300, I could probably buy two of these drills anyway. No-Brainer!!!
 
Out of curiosity, I just picked up a GE gear motor that is rated for 177 rpm and 40 lbs-in. I'm curious, do you all think that will work for my MM3?
 
Kyled93 said:
Out of curiosity, I just picked up a GE gear motor that is rated for 177 rpm and 40 lbs-in. I'm curious, do you all think that will work for my MM3?
Click to expand...

That sure sounds familiar. Does it look like the one in this picture?
grain_mill_station_01_sm.jpg


If so...I've been using that motor with a Barley Crusher mill for the last year, and it's a good match...

Cheers!
 
day_trippr said:
That sure sounds familiar. Does it look like the one in this picture?

If so...I've been using that motor with a Barley Crusher mill for the last year, and it's a good match...

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Do you think that it will work with a monster mill 3? I'm a bit worried about the extra roller and torque requirement.
 
Kyled93 said:
Do you think that it will work with a monster mill 3? I'm a bit worried about the extra roller and torque requirement.
Click to expand...

I'm not certain, but I vaguely recall someone trying that motor on an mm3 and feeling it was under-gunned for the task. I'd try it with the knowledge that if you come to a similar conclusion you should have no problem selling the gear motor to someone with a dual roller mill...

Cheers!
 
BraxtonBrewery said:
Barley Crusher actually reccomend a against a motor and a pulley. They recommend a drill or drill type motor. That's what I did with mine. Many people have used this drill and love it. I get to use it for the first time tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Picked up the drill today and got to use my barley crusher for the first time this evening. Works great!
 
I like this idea!

Do you think you could replace the simple switch with a dimmer, and have a bit more speed control?

Tim
 
Getting tired of grinding my grain... any recent links to good, inexpensive, motors?
 

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