Hmmm very interesting.
First a few questions:
How many times has the valves been changed? Do they replace the whole valve or just the gasket inside the valve?
What is the gauge reading on your inline water pressure and what is the bar pressure? (read off the gauges, or does it say those things on the screen?)
Do you have a water filter on your machine?
Is there a sight glass where you can see the water level in the boiler?
I definitely have some ideas but answering these questions will help me narrow down the possible issues...
Thanks for contacting me! You are my first out-of-country repair!
Cam
Hi! I was wondering if maybe you could help me here. I have been encountering problems with my Rancilio Clase 10 for more than a year now. For some reason, milk keeps comming up the steaming wand, so badly, that it actually damages the valve. I own the coffee shop, and I am very careful about purging, cleaning, etc. The techs down here do not know waht else to do, they just keep changing the valves, but that doesnt seem right to me... any ideas?
Hey Troy
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. If the PF is sitting crooked then I think you do need to get new bayonets, no gaskets or baskets can make up for a worn down bayonet. Sorry I don't have a different answer that is easier and cheaper.
Cam
Hi Cameron, Re my comment. No the pf sits correctly and has adequate resistance to lock in at 6:00.
My concern is that maybe due to wear on the bayonet when locked in the basket rim is not completely level and is thus allowing a small amount of water to escape. I'm trying to avoid forking out for new bayonets and just wondered if you had come across this before where changing gaskets couldn't solve the problem. There must surely be some compromise between the opposing old and new parts. Troy
Hey Troy
So let me make sure I have this right. With new portafilters and gaskets (where are the gaskets coming from?) the handles are past 6:00 (I use the clock system) but if you use one mm up in size of gasket or use a shim you cant lock in the pf at all or it is just not getting all the way to 6:00?
-Cameron
Awesome work you're doing, I'm slowly refreshing a 10 year old Linea and really enjoying getting to know the inner workings a little better. Do you find that the bayonet rings ever needs replacing on these older machines?, I replaced my portafilters because the lugs were badly beveled, but even now with new portafilters and group seals I still can't seem to get a complete seal locked at 90 degrees. Any suggestions?, if I upsize the group seal or use a spacer, I can't lock in at all. Can the bayonet be orientated incorrectly, my local tech put them back together after descaling the groups.
Cheers Troy.
Yeah... just looked back through your pics. You have some great guys doing paint for you, and that copper and brass looks fantastic. Some great pieces. I'll admit that my work so far has been focused on clean and functioning, but I'd love to start doing stuff like you're doing. Still getting my shop up and running, and looking for a good restoration piece.
Rancilio has done nice things with Egro, and are still working. Not the smart grind adjustment like you're talking about, but making them solid machines. Still using plastic tubing and quick connects tho.
For CMA, I'm a couple of hours away from General Espresso Equipment in Greensboro NC. Not sure yet where to go for Simonelli, but that's on the plan for next year. I have a possibility that I'm working on for La Marzocco as well.
Around Charlotte we see mostly LM, Astoria, and Rancilio. The major local roasters have been selling mostly those for the last few years. It seems like most every shop you walk into has a Linea, Argenta, or a 10 year old Rancilio of some sort.
The thing to remember about this community is that we're mostly baristas... even if some of us now do other things as well. The community exists primarily to support baristas, to help us get better, and help improve the situation for us. Superautos exist to make baristas unnecessary. While they are an option that owners might want to consider, it is not one that many here will be in favor of, regardless of how good the coffee may be.
From looking at the rest of the product lineup you sell and repair I will take your advice and look at the Melitta machines. For superautos, I currently service and rep the Egro machines, but am looking to add other manufacturers as well. For traditionals I'm currently authorized Rancilio, but am working on adding LM, Astoria, and NS in the very near future.
We roll with a 9-year-old Astoria Argenta SAE at our shop in the rural-suburban NC, solid machines. Rebuilding it was how I got started as a tech too, though I've only been in business a few months.
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First a few questions:
How many times has the valves been changed? Do they replace the whole valve or just the gasket inside the valve?
What is the gauge reading on your inline water pressure and what is the bar pressure? (read off the gauges, or does it say those things on the screen?)
Do you have a water filter on your machine?
Is there a sight glass where you can see the water level in the boiler?
I definitely have some ideas but answering these questions will help me narrow down the possible issues...
Thanks for contacting me! You are my first out-of-country repair!
Cam
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. If the PF is sitting crooked then I think you do need to get new bayonets, no gaskets or baskets can make up for a worn down bayonet. Sorry I don't have a different answer that is easier and cheaper.
Cam
My concern is that maybe due to wear on the bayonet when locked in the basket rim is not completely level and is thus allowing a small amount of water to escape. I'm trying to avoid forking out for new bayonets and just wondered if you had come across this before where changing gaskets couldn't solve the problem. There must surely be some compromise between the opposing old and new parts. Troy
So let me make sure I have this right. With new portafilters and gaskets (where are the gaskets coming from?) the handles are past 6:00 (I use the clock system) but if you use one mm up in size of gasket or use a shim you cant lock in the pf at all or it is just not getting all the way to 6:00?
-Cameron
Cheers Troy.
Rancilio has done nice things with Egro, and are still working. Not the smart grind adjustment like you're talking about, but making them solid machines. Still using plastic tubing and quick connects tho.
For CMA, I'm a couple of hours away from General Espresso Equipment in Greensboro NC. Not sure yet where to go for Simonelli, but that's on the plan for next year. I have a possibility that I'm working on for La Marzocco as well.
Around Charlotte we see mostly LM, Astoria, and Rancilio. The major local roasters have been selling mostly those for the last few years. It seems like most every shop you walk into has a Linea, Argenta, or a 10 year old Rancilio of some sort.
The thing to remember about this community is that we're mostly baristas... even if some of us now do other things as well. The community exists primarily to support baristas, to help us get better, and help improve the situation for us. Superautos exist to make baristas unnecessary. While they are an option that owners might want to consider, it is not one that many here will be in favor of, regardless of how good the coffee may be.
Again, welcome.
From looking at the rest of the product lineup you sell and repair I will take your advice and look at the Melitta machines. For superautos, I currently service and rep the Egro machines, but am looking to add other manufacturers as well. For traditionals I'm currently authorized Rancilio, but am working on adding LM, Astoria, and NS in the very near future.
We roll with a 9-year-old Astoria Argenta SAE at our shop in the rural-suburban NC, solid machines. Rebuilding it was how I got started as a tech too, though I've only been in business a few months.
Again, welcome.
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Are you enjoying Barista Exchange? Is it helping you promote your business and helping you network in this great industry? Donate today to keep it free to all members. Supporters can join the "Supporters Group" with a donation. Thanks!