easyrotor Senior Member Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 63 Location: Brooklyn, NY Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: LaCimbali Junior Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Sun Aug 22, 2004, 9:29pm Subject: Re: Hey brokencup...here's the Relax group
JonR10, thanks for the great pix. My E61 group is a little different as it has no screw in the middle. When I drop the dispersion screen there is a big slot. It looks a little like the kid of slot you use a quarter to turn. I have never taken my group apart. Guess that is in the future.
Posted Sun Aug 22, 2004, 9:57pm Subject: Re: Hey brokencup...here's the Relax group
Thanks for your comment.
The Isomac Relax has a "Thermally Balanced" group that is not an E61 and does not have preinfusion. The screw assembly holding the plate and screen in is an advantage (IMO) for cleaning purposes and ease of disassembly.
Just a note: The first time I cleaned this assembly I had the machine about 3 weeks (that was over 100 shots due to the newness and my enthusiasm). There was quite a bit of sludge all around the dispersion plate and shower screen. The task of cleaning that up was quite a chore. After that experience I clean more regularly and water-backflush every session.
marcus Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 116 Location: NC Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale;Isomac... Grinder: Mazzer Mini;Rancilio Rocky Vac Pot: Bodum mini-eSantos Drip: only at work Roaster: BBQ drum, Heatgun
Posted Mon Aug 23, 2004, 5:08am Subject: Re: Hey brokencup...here's the Relax group
Jon: Good job cleaning her up! I have to say, one of the things I miss the most about the Relax is the ease of access above the shower screen. In the months since I bought the Millenium, all I have done is cafiza backflushing. Potentially having to replace the gasket every time you remove the shower screen in an E61 machine is a drawback. The Relax has the additional advantages of protruding less far into your counterspace and keeping the exposed hot metal to a minimum. And, despite not having preinfusion, I think it produces shots every bit as consistently as the E61s. During my break-in and pstat adjustment of the Relax I performed TC temperature tests suggested by Jim Schulman and I was very pleased at the temperature stability.
Posted Mon Aug 23, 2004, 6:05am Subject: Re: Hey brokencup...here's the Relax group
marcus Said:
Jon: Good job cleaning her up! I have to say, one of the things I miss the most about the Relax is the ease of access above the shower screen. In the months since I bought the Millenium, all I have done is cafiza backflushing. Potentially having to replace the gasket every time you remove the shower screen in an E61 machine is a drawback.
Thanks marcus! :-) I just can't describe how much enjoyment I get from this machine. As you can tell, she is lovingly cared for and she gets plenty of exercise.
I have heard that the E61 groups can be disassembled without damaging the gasket, but you would have to be more careful than I am (apparenty). Did you notice the chip I put in that gasket? I'm sure that happened one of the times I had taken it out...
easyrotor Senior Member Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 63 Location: Brooklyn, NY Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: LaCimbali Junior Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Mon Aug 23, 2004, 6:19am Subject: Re: Hey brokencup...here's the Relax group
I have found that removing the gasket from my Salvatore E61 group to be easy and my scewdriver never touchs the gasket. I just put the screwdriver in the depression that runs around the dispersion screen and lever it down. Actually I think it is more difficult to put the gasket back as I have to put the scewdriver against the gasket and seat it in 3 plces before the PF can be used to seat it properly. I will try to post a picture when I home next.
Posted Mon Aug 23, 2004, 12:29pm Subject: Re: Hey brokencup...here's the Relax group
easyrotor Said:
I have found that removing the gasket from my Salvatore E61 group to be easy and my scewdriver never touchs the gasket. I just put the screwdriver in the depression that runs around the dispersion screen and lever it down. Actually I think it is more difficult to put the gasket back as I have to put the scewdriver against the gasket and seat it in 3 plces before the PF can be used to seat it properly. I will try to post a picture when I home next.
Posted Mon Aug 23, 2004, 8:15pm Subject: Re: Hey brokencup...here's the Relax group
If you look carefully, you can see the dispersion screen groove Howard mentions in this picture (right). The "ungroovy" ones (left) usually have a thin metal ring spot-welded around the perimeter of the screen and a "dot" welded to the center, whose purpose is still a mystery to me. I've gotten both kinds off without nicking the gasket, but the ungroovy ones are more challenging (and I scratch the sides of them more ;-).
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.