alanmushnick Senior Member Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 270 Location: Haddonfield Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vetrano, gaggia espresso Grinder: Mini Mazzer Vac Pot: none Drip: Krups aroma control Roaster: I still don't do this.
Posted Wed Nov 19, 2003, 3:49am Subject: HELP!!!!! Gasket Removal on E61
Okay, all of you Isomac mavens. I am trying to get the gasket out of the group head to replace it and the shower screen. My machine is less than a year old, and I have been doing all that backflushing. There must be some trick to prying that monster gasket out and off. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IT IS! I don't want to start hacking away at this thing. Do I turn the machine upside down? Is it easier when it is warm or cold? What is the best tool to use? Do I have to put screws in it and pry it off? Should I put some silicon gel in there so the next time it is way easier?
onocoffee Senior Member Joined: 5 Sep 2002 Posts: 733 Location: Towson, Maryland Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: La Marzocco Linea 2AV, 3AV &... Grinder: 4 Mazzer Major Autos, Compak... Vac Pot: That crazy Bodum eSantos Drip: Bunn CWT Twin, Bunn Water... Roaster: Petroncini The Crumb
Posted Wed Nov 19, 2003, 6:34am Subject: Re: HELP!!!!! Gasket Removal on E61
Alan- I do not have an Isomac but my La Val has the E61 grouphead and I will proceed with the presumption that they are either the same or similar.
The screen/gasket combo on the La Val has a slight ridge around the outer edge of the screen and the whole concoction is held in place with the friction between the gasket and the inner walls of the grouphead. Meaning that it just wedges up in there!
If you haven't removed the gasket in a while (or have never removed it) the situation may be compounded by the buildup of residue in between the gasket and the grouphead wall.
What I do is take a shorty flathead screwdriver and catch the edge of the screwdriver blade into the groove of the screen and use a prying motion to separate the gasket from the grouphead. It can be slippery and slow-going so take your time, it will come out. I just go slowly, taking my time and making sure that I don't somehow slip forward and gouge the screen.
Just keep working your way with the screwdriver and the screen groove and the prying motion and it will come out.
jim_schulman Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 3,772 Location: Chicago Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Nov 19, 2003, 10:32am Subject: Re: HELP!!!!! Gasket Removal on E61
With these machines, one usually damages the gasket trying to get it on or off, so don;t bother with it until it needs to be changed (i.e. it starts leaking). Then chisel it out. Use the PF to put in the new one.
alanmushnick Senior Member Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 270 Location: Haddonfield Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vetrano, gaggia espresso Grinder: Mini Mazzer Vac Pot: none Drip: Krups aroma control Roaster: I still don't do this.
Posted Wed Nov 19, 2003, 12:15pm Subject: Re: HELP!!!!! Gasket Removal on E61
I don't want to chisle anything!! I would prefer to change the gasket for $7 every year or so, and I figure I may as well get a new shower screen. Why should I wait to chisle? this post has a few suggestions, also http://www.quiknet.com/~frcn/Coffee/HowToGasket.html
jim_schulman Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 3,772 Location: Chicago Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Nov 19, 2003, 1:48pm Subject: Re: HELP!!!!! Gasket Removal on E61
I fail to see the problem. If you're changing the gasket, it doesn't much matter whether you damage the old one or not. Use any screwdriver or pick that works, and don't worry if it chips or cracks. Randy's instructions deal with the Rancilio gasket; the E61 style gaskets are very different, and require their own technique.
alanmushnick Senior Member Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 270 Location: Haddonfield Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vetrano, gaggia espresso Grinder: Mini Mazzer Vac Pot: none Drip: Krups aroma control Roaster: I still don't do this.
Posted Wed Nov 19, 2003, 6:46pm Subject: Re: HELP!!!!! Gasket Removal on E61
IT WAS BLACK AND DISUSTING UP THERE. All you geeks out there better consider doing this.I removed the gasket and replaced it and the screen. Despite following all the backflushing routines, that screen looked terrible from the other side, and the diffusion disk it sits on was gunked up as well. Tomorrow I'll let you know if my coffee tastes any better. I will be sure to be a more frequent backflusher, with and without the cleaner. I may consider using the cleaner every two weeks, and backflush with just water every few days. I am also glad I didn't wait to need a chisle to get the gasket out. I don't care about the gasket, but putting a chisle to my Isomac seems a bit rough.
Posted Wed Nov 19, 2003, 9:12pm Subject: Re: HELP!!!!! Gasket Removal on E61
alanmushnick Said:
I will be sure to be a more frequent backflusher, with and without the cleaner. I may consider using the cleaner every two weeks, and backflush with just water every few days.
I water flush at the end of each session. I figure that it doesn't put more stress on the innards then pulling a shot (since the over-pressure valve is set to open at 9 bar), so why not.
I finally got around to it this morning, being motivated by the acquisition of a thinner grouphead gasket for the LM portafilter. It turns out that getting the gasket out was ever-so-easy. As Jay pointed out earlier, the screen has a ridge on the outside bottom edge that I could catch with a screwdriver. A gentle tug and it plus the gasket dropped out. After six months of use there was nothing like the build-up you describe. I soaked the brass dispersion screw in Espresso Cleaner for good measure, but it really wasn't necessary.
I believe this answers my question above: Frequent "wiggle washes" and a water backflush at the end of each session certainly keeps it clean up there. Whether it is harder on the machine's internals remains to be seen.
Posted Sun Nov 30, 2003, 10:57am Subject: Re: HELP!!!!! Gasket Removal on E61
Daily grouphead cleaning has included a final step consisting of water only blind filter backflush & then a couple second "rinse" without any portafilter attached. Assumed that Isomac built these machines to handle daily blind backflushing. A second or two choked shouldn't hurt? Probably overkill cleaning. Tea is 18 months old on 24/7. What I've really backed down on has been the amount of cleaner used for the monthy major cleaning. Will not change the gasket & dispersion screen until a leak develops or detergent backflushing fails to deal with any bad taste.
Noel Mano dell 'operatore> Macinadosatore> Miscela> Macchina espresso
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 