CoffeeGeek - Espresso: Espresso Machines, Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

Espresso: Espresso Machines
Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

Stefano's Espresso Care

Repair - Parts - Sales
Factory Authorized &
Trained Technician
www.espressocare.com

Not Logged in:

updated topics	new posts	new unanswered
search	faq	sign up

Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Adjusting vibe...

view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics

showing page 2 of 5

first page | last page

previous page | next page

Author

Messages

MrFollies
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Oct 2003
Posts: 98
Location: Amsterdam
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Isomac Tea
Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Roaster: Prima Popper

Posted Sat Apr 24, 2004, 10:04am
Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

jim_schulman Said:

Absolutely, taste is king. In any case, either my spring on the valve or the gauge is very non-linear, since it took a lot more turns to go from 10 to 9 than from 11 to 10 bar.

Posted April 17, 2004 link

I just adjusted my Tea and I noticed exactly the same thing. One other thing I noticed is that a 9 reading with a blind filter equals about a 8.3 with coffee.

-D

LurkerJohnny
Senior Member

Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 76
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: La Marzocco Linea 1 Group
Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly
Drip: Krups Moka Brew (favourite)
Roaster: Quest M3

Posted Thu Apr 29, 2004, 2:55am Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

Has anyone tried adjusting the vibe pump pressure on a Expobar? I am seriously considering this machine. Does it even need adjusting on an Expobar? If i were to get one, I would want to aim for smoother shots. Johnny.

CaffeOle
Senior Member

Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Posts: 29
Location: Bay Area
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Expobar
Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Roaster: iRoast

Posted Sat May 1, 2004, 1:23pm Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

Has anyone tried adjusting the vibe pump pressure on a Expobar? I am seriously considering this machine. Does it even need adjusting on an Expobar? If i were to get one, I would want to aim for smoother shots I adjusted both temperature and pressure on mine. I don't have a PF gauge so I used Another_Jim's technique for measuring the "run-off" back to the tank. One trick is that the flow-rate is significantly higher when the heater is off than when its on. I waited for the light to go off and adjusted the Over Pressure Valve till I got ~2 oz in 25 sec. Initially I had only 0.5 oz. Shots are definitely better.

PJK
Senior Member

Joined: 21 Jan 2002
Posts: 2,273
Location: Shingle Springs CA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancillo Silvia, Tonic...
Grinder: Modified Rocky, Elma side...
Vac Pot: Old Silex
Drip: Melitta BCM 4 +Some old...
Roaster: Hottop, Modified Z&D,...

Posted Sat May 1, 2004, 5:41pm Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

Hi Jim, You said HX machines and high end single boiler machines. There is a device in my Silvia which looks like a pressure limiter. Do you know if it will lend itself to this sort of tweeking? Thanks, Phil

Philip J. Keleshian

HB
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Apr 2003
Posts: 2,913
Location: Cary, NC

Posted Sat May 1, 2004, 5:58pm Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

PJK Said: There is a device in my Silvia which looks like a pressure limiter. Do you know if it will lend itself to this sort of tweeking? Posted May 1, 2004 link Yes, see Silvia Pressure Modification (and countless posts on the same subject). -- Dan

www.home-barista.com

koffeekev
Senior Member

Joined: 21 Jul 2002
Posts: 693
Location: Connecticut
Expertise: Professional

Posted Sun May 2, 2004, 7:30am Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

Dan had posed a question to me in the New Lyra owner thread that I was unable to answer regarding the 2 expansion valves on these particular machines, Lyra, Mini and CKX. I looked this system over thoroughly and came up with a question or two for Jim S. 1) water line in from direct feed or bottle to pump 2) water line in from direct feed or bottle bypassing the pump and connecting to exp. valve 3) pump connecting to exp. valve 4) expansion valve to inlet solenoid 5) solenoid to tee, one side to boiler and one side to second expansion valve 6) exp. valve to tee, one side to H2O exchanger and one side to brew exchanger 7) second exchanger has bypass hose to drip tray The first exchanger mounted to the pump is in the correct direction to be adjusted for water flow pressure. The second one is placed in the opposite direction to regulate the pressure being fed back from the exchangers My two questions: What is the purpose of the John Guest hose that bypasses the pump to connect with the exp. valve? If you connect a water line to the pump with it disconnected from the machine the pressure isn't enough to open the expansion valve. On direct feed it would seem to add water to the system when the pump pushed the valve open. On a bottle feed system it might act as a vent of some sort. I'm perplexed. Which expansion valve would be adjusted for the brew pressure? Both? Eagerly awaiting your thoughts. Kevin

CaffeOle
Senior Member

Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Posts: 29
Location: Bay Area
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Expobar
Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Roaster: iRoast

Posted Sun May 2, 2004, 10:11am
Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

jim_schulman Said:

Vibe pumps drain 2 to 2.5 ounces of water in 25 seconds when they are at 8.5 to 9.5 bar. So put in a blind filter, use a measuring cup to catch the run off back to the tank, and adjust it to get that flow rate (wait for the pressure to max before measuring, you'll hear this in the pump going quiet as the flow stops, it'll take up to 10 seconds for preinfusing ones)

Posted April 16, 2004 link

Jim's "poor man's" technique worked pretty well for me but I would be interested to see a confirmation from an Expobar owner (with the same pump and OPV) who has a pressure gauge. Anyone out there care to give this a try? I saw a pretty big difference in "run-off" volume depending on wheter or not the heater light was on - presumably due to the current load and decrease in voltage for the pump (although I didn't confirm this with measurement). Thanks.
-B

barjohn
Senior Member

Joined: 1 May 2004
Posts: 145
Location: Riverside, CA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi
Grinder: Mazer Mini Electronic

Posted Sun May 2, 2004, 10:30am Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

I tried his technique on my Expobar before I got the pressure guage. The reading from the pressure guage was different from the measure I got from that technique. I can't remember whether it was low or high for sure. Sorry I can't give you more details. John

John Veritas en Trashitas

strugs
Senior Member

Joined: 21 Jul 2003
Posts: 658
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Vincent Wega (Wega Lyra)
Grinder: Jules (Mazzer Mini)
Vac Pot: Hario TCA-5
Drip: Tray
Roaster: 49th and/or Intelly

Posted Mon May 3, 2004, 11:18pm Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

Question for you senior geeks: Say I want to add a pump pressure guage, but do not want to make some sort of frankenstein portafilter, can I just add a gauge with a "T" fitting immediately after the pump? Or should the guage be installed further down the line after the OPV valve?

- Sean

coffeehabit
Senior Member

Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Posts: 56
Location: Israel
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: GS/3
Grinder: Kony
Vac Pot: none
Roaster: manual 1k drum roaster

Posted Tue May 4, 2004, 12:55am Subject: Re: Adjusting vibe pump pressure on HX machines

from the pump to your coffee you have the same pressure, as there are no valves in the middle to cut down the pressure and the only pressure control is the overflow valve. hope this helps.

showing page 2 of 5

first page | last page

previous page | next page

view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics

Discussions > Espresso > Machines > Adjusting vibe...

updated topics

new posts

new unanswered

faq

Not Logged in: log in
Discussions Quick Jump:
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.

Coffee Shop on a Bicycle

Discover BikeCaffe. The most unique and affordable way to expand your retail coffee business.
www.bikecaffe.com