DR Cappuccino wrote:...So a quick way to check is to take a look at the pressure gauge, if the dials are spun around ie. water press. dial is on the boiler press. side and vice versa could possibly mean frozen boiler. The heat exchangers are prob. blown....Sebastian

Doctor, Doctor,

Just last night - and of course many many many hours before I read your thread - I loaded my machine on my truck and the temp fell to about 20deg. I ran home from work this morning (i work 3rd shift) and the dials were spun around. Immediately my heart sank.

Questions:
1. Once the dials are spun around, are they broken forever? Will they return to their normal position when the temprature rises? What happens exactly to the dials when it freezes?
2. What is the heat exchanger? Is it another name for the heating element?
3. What happens to the heat exchanger? What exactly breaks it?
4. How will I know it is broken? Will I get some heat or none at all? Well, I guess thats an obvious thing to find out, but I doesnt hurt to ask.

I'm thinking that maybe there is a thread on this subject/questions already but, I cant help myself and I am asking you here. As soon as I submit this, Im going to go look for some clues to my above questions.

Regards,

Ish

Ish, I wouldn't hold your breath re: your gauges returning to normal but I will cross my fingers for you.

I had the same problem with the Cimbali I restored. Both gauges were maxed out and when I opened the boiler this is what I found. Edit - I just looked at my photos again - only one gauge was maxed out but I did replace both just in case.



I had to replace both HXs, both gauges and a bunch of other things not associated with the freeze damage.


A heat exchanger (espresso machine terminology) is simply a device that allows you to heat up fresh water (for espresso extraction) without having it mingle with the boiler water. In the Cimbali they are tubular devices where water is injected in one port (red arrow) and pushed out another (blue arrow)





The HX splits do to the increased pressure that the ice exerts on the surfaces of the HX. (Picture above is great example)

I imagine you would know that it is broken/split if you don't get water to the group head. It would dump back into the boiler. I just thought about my previous statement. You may get water to the group head but it would be contaminated by the boiler water and it would be impossible to do a cooling flush since you would be getting boiler heated water to the group head.

Hope that helps.



PS
Here are the photos I have online re my restore. I have a dedicated thread on HB as well.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Movnmik/LaC...0Dosatron#

I had a similar experience; when I picked up my Faema the gauge was fine and showed 0. After a 20 min car trip in warm weather I unloaded the machine to my work area and the gauge was pinned at the max. Turns out the sprocket that attaches the indicator needle had slipped during transport and I was able to return it to zero with a small dental pick. While a maxed gauge may be a bad sign, it could also just be a bad gauge.

Thanks for the visual aides!

So I havent fired up my Laurentis to see if the freezing night killed it or not, but the gauges returned to normal. How bout that! In order to not repeat last night mistake, I stuck a space heater in the step van and I'll get it going tomorrow... But thanks again for those visuals, they really helped me to understand.

Ish

Any update on the status of the machine? Freeze damage to the HX loop?

I've been working on installing the water lines throughout the van (from water sourse to pump to sink, etc.) I also have to do some rewiring, so I havent gotten the Laurentis tested but I have a pretty good feeling it may be ok. Well, at least I hope its ok.

Should it not be ok....I'll be sure to take some pics and post on a new topic such as "Killer Freeze" or "Freezing vs. Laurentis"

Now, if I could spend every blessed hour on my project and didnt have to work...I'd be golden!