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So way back when I built my motorized mill I used an 8" sheave ... it ran a little fast but did the job. Recently I found a 12" sheave and upgraded. The mill was slower, didn't get "stuck" as it had sometimes in the past and seemed to be doing a better job. All was well until mashout when I was rewarded with a stuck mash ... evidently it crushes better when going slower.
I'll be doing some adjusting before the next brewday!
I've always been of the opinion that a stuck mash is a combination of several things including:
- mill gap
- mill speed
- false bottom
- water/grist ratio
- height/width of mash tun
- grains used
- mash recirc rate
- mash out temp
- etc.
I'd be surprised if the mill speed alone resulted in such a finer crush that it caused the stuck sparge. I'd think it was a combination of items that got you there.
For myself, I adjust my mill down until it starts binding and then back it off just a hair. I obliterate my grain and rarely have issues.
Therein lies the problem. As I finished cleaning my mashtun and placed it in the stand, I hit the valve on my HLT and it quietly started draining into the boil kettle. I think I got an extra 2 gallons before I noticed it. I suppose I could do some math and figure out where it got me, but I'll just wait for the next brewday in a week or so.