I used muriatic acid because it was pretty bad. I would take it apart, not too tough, grab a digital camera and tape yourself taking things apart. Make sure to get an extra boiler gasket.... talk about a PITA leak I had. Use telfon tape on everything (yellow roll). Also I have some tips on a leaking steam wand I fixed.
Why did you use muriatic acid? I have a hard time thinking of another acid I'd want to use less. That stuff stinks to high heaven - like vomit if I remember correctly. I guess you'd definitely know when it's all out?
I should be receiving an S24 tomorrow that will need to be descaled. I'd like to use citric acid, but my local homebrew store didn't have it. They did have "star san," a phosphoric acid solution. Yes, it's the same stuff as in coca cola, but a LOT more concentrated. I decided to skip it and start with a bunch of lemon juice and salt and see what happens. Next on the list is vinegar unless I hear some other suggestions from here. After that it's glacial acetic acid, then hydrofluoric for the last bits. Just kidding on those last two.
Here are a couple threads I've been reading to figure this out:
ByronA Senior Member Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 378 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S24, KitchenAid... Grinder: Compak K5, KitchenAid... Vac Pot: Don't want one Drip: Don't want one Roaster: Will eventually get one
Posted Mon Dec 17, 2007, 10:34pm Subject: Re: OFFICIAL Rancilio S20 series Thread S24, S26, S27
Cool! I'm happy to see these S Series are finding new homes. These wouldn't be deals from e-bay would they? I saw a few there recently. But I need to know, what is the salt for? I think I would lean towards the lemon juice first myself. I am planning a descaling at the end of January.
I'm not so sure I would go to the extreme of ripping it apart unless it really needs it. As a 20 year troubleshooting veteran who spent many hours as a rookie trying to fix something I broke while fixing something that wasn't broke, I have seen the light! If it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, if you have to go in there, you might as well do it right.
No, that was a good deal though. That machine turned out to be a S27. I found mine through craigslist a couple weeks ago.
And re: the salt- I don't know what it's for. The salt + lemon juice was recommended by an old bartender friend of mine, so take it with a grain of salt, so to speak.
Posted Tue Dec 18, 2007, 9:29am Subject: Re: OFFICIAL Rancilio S20 series Thread S24, S26, S27
it was an S26 bc it has teh rotary pump.. the S27 (the one I am getting) has the full computer control board (honenstly I'd rather have an S26.. I am pumped for the rotary, though)
Like Byron, I would just start with lemon juice as well, myself. Totally foodsafe, and you have little chance of getting salt everywhere. And if you run salt throguh you machine (pump, group, etc) you will have a big broken machine..
If you do use salt jsut make sure you get every bit of it out of therebefore you hit the switch.
cjbrubaker Senior Member Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 172 Location: Providence, RI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S24, Silvia PID,... Grinder: Mazzer Mini E type B Vac Pot: Yama 4-cup
Posted Wed Dec 19, 2007, 8:08am Subject: Re: OFFICIAL Rancilio S20 series Thread S24, S26, S27
The S24 arrived yesterday in one of the biggest boxes I've ever seen, but it looked unharmed.
Before descaling, I decided to try filling the boiler and see what happened. The boiler filled without incident (done in several 30 seconds spurts), then I turned it off and let it sit overnight.
This morning I fired it up again and let it go for about 45 minutes. The boiler gets hot enough hot enough that if I put some water on finger and touch it, it sizzles. Water temp coming out of the group hasn't been tested yet, but I get just a hint of flash-boil, so it sounds OK.
A couple questions though- Nothing at all comes out of the steam or hot water wands, open or closed. Is this likely just scale, and if so, if there's no flow through there, how should I go about getting it out? Any other likely explanations?
And I can't seem to figure how to get the back panel off. It seems to jam on the right side, looking from the front (business end) of the machine.
MXJ Senior Member Joined: 3 Oct 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Melbourne Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S20 3 DE, Silvia Grinder: La San Marco SM 95
Posted Thu Dec 20, 2007, 5:27pm Subject: Re: OFFICIAL Rancilio S20 series Thread S24, S26, S27
Dear Group
I just bought a Rancilio System 3 A DE on EBay, very much the same as the photo posted by bantam, but it is in need of a restoration.
I have read through all the valuable information posted by Paul Pratt on restoration of old machines, but has anyone have some tips or tricks uniquely to the S20 range?
ByronA Senior Member Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 378 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S24, KitchenAid... Grinder: Compak K5, KitchenAid... Vac Pot: Don't want one Drip: Don't want one Roaster: Will eventually get one
Posted Thu Dec 20, 2007, 9:15pm Subject: Re: OFFICIAL Rancilio S20 series Thread S24, S26, S27
Sorry, I can't help you there. I am a relatively new owner of my Rancilio. I would suggest you contact Bantam. Try to search the web for some schematics and functional diagrams before you start, and take lots of pictures as you disassemble. I would also suggest you get some spare gaskets. Make sure you open up the boiler and give it a really good inspection. There is a thread going around that discusses some pretty disgusting contents in the boiler...like goey stuff and cockroaches. I know I will be doing a thorough inspection of any used machine I ever buy after reading that.
Good Luck!
I had been planning on putting this in for a while. Here is my baby!
cjbrubaker Senior Member Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 172 Location: Providence, RI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S24, Silvia PID,... Grinder: Mazzer Mini E type B Vac Pot: Yama 4-cup
Posted Sat Dec 29, 2007, 7:07am Subject: Re: OFFICIAL Rancilio S20 series Thread S24, S26, S27
cjbrubaker Said:
A couple questions though- Nothing at all comes out of the steam or hot water wands, open or closed. Is this likely just scale, and if so, if there's no flow through there, how should I go about getting it out? Any other likely explanations?
And I can't seem to figure how to get the back panel off. It seems to jam on the right side, looking from the front (business end) of the machine.
I think all the problems are now solved; just one more question...
After completely disassembling and re-building the steam and hot water valves with the existing parts (new ones haven't arrived yet) I found that I simply wasn't opening up the valves far enough! :) I'm used to a Silvia and Gaggia Espresso, where the steam flows right after the knob bottoms out. These valves open up midway through their range of travel, and are a very different experience. And they don't leek at all!
The back panel came off after unscrewing 2 semi-hidden screws near the water reservoir.
And somehow the pump ran dry in this process. My god do they sound awful when dry! I thought I'd fried it, but I filled the tube with water and blew into it when I turned it on, and it re-filled with water and works fine! So now the machine is fully functional- I'm so excited!
Before I replace all the exterior panels, I'd like to insulate the boiler. Anyone know where I can get the boiler insulation that ships on the Epoca series (S-1, ST-1, or E-1), or something comparable?
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