SeekingGodShots Senior Member Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 15 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon May 7, 2012, 11:12pm Subject: New Grouphead Seals and Now Interesting Issues
I figured it was time for new seals and gaskets on my La Pavoni Europiccola Millenium after 5 years of 2 shots a day use. Remarkably, the seals were clean and pliable and the brass piston required a good soak and scrubbing to look new again. The siphon tube had some calcium buildup, but a nice hot soak with Dezcal brought out the bright copper finish. Unfortunately, the flange to the group to boiler insert that holds the siphon tube crumbled, but the thread was still good. A little Teflon tape provided the proper seal.
Grouphead assembled with care not to lube the inside of the V gaskets. They are properly positioned. Rod seal (flat part against the top head of the assembly), four hole ring and clip properly set into place. Inside Teflon housing lightly lubed with Dow 111. Piston seals went in with a little help of a probe.
Here's the post assembly problems:
1) Upon reaching 1 bar pressure, the lever in the past would hold in the UP position for a pre-infusion flush. Now, the lever falls to the down position upon releasing my hand as if pulled by a vacuum.
2) On the downstroke, with and without tamped coffee in the portafilter, there is a little "catch" about halfway on the downstroke.
3) Changed out the piston seals and replaced with the old seals - no catch and the lever stays in the UP position. ??
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4) Where does the Upper Piston Sleeve O Ring (MP2) go? It was in the kit, but there's no such O-ring in my grouphead.
5) Should I disassemble and remove the any trace of Dow 111 on the Teflon group sleeve?
SeekingGodShots Senior Member Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 15 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sun May 13, 2012, 4:58pm Subject: Follow-Up
All is well.
Just a note that there was a modification to the grouphead to portafilter gasket in 2008. The 2008 version has a round top and flat bottom. When installing, keep it in this particular orientation. Some would think the flat side would be against the group head and the rounded side against the portafilter - wrong. The gasket will slip out after one pull. The flat side makes contact with the portafilter.
Obtaining very good shots with a finer grind and 25#-30# tamp.
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