Hi,

Ok! After four years of daily use I've run into my first problem that I'm not sure how to diagnose.

I have my machine on a timer and under normal circumstances, the brewhead reaches 220 degrees by the time I'm ready to use it each morning (2 hour warm up). However, recently the brewhead has only come up to 170 degrees probably 3 of 5 mornings for the last two weeks.

If I perform a short flush, the head will slowly finish warming up. At this time, I also notice that it seems that the HX must be almost empty of water since it takes a very long time for the water to reach the grouphead after actuating the lever.

My guess - a check valve has failed allowing the water in the water in the HX to slowly drain out while the machine cools down. The lack of water in the HX impacts the thermosyphon and leaves me with a partially warmed grouphead.

Any other guesses or diagnostic strategies? I'd rather diagnose and repair myself if possible so any insight would be great!

Thanks,

Cory

tellicherry wrote:My guess - a check valve has failed allowing the water in the water in the HX to slowly drain out while the machine cools down. The lack of water in the HX impacts the thermosyphon and leaves me with a partially warmed grouphead.

Indeed, that's one of the causes suggested in Randy's article Understanding and Preventing Thermosyphon Stall. After four years, it's possible the upper valve seal in the grouphead is allowing HX water to escape when the machine is idling. Stefano's Espresso Care sells a E61 Rebuild Kit with everything you would need. I would also check for scale; it can cause all sorts of mysterious behavior as valves sometimes close completely, sometimes don't.

Hi all,

Like the OP, I found my AP brewhead was occasionally thirty degrees below normal (once a week, for the last month). I emailed Chris Coffee, asking them to put together a rebuild kit for me. Instead, I was told to phone Roger in the service department. He told me that the most likely culprit was the gicleur screen, and the small hex nut it sits upon. The screen is visible in erics photo above, protruding from screw at the far left of the photo, beside the spanner. I was told to soak it in vinegar, and to also pour a small amount of vinegar into the opening on the top of the brewhead, once the small chrome screw was removed (don't take out the big one).

After an hour or so, I rinsed the screen, and flushed out the brewhead, and reinstalled everything. The temperature has been a steady 210.5 since then.

Kudos to Roger and his colleagues at Chris Coffee. He even stated that he'd rather not sell me the rebuild kit as it was most likely unnecessary, for two reasons- firstly, it wasn't the source of my problem. Secondly, the springs and teflon gaskets that are sold elsewhere online practically never wear out.

I had the same problem a year or two ago. Replacing the brew valve, preinfusion valve, and drain valve solved it. I think the valves were leaking and letting the water out of the group, which prevented the thermosyphon from working.

Eric,

As always, thanks for the informative posts. I appreciate you sharing you knowledge of these machines. I'll keep an eye on the temp and if required, I'll do a thorough rebuild of the grouphead.

Mike

Here is an intermediate update.

I called the service group at Chris' Coffee and they suggested checking for scale. I pulled the mushroom and found essentially no scale or other debris in the gicleur screen. So this doesn't seem to be the problem.

However, the brew valve seals and o-ring on the mushroom look like they are shot so I'm going to see if that will do the trick.

Will update when I have the solution!

Ok, replacing the brew valve didn't do the trick. Next stop OPV valve gasket...