DeLonghi grinder won't spin, anyone tackled this teardown?

[Thomas Martinez]

See a writeup on how to fix the grinder on DeLonghi machines when it stop spinning. Thought it would of worth getting opinions from others who have done this.
Take the machine apart and find an orange rubber ring on the grinder. Remove the ring and the white bracket that hold the grinder. Remove the center screw by turning it clockwise (counter intuitive). Remove the blade and clean it. Put the blade back in place and tighten the center screw going at the opposite direction (anticlockwise). Replace the rubber ring and white bracket. Ensure there is no coffee ground or other foreign object trapped in the grinder. If it still will not spin then the grinder motor is likely broken and need to be replaced.
Out of curiosity, how often does the grinder fail due to motor issues vs. Buildup of ground coffee? I imagine the reverse thread for the center screw is a common point of frustration for new machines. Is there a good place to get replacement grinder motor for DeLonghi coffee machines? Have any of you performed these steps to fix the grinder issues on your DeLonghi coffee makers?

 

[The Muppets Turtl]

Reverse threaded screws is common with appliances that have spinning blades or discs. Think angle grinders or circular saws. Food processors, yes. The rotation of the blade will eventually loosen a right-handed thread over time.

 

[Funny Fowl]

Done maybe 5 of these now. 4 out of 5 times its just packed grounds and oil gunk around the burr. The motor itself fail less often than people think. The reverse thread for the center screw is something that trips people up when they is first doing this fix.

 

[Proud]

When you reinstall the grinder blade and tighten the screw anticlockwise, is that because the motor tend to spin clockwise and the screw self-tightens by itself? Or is there another reason for doing it?

 

[Adorable All]

When you reinstall the grinder blade and tighten the screw anticlockwise, is that because the motor tend to spin clockwise and the screw self-tightens by itself? Or is there another reason for doing it?

Yep, exactly that. Same deal with the left hand lug nut on the driver side of a car.

 

[Dull Dragonfly]

Yeah the write up is oversimplified. On the magnifica line there is a switch on the bean hopper that if it fails will make it sound like the motor are the problem. Check that before you order a replacement motor for your machine. Motors can be ordered from AliExpress for a fraction of the cost of the OEM machine parts however quality is hit or miss. Some will work and spin properly while others will buzz but not starting the motor. Do not use water on the grinder burr if there is oily residue from the coffee grounds. Use a dry brush to clean the burr followed by a small amount of grinder cleaner pellets that is available in packs from coffee machine suppliers. Water will react with the coffee grounds and form a paste that will be more difficultly to clean out of the burr. Finally, the orange rubber ring can stretch over time so order a spare replacement when you replace the grinder blade.