Thanks for your help. I will check for the lock washer, it might be it never had it. This particular machine has leaked from the beginning. I always just lived with it because I was in the middle of processing. Should have addressed it ages ago. The gasket indeed did break, not dry rot with age, or breakdown. I am unsure as to when and how, but it did. I know I can replace it. Not argueing, but I do know how to assemble this machine, been doing it for years. Something is wrong though, because it does get hot from the friction, even processing slow and steady. The spiral never quite fit as well as I remember my old machine did. We do empty it out frequently and at the time I had problems it was newly cleaned - mesh had been scrubbed clean. I thought at first I missed a stem and that got jammed, but not the case. I will go over the parts again to make sure all are there. Anyway - still looking at a stainless option. Just wanted to see if anyone had any opinions or owned one that are offered on the web. ....We do have an old Foley - why didn't I think of that when we were stuck the other night?? too tired. Thanks again - I do appreciate it.

I looked out and saw little heads sticking out of the bluebird house. Soon ever so often mom or dad would come either to feed or 'just check' one by one they flew out they did a good job of flying away except one. He finally put his little self back into the box. My husband came home so I told him to watch that last "scaredy cat" my husband said he finally flew out onto our window ledge. He said after awhile he took off. So I hope they all did Ok. I hope mom and dad are keeping an eye on them,it is so dreary here with some mist. I hear they go and make their nests in Oak or Maple tree. We have a creek close by and 2 maple trees in the yard,

It sounds to me as if you are going through the exact same thing that I went through...hours and hours on the phone to tech support...I had two in-home calls, but they seemed easier to get than what you are going through. That tech told me I shouldn't have to be going through all of what I was going through. I think "maybe" he could have fixed the problem, but all he was allowed to do was what he was told to do..ie come and replace the hard drive (I knew and he knew it wasn't a hard drive problem) I really forget what he came out the second time for and the problems were still there. They "did" give me a case number so the tech in India that I called each time could look it up and see what was done last. I finally gave up...called tech support and said I wanted to return the computer (it was on my son's Dell card). At this point, they told me I had had it too long for a full refunded return. I told them to look at when I made my first complaint and notice I hadn't had it for very long before I called tech support and that they had dinked around with it so long, that my refund time was up. They finally refunded the full amount. I was told how to ship it and I followed their instructions to the letter. They weren't going to refund eighty some dollars because they said that one object should have been packed separately...I had the documentation where they said to put "everything" in two boxes...they told me what to put in each box and to write on the box what was inside. Well, it ended up costing me forty dollars to get it packed, and I "might" have gotten that amount refunded (not sure) but, I was just glad to see the tail lights of the UPS car leaving my driveway with those boxes. Roselvr, I "probably" paid too much for the computer I ended up with...I bought locally, but I have a "smokin'" computer...it works and I have a place to go and personally ask questions if need be. I asked Dell to send me a questionaire to fill out and tell my story...yes, they need these horror stories documented along with the "happy" ones they produce. They didn't see it that way and didn't "want" my story on a questionaire. My son felt bad because he has a Dell and has been happy with it...although not happy with the Indian tech support...and he talked me into buying a Dell. I told him it was, "just one of those things" and I might have gotten a good one, it just didn't happen that way. But...as I said, I went through the same thing and finally got it out of the house. How long have you had it? "Can" you return it at this time? I would call tech support and start making arrangements to get it out of your house....but rememeber...you're not alone, I know what you are going through completely :o)

Well....I caved and opened a jar....I think it's too sweet for apple pie jam....I wish it had a little more of the tart apple taste but then it wouldn't keep because it wouldn't have enough sugar. I wouldn't add the maple syrup again....just took it over the sweet evge for me and in that amount of stuff the maple isn't that evident....but I didn't add a whole cup. Also you may want more of a spice flavor, I was going for the apple taste....like pie. I would call it Apple jam...