pittsbri Senior Member Joined: 9 Apr 2009 Posts: 55 Location: Santa Monica Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Olympia Maximatic Grinder: Fiorenzato T80 Roaster: Poppery 2
Posted Tue Dec 25, 2012, 10:40am Subject: Help. Portafilter not locking in.
Olympia maximatic portafilter suddenly barely fits into machine. I've cleaned out all the coffee I could find in the group under locking blades etc. I place portafilter in machine empty of grounds and when I go to lock it in it barely turns at all. Requires much effort to move it even a little. Anyone ever experience anything like this?
SStones Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2012 Posts: 209 Location: Canada Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Giga 5, ECM Giotto, Rocket... Grinder: Anfim Milano-Best Vac Pot: No :( Drip: Some $30 thing from Walmart Roaster: I buy pre-roasted.
Posted Wed Dec 26, 2012, 5:19pm Subject: Re: Help. Portafilter not locking in.
The group gasket up inside the brewhead has come out of place, some coffeegrounds have gotten up behind it and are holding it too low. Feel it with fingertips, try to work it out of its groove with a small, flat screwdriver (If your showerface filter has a screw in the middle, you'll want to take that screw and showerface filter out first. If the gasketself is hard and brittle, replace it. Clean the groove it lives in very well, get ALL of the old coffeegrounds out or they will just swell with heat, press against the new gasket and allow a small leak that will allow more damp grounds to get up there. Sorry I don't know that machine well at all, but from the e61 style of head, I assume the gasket will be pretty standard and available from any parts place. Take the old one with you for comparison unless anyone can confirm it's just a standard 8mm commercial gasket.
Posted Wed Dec 26, 2012, 5:52pm Subject: Re: Help. Portafilter not locking in.
SStones Said:
Sorry I don't know that machine well at all, but from the e61 style of head, I assume the gasket will be pretty standard and available from any parts place. Take the old one with you for comparison unless anyone can confirm it's just a standard 8mm commercial gasket.
If its an Olympia maximatic, then it is not an E61 group and not a standard E61 gasket. I like using Orphan Espresso for parts for my Olympia machine >LINK Here<
pittsbri Senior Member Joined: 9 Apr 2009 Posts: 55 Location: Santa Monica Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Olympia Maximatic Grinder: Fiorenzato T80 Roaster: Poppery 2
Posted Sat Dec 29, 2012, 9:45pm Subject: Re: Help. Portafilter not locking in.
Thanks for the help. I removed the shower screen and group gasket. I didn't actually find much in there but some small residue. I cleaned everything and put all the parts back together and so far the portafilter seems to be fitting as easily as when i first got the machine. Getting the machine hot now to see if the fix holds.The condition seemed to be worst when the machine was hot. Fingers crossed....will advise. BTW I LOVE this machine.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,613 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Sat Dec 29, 2012, 10:33pm Subject: Re: Help. Portafilter not locking in.
SStones Said:
... I don't know that machine well at all, but from the e61 style of head, I assume the gasket will be pretty standard and available from any parts place. Take the old one with you for comparison unless anyone can confirm it's just a standard 8mm commercial gasket.
It isn't indeed. The Olympia Express Maximatic is Swiss made and advertised as the smallest HX machine in the world. It's a thermosyphon brew head but not E61, and the portafilter is smaller than the standard 58 mm baskets. Spare parts are best to be had from the manufacturer.
pittsbri Senior Member Joined: 9 Apr 2009 Posts: 55 Location: Santa Monica Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Olympia Maximatic Grinder: Fiorenzato T80 Roaster: Poppery 2
Posted Sun Dec 30, 2012, 4:23pm Subject: Re: Help. Portafilter not locking in.
Glad to report portafilter insertion into group is easy breezy now. Even when machine is quite hot. Gasket wasn't hard or brittle at all. I think i'll order another one anyway for when the time comes. This machine is weird. Having it in my life makes me feel like I'm living right or something. Thanks for the help all. Onward and upward!
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