Harvest Right Impulse Hand Sealer- Repair/Rebuild

How to replace parts and rebuild the Harvest Right 12" impulse sealer

[@maegan5034]

Timely and helpful! We watched this 2 weeks ago then decided to watch it again right before changing out our heating element and Teflon cloth last night. Your helpful tips made the task so much easier. Many people have scientific brains; many others have hands-on, practical "can-do" skills. But it's rare to have them all combined together in one brain and two hands along with the talent to clearly explain procedures. We are most appreciative that you expend time and effort to create these videos. 😎 P.S. Awesome to learn how to magnetize a screwdriver.

[@Philat4800feet]

Blushing

[@PattyLU2]

Excellent! And thanks to viewer Chris for lighting a spark on this one too!

[@PattyLU2]

Genius! (how to magnetize) I have always wondered how to do! Thank you for showing this seemingly obvious solutions to everything you do and for this helpful video!

[@EllenAnderson-ig4ih]

Hi Phil, I'm so glad I found you. I just got a new HarvestRight Freeze Dryer and just put my first batch through. The impulse sealer came with it and I tried to get it to work on the mylar bag and the plastic bag the oxygen absorbers came in. Only one small area sealed on the plastic bag and none sealed on the mylar bag. The light just flashed on and off and the bag was barely warm. It's brand new. What should I check to get it going correctly? I really appreciate your careful, thorough and informative demonstrations, experiments (FD potatoes) and calm presentation. Based on the long sidebar of topics you've covered, it looks like I have a lot of good info to absorb. Best, Ellen

[@chrisgentile2134]

I believe there is a knob adjustment for heat. Low heat for the plastic bag for the oxygen absorbers and try 50% for the mylar bag and go up 10% each attempt. Too much heat can damage the bag. I personally do not like this sealer. I purchased a 3 crimp adjustable 12 inch sealer off Amazon and I love it. It has heat up lights and it never fails to perform. Easy clean up with Clorox Clean Up or Fantastic.

[@Philat4800feet]

The bar to the sealer is spring loaded. Are you applying pressure when sealing? To seal mylar the setting should be nearly high. OA bags should be around 3-4

[@EllenAnderson-ig4ih]

@@Philat4800feet I set it for 7 for the mylar bag and pressed firmly. It got warm but no seal. Turned it up to the max. The light stayed on a bit longer, but only got barely warm.. Tried it on 4 for the oxygen absorber bag pressing firmly - nothing. Turned it up to 8 and it sealed

[@Philat4800feet]

@@EllenAnderson-ig4ih I would contact HR for a warranty replacement.

[@EllenAnderson-ig4ih]

@@Philat4800feet Many thanks, Phil. I have just sent a request to HarvestRight. Can't say this is the first issue I've had with them - long story. Ellen

[@chrisgentile2134]

Phil, great video. Thank you.

[@JohnJones-oy3md]

19:23 - Great little tip worth the price of admission.

[@kjnaturewatching7158]

Harvest Right Sealer would not turn on. It is nearly new not much use. My husband opened it and found the metal part on the spring was bent and not making the correct contact. He fixed it and it is working again. I am fortunate I have a spare from another vendor but will keep using the Harvest Right until it stops again.

[@sweett4rt]

Thanks! Great video.

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

More good stuff, thanks. Just an FYI. My new sealer did not come with any spares. Also, my connection cover opposite the hinge is not nearly as robust as yours and has already broken and fallen off. This left the heater strip electrical connection uncovered. HR does not have a replacement part.

[@tammyk6708]

Looks like there is one person more ocd than you. Not that it is a bad thing. I embrace mine!

[@chrisgentile2134]

You have no idea.

[@michaelwright1602]

I just received their medium unit with the sealer. It did not work out of the box... So, I did a bit of research and measuring. The sealer is advertised as having a 5mm heating strip. Mine came with an 8mm heating strip. I found the proper 5mm strips on Amazon and had them the next day. I installed, and the sealer worked. HR was of no help in this matter.

[@Philat4800feet]

Sorry to here that

[@majorhavoc9693]

What I can't seem to find info on is a fix for a sealer that doesn't get hot enough, where, after sealing a Harvest Right bag, I can pull apart the opening after it cools. It has a little resistance to it but not enough for my liking. I now seal the same spot 3 or 4 times while pressed down hard on the arm. And yes, the dial is set to 5. I've also changed the wire. At this point I think there may be a bad internal component.

[@Philat4800feet]

Either your transformer is going, or has gone bad, or the dial adjustment (potentiometer) is dirty and is causing too much resistance. Make sense?

[@240weatherby3]

Informative

[@kevinrowbotham545]

Great video Phil! I was watching your pump tear down video but could not finish it at the time. When I came back it was gone. What happened?

[@Philat4800feet]

Should still be there, although it's the old HR green pump.

[@kevinrowbotham545]

Thanks, I found it!

[@milehunter227]

My neighbor’s unit buzzes real loud ever since they took apart and cleaned it. Wonder what condition is causing it to buzz real loud? A transformer under high amperage sound.

[@Philat4800feet]

I would agree on the transformer

[@carriebeard-R.I.T.S]

Can the temperature be adjusted up beyond the dial setting? Mine doesn't really seal the bags

[@Philat4800feet]

I don't believe so. The dial controls a timer. The temperature is a consent. The timer controls how long electricity flows to the heating element.

[@michaelwright1602]

@@Philat4800feetIt is my understanding the sealers being sold today have a much smaller transformer in them than they originally had. I had to replace the 8mm strips and replace with 5mm strips. I think if folks are having a difficult time getting a serious seal, a 3mm or 2mm heating strip would work the best due to the downgraded transformer.

[@echopapa243]

Where to get replacement parts? Heating Element, Cover Tape, Silicone Strips, Fuses.

[@Philat4800feet]

Try mybinder.com

[@Jodi_W]

@@Philat4800feet Just a note - that address is not working. It says the domain is for sale.

[@Philat4800feet]

Sorry- Binding not binder www.mybinding.com/search?q=FS305

[@JessicaWheeler-kx9gu]

We have a new Harvest Right sealer that doesn't turn on. I purchased it as an extra one a long time ago. First time using it, when plugged in, the light doesn't turn on and it doesn't heat. Any suggestions?

[@Philat4800feet]

When you lower the arm, is there a slight click? Micro switch sound?

[@JessicaWheeler-kx9gu]

@@Philat4800feet When you lower the arm, nothing happens, no click.

[@Philat4800feet]

@@JessicaWheeler-kx9gu I would remove the bottom plate and watch what happens when the arm comes down. A bracket should come in contact with the micro switch.

[@JessicaWheeler-kx9gu]

@@Philat4800feet We haven't had a chance to do this yet, but can you tell me where we buy replace the teflon heat sealing tape and other parts.

[@Philat4800feet]

@@JessicaWheeler-kx9gu check with HR, but Amazon has them too. Make sure they're 12"

[@MarcStLouis-cr7yk]

Hi Phil, Thank you! When I bought my freeze drier the first sealer I received was defective & Harvest Right sent another right out, excellent service! Problem is it doesn’t get hot enough & you can easily pull sealed bags apart, is it possible to repair or even worth it? Kept the old one for Sapir parts as HR didn’t want it back. Thoughts???

[@Philat4800feet]

I only replaced the Teflon and heated wire. More could be done. The next two issues would be the micro switch and transformer. I'll need to cost out those parts against the replacement cost. HR cost is $130. Other sealers as cheap as $79

[@cavie02]

Where was the repair? Replacing the heating elements is not a repair. 25 minutes for an incorrectly titles video.