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FAQ

Why is the agitator not working?

Possible Causes:

Motor wires are loose or disconnected. Unplug the instrument. Inspect the wiring to the motor. Contact ANKOM Technology if a loose or disconnected wire is found.

If the wires are intact, run this test: Turn the instrument on and press the blue Agitate button. Check to see if the motor is turning (The fan at the bottom of the motor will spin if the motor is turning).

The Motor Set Screw(s) is too loose. If the motor is turning but the agitator is not, you will need to tighten the set screw(s) on the gray coupler with an Allen wrench. Note: Be sure to unplug the instrument before tightening the set screws.

The Packing Nut is too tight. If the motor is not turning when the "Agitate" button is pressed, you may need to loosen the brass packing nut.

  • Unplug the instrument.
  • Loosen the brass packing nut to turn it easily with your fingers.
  • Reach down into the vessel and twist the agitator disk back and forth a couple of times
  • Plug the instrument back in.
  • Turn the instrument on and press the blue "Agitate" button.
  • If the agitation begins, tighten the brass packing nut until you hear the motor begin to labor (you will hear the tone of the motor change slightly). When the tone changes, loosen the brass packing nut 1/8 of a turn and the tone will change back. This is the appropriate tightness.
  • The agitator may have corrosive buildup. If periodic maintenance was ignored and the acid solution was allowed to leak into the packing assembly, the shaft may become "frozen". Check for corrosive buildup. The packing set and agitator may need to be replaced.

The Motor may have failed. This is a bit unusual and each of the above possibilities should be investigated thoroughly before ordering a motor. If all the above steps have been reviewed and the agitator still does not turn, the motor must be replaced.