Osterizer Behavioral Question

[rp2813]

I recently whipped up Vietnamese style avocado smoothies (don't knock 'em 'til you've tried 'em) in one of my Osterizers using the ice crusher blade.   I didn't cut up the avocado except in half.   The remaining ingredients were sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, and ice.

 

All was going well and the ice was quickly crushed, but after maybe 15 seconds the RPMs shot up, the motor seemed disengaged from the blade and went into a free spin mode -- no blending action.  I opened up the carafe and found a soft mass at the bottom, gave it a few pokes, then replaced the lid and started again.  The same thing happened.  I repeated this process once more, and after that the smoothie was well-blended.

 

My first thought was to blame the blade assembly, but now I'm wondering if the drive pin could need replacing.  The NIB blade was recently purchased, NOS from a dozen or so years ago and supposedly of better quality than what Oster is currently producing.  Both the pin and the cap below it are clean and shiny.  It's an easy job to replace the pin, but I'm looking for input on whether the pin or the blade assembly is the culprit -- or if it could be something more serious.

 

 

 

 

[petek]

Sounds to me like it was just an air bubble in the mix. Sometimes you do  have to tamp things down to make contact with the blads. Always start with liquids in the jar first, sometimes helps. 

 

[roto204]

Air bubble x2

I've been put through special hell with our Waring when this happens.  It creates a little dome of no-activity and you end up dorking around endlessly to try and get the food to flow back down to the bottom.  If I make smoothies with lots of frozen berries, it can happen really quickly.  This usually results in multiple stabbings with a wooden spoon, the exhaustion of an extensive collection of obscenities, shaking my fist at the sky, and wondering why I didn't just go to Jamba Juice instead.  Followed lastly, of course, by the realization that Kevin was right, and I should just get a damned VitaMix.

 

Those smoothies sound amazing, by the way.  ;-)

 

[petek]

Well even Vita Mix`s aren`t tamper proof.. that`s why they come with one.   

 

[roto204]

LOL

Touché...  

 

[beekeyknee]

It's cavitation.

 

[rp2813]

Well, if that's all it is, I'll cut up the avocado into chunks next time, and dump it in last.  This blender has rendered stellar performances on other smoothies, but they didn't involve halved avocados or large chunks of any fruit, frozen or otherwise.

 

Thanks Pete and Nate for sharing your experiences.  I don't make smoothies or blend things nearly often enough to justify spending hundreds on a VitaMix.  I think that with the ice crusher blade, an Osterizer fits my needs perfectly.

 

The 99c Only Store had huge -- I mean really huge -- Fuerte avocados last week so I had to buy one.   I know that Fuertes are considered inferior to Hass by experts, but a grower I used to know insisted that it's hard to beat a good Fuerte.   I have to say, the smoothies with the Fuerte had plenty of flavor. 

 

I went back for more today, but now they have smaller (not by much, though) Hass instead.  I picked up two along with a couple of cans of condensed milk so when they're ready I'll give the Osterizer another whirl and see if there's much difference in taste as well as make the necessary changes, with hopes of better performance.

 

Thanks again for advising that what I experienced wasn't a mechanical problem.

 

[mikael3]

I’m waiting for the day when Oster starts making a “tamper tool” of their own.  Half of the Vitamix’s efficiency comes from that thing.  Air bubbles can happen in any design, and the tamper tool is the only efficient solution to the problem.

 

We have a Vitamix at work, and it will turn anything into a liquid.  But for my money, I’ll take the Osterizer.  It does a fantastic job, AND I can make my smoothies in a Mason jar, which is a fantastic feature.

 

[foraloysius]

Would it perhaps be better to use the regular blade for smoothies? Ice crushing is something totally different than making smoothies. You want the ice to be fine in a smoothie not crushed, or?

 

[tolivac]

Stomper tools.My Vita-Mix stompers live in the kitchen drawer-NEVER use them!!!Heres how----Pulse-Pulse!!!Blendtec doesn't need the stomper tools-their large blade and jar bottom eliminates the need for a stomper tool.The tools DOESN'T come with a Blendtec.For smoothies you want the ice to be LIQUIFIED.The ice simply cools the drink and flash freezes fresh fruits so they can be processed better.In fact in one of the "Will it Blend" Tom grinds up a stomper tool in his Blendtec!

 

[sudsmaster]

I have several avocado trees, and I've noticed that fruit quality can depend a lot on growing conditions as well as picking the fruit at the right time.

 

For example, the Bacon variety is said to be inferior to Hass, as it has less oil content. However I've found if you let it get to the peak of ripeness on the tree, it can be quite tasty, if a bit sweeter than Hass. And Hass picked too early (as often happens with store bought) can be less than impressive.

 

Don't have a Fuerte, mainly because the trees are said to grow quite large. But from what I've read it's at a quality level similar to that of Hass. I think it doesn't turn black when ripe, but not sure. Zutano is a frequent variety for sale in garden centers, but the quality of that fruit is said to be only fair.

 

My Hass tree has produced very well, but the tree was getting too large for the garden so I "stumped" it last spring. It's recovering nicely but it will probably be another year before it starts producing again. I've also stumped the Bacon twice with good results. Stumping is a routine grower tactic to keep the trees to a harvestable size.

 

[mixguy]

Motor Shaft

I experienced something similar with my vintage Oster blender and is was the square drive shaft that needed replacing. The old shaft barely made contact with the blade assembly, lots of slippage when ice was in the container. A new shaft and shield are inexpensive from one of the online companies that sell Oster blender parts. It is threadedso that is doesn't loosen during usage. It was a 5 min fix!