anyone own a super automatica?

chum · Post by **chum** » Sunday Aug 06, 2006 2:10 pm

I've bottled my first brew using my friends Brigalow bottle capper. When you push down on the lever, you can actually feel the crown seal crimp on to the bottle. I just scored a Super Automatica today and it doesnt seem to crimp the crown seal as well as the Brigalow. You can't actually feel the seal crimp over the bottle - the metal capping bit is too shallow. It also leaves a circular indentation on top of the seal too. Do i need to buy a new bell housing?

Just fixed my own problem. There is a circular bit of rubber inside the bell housing. I took it out and now it crimps properly.

JubJub · Post by **JubJub** » Sunday Aug 06, 2006 2:31 pm

As long as the plastic insert inside the cap seats firmly on the top of the bottle and the sides of the cap crimp sufficiently to hold the cap down firmly, you'll be right. I know blokes who have had their super automatica for 15years and have no dramas. Mine leaves an indent an it is effortless when crimping giving the impression its not doing much but it works.

Jub

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Sunday Aug 06, 2006 2:42 pm

Mine has a bit of trouble capping twist tops, although I can hear a definite "thunk" with crown seals, and it caps perfectly.

My twist top bottles get stuck a lot easier, so you have to watch how much pressure you put on the lever.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Sunday Aug 06, 2006 3:24 pm

You can't actually feel the seal crimp over the bottle - the metal capping bit is too shallow.

I thought the same thing for a while, too. Eventually I worked out that I could push the lever further to really get a good crimp. I thought I was going to break the bottle, but this has never happened. My advice - push it a bit further - if the height is adjusted correctly, the spring-mechanism should not allow you to break the bottle.

good luck.

yardglass · Post by **yardglass** » Sunday Aug 06, 2006 4:34 pm

it'll be fine, if you're unsure grab a commercial beer you're currently drinking and recap it then give it a shake and check for leaks.

be advised, this will only work with opened stubbies or tallies, not cans.

cheers

yaRD

ernie · Post by **ernie** » Sunday Aug 06, 2006 7:37 pm

be advised, this will only work with opened stubbies or tallies, not cans.

Thanks for the clarification.....Are you the bloke that works for McDonalds and stamps "Caution, contents may be hot" on the coffee cups??....or "Not to be taken orally" on tubes of Anusol??

Is this funny? Tough to tell...beer'o'clock was a long time ago

OldEvan · Post by **OldEvan** » Sunday Aug 06, 2006 9:58 pm

my superautomatica works great. I set it so that the bell touches the bottle when it is underneath, then click it up 1 notch (so there is enough room to slide in a crown seal if you dont already have one sitting on the bottle)

Sometimes there is a definate clunk as it works, alot of the time it is silent, but my seals are definately fine.

yardglass · Post by **yardglass** » Monday Aug 07, 2006 9:06 am

ernie wrote:
be advised, this will only work with opened stubbies or tallies, not cans.

Thanks for the clarification.....Are you the bloke that works for McDonalds and stamps "Caution, contents may be hot" on the coffee cups??....or "Not to be taken orally" on tubes of Anusol??

Is this funny? Tough to tell...beer'o'clock was a long time ago

yeah ern, that's me, i thought i recognised you from the Anusol Mailing List.

cheers

yard

back on topic, evanmit is right, leave the minimum amount of space possible between the bell and bottle and it should be apples, i've got some botts over 12 mths vintage that were capped with a SA and still hold pressure.

The Carbonator · Post by **The Carbonator** » Monday Aug 07, 2006 12:51 pm

I have the Brigalow.........it gives a satifying "clunk" everytime.
I also have a coopers, and it doesnt give that clunk.

Brigalow all the way

Krusty · Post by **Krusty** » Monday Aug 07, 2006 4:11 pm

I have a SuperAutomatica. It works well, every time. I use CUB 750/800ml and a few Lion Nathan longnecks, all twist top. I have also used it on the crown seal bottles you can buy at some HBS's.

Hrundi V Bakshi · Post by **Hrundi V Bakshi** » Monday Aug 07, 2006 5:03 pm

I have been using my Superautomatica for close to twenty years. It is still making perfect seals on bottles.

chum · Post by **chum** » Monday Aug 07, 2006 11:28 pm

it just doesnt crimp the same as the Brigalow with the rubber ring inside the bell housing. I don't think it matters though, ive capped a bottle with the rubber ring inside and water doesnt leak.

Wally · Post by **Wally** » Tuesday Aug 08, 2006 6:39 pm

If you get the indentation on the cap, have alook at the inside of the bell. There is a black spring loaded thing inside which can be pushed back with your thumb. This is the indentation maker. Just oil the outside of the black thing and push it in and out a few times to lubricate well, wipe off any access oil and you will find the indentations on the crown seals will be a thing of the past.