Black & Decker Toaster Oven: Toast Quality Decline

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Howdy,

I am on my third B&D toaster oven. On all three, the toast knob must
be turned further and further until toasting is no longer an option.
On this third one, I'm already to where I have to pull the darkness
knob out and bypass the physical restraint at turning it further dark.
We're JUST about to have to start running the toaster twice to get
decent toast.

1. any fixes that anyone knows of?

2. can't figure out if it is decline of timer or decrease in heat
output of calrod toasting elements. [Forgot to measure time at
different settings when the unit was new.]

3. anyone know if the toaster setting is:
3a. direct timing at full blast
or
3b. some thermostat's detection of a top-end temperature?

Thanks in advance,
Rick
Richard - Ganado TX - Note: remove UNO in ADDR to reply

 

[Kim Sleep]

I repair food service equipment, and in 99% of the cases, the amount of
toasting is usually determined by time, not by temperature. My guess is that
it is easier to control simple on/off functions, than it is to vary the
intensity of a high wattage element.
Kim

 

[spudnuty]

Yah it's a heated bimetalic timer.
It's easy to get behind the controls. One screw in the bottom of the
left side, pull the bottom out and pull down the side comes off.
You'll find the toaster timer has 2 adjustment screws. The left one
seems to be range and the right high limit. I would try backing out the
right screw and seeing if that increases the darkness.
BTW be cautious of all that rigid wire running around it's all hot.
I repaired one of these that the door switch had gone bad on. Replaced
it with a standard double pole. The client called me the next year and
said it had caught on fire. Turns out the phone rang and she plopped
her grocery bags in front of the toaster. The toast lever got jammed
down, When she got back off the phone her groceries were on fire!
She gave me that burned toaster and I use it to heat non food items
now.
Richard

 

[TCS]

Howdy,

I am on my third B&D toaster oven. On all three, the toast knob must
be turned further and further until toasting is no longer an option.
On this third one, I'm already to where I have to pull the darkness
knob out and bypass the physical restraint at turning it further dark.
We're JUST about to have to start running the toaster twice to get
decent toast.

1. any fixes that anyone knows of?

Replace it.

Plan on doing so at least every 18 months. That or buy a higher quality
oven.

 

[Jerry G.]

It is the thermostat that either has to be adjusted, or replaced.

Considering, next time you buy a toaster oven, there are some very good ones
compared to the B&D. You should do some shopping around, and investigate
what other consumers have rated these at. Then you go from there.

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

It is the thermostat that either has to be adjusted, or replaced.

Considering, next time you buy a toaster oven, there are some very good ones
compared to the B&D. You should do some shopping around, and investigate
what other consumers have rated these at. Then you go from there.

Better yet, buy just a plain toaster. Toaster ovens usually do a poor
job of toasting.

 

[James Sweet]

Better yet, buy just a plain toaster. Toaster ovens usually do a poor
job of toasting.

Hard to say which I like better, I have a plain toaster because they take
less counter space but I've used toaster ovens too and they're certainly
more versatile. Seems like the ones I've used toast as well as an average
conventional toaster.

 

[Mark]

I have a Black and Decker toaster oven with an electronic control for
the toast. THe mechanical door switch failed such that opening the
door di not shut it off. A small copper spring finger failed from
metal fatigue because it was being bent pretty far each time the door
was opened and closed. I was able to repair it with a piece of copper
and flexible wire. I was not happy about the original design.

Mark

 

[ChrisCoaster]

Howdy,

I am on my third B&D toaster oven. On all three, the toast knob must
be turned further and further until toasting is no longer an option.
On this third one, I'm already to where I have to pull the darkness
knob out and bypass the physical restraint at turning it further dark.
We're JUST about to have to start running the toaster twice to get
decent toast.

1. any fixes that anyone knows of?

2. can't figure out if it is decline of timer or decrease in heat
output of calrod toasting elements. [Forgot to measure time at
different settings when the unit was new.]

3. anyone know if the toaster setting is:
3a. direct timing at full blast
or
3b. some thermostat's detection of a top-end temperature?

Thanks in advance,
Rick
Richard - Ganado TX - Note: remove UNO in ADDR to reply

_______________________
It confounds me that nobody replying here came up with the concept of
routine(weekly or monthly) cleaning of the inside of toaster ovens. We
own a Delonghi which has toasted consistently well over the last year
except those times when I was lazy and neglected to clean the inside
walls and rack for more than two months.

Save yourself the cost of a new oven and get on a schedule of cleaning
the thing and see if your toast(and baking!) times don't remain more
consistent.

This country amazes me: The filter on a vacuum clogs up, and we throw
it out for a new vacuum. The TV screen gets dusty, and we sell or
throw out the set thinking the picture has gone bad. Same for toaster
ovens!

Maintenance, people, please! It saves you money and all of us resources
in the long run.

-CC

 

[coralee]

if only it were that simple

ChrisCoaster

I only wish it were that simple. As a cleaning and maintenance freak, I can attest to the fact that these simple procedures will not ensure that consumer products last and conform to an appropriate standard.

My Black and Decker Toast R Oven (TR0651) top heater coil stopped working 13 months after purchase. The thing looks exactly the same as when it first came out of the box. It was cleaned and cared for regularly, and not used for heavy cooking at all.

While I recognize your charge that (some or even most) people have that 'throw it out' mindset, companies need to accept their share of the responsibility for that as well. I'm not of that mindset at all, but the quality (or lack thereof) of most consumer goods leaves me with little choice.

That's the only reason I wound up here -- I'm looking for a wiring diagram for the toaster oven so I don't have to throw it out.

Coralee