PaulTheRoaster Senior Member Joined: 2 Aug 2005 Posts: 341 Location: Champaign, Illinois, USA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Faema C84 A/1, Eterna leva... Grinder: Compak K6, Solis Classic Drip: French Press, Swiss Gold... Roaster: RK drum
Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006, 10:25pm Subject: Re: need help identifying an older faema espresso machine
gucciago Said:
Ziggy, I too just got ahold of a FAEMA C85 Compact Series S/1 ( Mr.Espresso ) and I do not have any manuals.. is it too much to ask maybe to shoot me a copy of that manual??
Great machine. I just finished rebuilding mine (C84 A/1, but looks the same). $499 may be a good deal if the machine is in good condition. I paid $355 for the machine, and much more than that so far on shipping and parts. I had to replace the heating element and the machine was entirely missing the steam pipe, cup grate and two knobs. Included a plastic tamper of course. Included several pounds of scale as well. Scale all the way up to the water inlet to the machine.
It's not documented, and it was a royal PITA to figure this out, so I'll put this out there--there are two valves you have to set, the pump bypass valve (that sets the pressure during a shot), and the expansion valve.
The expansion valve is in the big complicated "group valve" at the front of the machine. It's used in the situation where cold water enters the HX, heats up, expands, and has nowhere to go. You want to set this high. I've read 15 bar, but my gauge doesn't go that high. I set it around 12. It doesn't make much difference I think, as long as it doesn't open during a shot.
To do this, set the pump bypass valve as high as it will go (screw in the nut all the way). Then set the expansion valve with a portafilter pressure gauge. Then go back and set the bypass valve to 9 bar or so.
Has anyone figured out how to set the steel screw that goes into the group valve? It seems to restrict the rate at which the boiler will fill. My group valve is leaking a bit in the vicinity of this screw when I turn off the machine and it cools down, and only then. Does the one have anything to do with the other?
(It's only maybe 20 mls of water each time I turn off the machine, so I'm not too concerned about it, but in the long term it could be bad.)
Other than the group valve I've found the machine very easy to work on and understand. Enjoy it.
gucciago Senior Member Joined: 6 Apr 2004 Posts: 79 Location: Palm Beach,FL Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: 07 La Marzocco Linea 3EE/... Grinder: MAZZER Major with DOSER Vac Pot: N/A Drip: N/A Roaster: Custom Gas Drum Roaster/PID...
Posted Wed Mar 15, 2006, 5:56am Subject: Re: need help identifying an older faema espresso machine
Im sure hoping it is in good condition! lol the auction said it was in excellent working condition..I have worked on my Silvia and Pasquini Livia a little and hope that I do not need to do much with this.. but when I watched my Livia go ( sold it to a friendwho was aching for a decent espresso machine) I meant to replace it but then made a major life change and moved to South Florida next to the ocean.. ahh.... anyway.. it just never was the same witout a great espresso with my home roasted beans .... I have a ROCKY grinder with doser and a few other machines coffee related I might sell on ebay as now I will not need them.. I picked up a little Krups pump driven GUSTO which works ok for Americanos nad decent small drinkable shots (especially since I have great, fresh, beans... but NOW IM BACK!! real meachine.. just hope it is not a REAL PAIN in the %^&&*!! lol
gucciago Senior Member Joined: 6 Apr 2004 Posts: 79 Location: Palm Beach,FL Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: 07 La Marzocco Linea 3EE/... Grinder: MAZZER Major with DOSER Vac Pot: N/A Drip: N/A Roaster: Custom Gas Drum Roaster/PID...
Posted Sun Oct 4, 2009, 9:16pm Subject: Re: need help identifying an older faema espresso machine
Ill check around... I restored one a few years ago and still use it to this day! works fantastic! Here is a quick page I setup with parts list and restoration pics... http://web.me.com/dparham_is/Faema_Compact/Photos.html
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