Victorio Strainer-Too Tight?

[patience]

For years now, we have been using the aluminum collander inherited from my Mom, to process tomatoes and fruits for canning. So, we were excited just recently to receive the Victorio Strainer we ordered, but the tomato crop is gone now. :( Wife also ordered the extra screens and auger thing, for different fruits and veggies. She is dedicated to wringing the last drop out of whatever she is pulverizing to can--takes a lot of work and time--so I hope this thing saves her some work.

We don't have anything to run through it ATM, and the instructions say to NOT turn the thing without food in it. The auger is spring loaded into the conical screen, making it wedge tightly in there. Seems like it is way too hard to turn. Is that normal? :confused: Yeah, we looked over the instructions carefully and put it together right.

I have a huge collection of springs, so when the time comes to use this thing, I think I'll substitute a weaker spring to try it at first. Afraid if I don't, we'll damage the crank/auger connection.

Anybody use one of these, that could give advice?

[DM]

Are tyou trying to turn it with nothing in it? The liquid in the food is the "lube" that makes it turn easier.

DM

[KarenBC]

It does get easier to turn once you have the food in it! That first turn or 2 usually makes me think "oh oh - what's happening here?"...until I remember it is hard to turn for the first bit.
Do your instructions say to oil the small washer with vegetable oil?

[patience]

DM,

Yes, and it was far too tight, so I did NOT turn it. Afraid I'd break something. It made me think the unit might be defective.

KarenBC,

Dunno about the vegetable oil. I could try that. I'll read further. It couldn't hurt to lube it!

Iwas just looking for someone with experience with this thing.

[Catalpa]

I have a victorio that dates back to the seventies when my Mom was canning, so I don't know if yours is the same, but with mine I have to be careful no to tighten the wing nuts that hold the strainer to the body too tight. They have to be just barely hand-tight, or the corkscrew inside the strainer won't turn. Try loosening those nuts and see what happens. Maybe you could buy just a few 'maters at a roadside stand to try it out with? Makes a wonderful puree that's easy to can up as sauce.

On kind of the same note, we were doing apples this weekend, and one batch wasn't sufficiently softened. The crank turned really hard, and we actually had a couple of drops of blackish oil come out of the housing. All these years, I never knew there was lube inside there. Has anyone else run into that? We'd never seen that happen before, hope we didn't damage it.

[johnjmw]

With out food in it you are rubbing plastic against metal. With food in it the spring is slightly compressed and there is a small space where the food is being forced through. It acts as a lube in a way. I've got one and love it.

[KarenBC]

On kind of the same note, we were doing apples this weekend, and one batch wasn't sufficiently softened. The crank turned really hard, and we actually had a couple of drops of blackish oil come out of the housing. All these years, I never knew there was lube inside there. Has anyone else run into that? We'd never seen that happen before, hope we didn't damage it.

The blackish sort of ooze came out where the handle attaches? I've had this happen once in a while. I think it's something to do with the rubber washer and the circular round metal piece that goes over the spring. What I try to remember to do now before I start is to use a vegetable oil on the pieces, particularly the washer, (or spray it with Pam). Once everything is going it stops and all is fine.

[patience]

johnjmw said:
"
With out food in it you are rubbing plastic against metal. With food in it the spring is slightly compressed and there is a small space where the food is being forced through. It acts as a lube in a way. I've got one and love it."

Okay, got that. Seems like maybe I should lube it all up with veggie oil, or the first few turns are going to be really hard! I'm just concerned about undue strain causing something to break. Anyway, I'll try the oil when we have something to run through it. Thanks for the help everybody! :D

[rpdoon]

Hi I just used my strainer for the first time too. Did applesause.. it was very hard to turn until the apples got down in to the screen, then worked like a charm, way fast. Good Luck with yours. Rpdoon