How To Use A Basket Press (Ratchet Type)
1. To use the basket press, take out the wood pieces that are in the basket. There will be four or six (6) rectangular blocks (depending on press size) and two (2) half moons (note: if press cannot be completely filled with pulp, additional blocks may be required and are not included). Spray the threaded rod and the ratchet head ( the head spins on the threaded rod) with light film of WD40, Silicon Spray or other lubricant. The ratchet head may stick when it is new or has been sitting for a season. If it is stuck, hitting the ratchet with a hammer or a block of wood may be necessary to free the parts. Make sure the ratchet is in good working condition and all parts are clean and working freely. Sanitizer may be sprayed liberally on the press.
(a)
(b)
2. Fill the basket (which is sitting in the metal base) with the fruit pulp.. Place the two half moons on top of the fruit pulp to be pressed (see picture (b). With your hands, apply a small amount of pressure to the two half moon pieces to allow them to set into place making them flush with each other. Picture (a) shows the basket press assembled and picture (b) shows how the half moon pieces should be placed in the press. Next build off of the half moon pieces with the long rectangle blocks as shown in the picture (c). Place the rectangle blocks across the half moon pieces.
(c)
3. Turn the ratchet down clock wise until it meets up with the rectangle blocks. At this point the ratchet head will have resistance and will be able to work as a ratchet. Place the steel rod in the ratchet head and tighten the bolt. Picture (d) below shows the Pawls (two (2) black metal pieces 2 -3 inches long ). The pawls must be installed for the ratchet to move up or down on the threaded rod when under tension. Each pawl has a end cut at a 45 degree angle which comes to a point. This point is what makes the ratchet work. The pawls are installed in the upper and lower slots of the ratchet head (see picture (e)). First lay the pawls in front of the ratchet head shown in the picture below. The tips of the pawls are facing away from each other. Then place the pawls in the ratchet head with the tips pointing clock wise which will make the ratchet head go down. To make the ratchet head go up, reverse the position of the pawls as to make the tips point in a counter clock wise position.
(d)
(e)
4. When pressing the fruit pulp, crank ratchet down two (2) or more cranks. Stop cranking and let the juice flow. The juice will flow heavy for a short time and start to slow down or stop. When the juice slows down or stops, crank the ratchet again two (2) or more times. Continue cranking then stopping, cranking then stopping and wait for the juice to slow down or stop. Continue this process until there is little to no juice flowing out from the press.
