After I changed the portafilter gasket on my gaggia classic, I noticed something wierd. For some reason the handle won't seat fully...some of the time. As in:
Replace gasket - all is well Few days later - too tight, handle will only lighten to 7 o'clock. Barely tight enough not to leak. Few days later - all is well Today - again too tight
I always clean the head fully after each session, and (believe I) have the gasket installed correctly. I did recently get a gaggia commercial handle at the same time I replaced the gasket. I've noticed the same issue with both handles though.
Any ideas on what could be causing this? Could the gasket be slipping down?
Also, what is the proper method to remove gaskets without destroying them? When I replace it I've had to stab it with a knife to pull it out.
Spence,The new gasket is softer & more resilient & is probably just rebounding back to original size (plumping back up),after compression from the portafilter.They seem to have to go through a bit of a break-in period.Others have reported that seating the portafilter as usual, but leaving it in place a few hrs or overnight,will insure the grouphead gasket is fully bottomed out in the flat grouphead seal mating area.
To remove grouphead gaskets,o-rings & the like,I use a hook & pick set. One is straight,looks like a scratch awl,2nd has a 90 degree bent hook on the end, 3rd looks like a dentists pick,4th has a curved hook on the end,it looks like a miniature meathook!
They're about 6" long & do the job properly without wrecking seals. Some people just take a drywall screw & screw it into the grouphead gasket & then pull it off with a pair of pliers,simple,as the gasket's being tossed for the new one anyway. An auto supply store,Pepboys or similar will have them.
Spence,The new gasket is softer & more resilient & is probably just rebounding back to original size (plumping back up),after compression from the portafilter. To remove grouphead gaskets,o-rings & the like,I use a hook & pick set.
Great Spence,I hope it works for you.Sometimes you'd like to remove the gasket,to clean out the channel good,without hurting the gasket,& then replace it,if it's not hardened. My 4pc set actually says "For detailed woodworking"!!,but they work great. My Silvia's 16 months old now & my grouphead gasket hasn't needed replacing yet...knock on wood! {:-D
yiplong Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2012 Posts: 79 Location: EU Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat May 26, 2012, 5:18pm Subject: Re: Portafilter suddenly doesn't fit...
spence Said:
Replace gasket - all is well Few days later - too tight, handle will only lighten to 7 o'clock. Barely tight enough not to leak. Few days later - all is well Today - again too tight
My CC1 does exactly the same thing! It's new and I am using stock PF + basket. It was fine when I first got it; then a few days later, it was too tight; then a few days after that, it was fine all of a sudden; then today it's too tight again. It's even a little hard to insert the PF by itself without the basket. I just put some olive oil on the gasket and around the rim of the basket.
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