I've just bought this machine and am not sure of the easiest way of draining the water out of the tank so I can transport it.

Can anybody help.

Thanks

From Faema E61 Legend schematics:

onyman wrote:Here's a picture, taken from the back of the machine: the hose you see is the one supplied with the machine, I used it for draining, it fits in the hole just beneath the drain valve that is marked: inside the blue ring.

Is there any way of draining it without unscrewing this drain plug. Could I just connect it to the mains and switch it on without connecting the water and run some water out through the groupheads to reduce the level in the tank.?

If the goal is to reduce the weight of the water in the machine, you can eliminate most of it via the water taps (about 1/4 of the boiler will remain full). If the goal is to make it safe for shipping, I would err on the side of caution and drain it completely. If there's a risk of freezing, I would blow out the lines with low-pressure air (some suggest using a mixture of vodka and water as "anti-freeze"; I've never tried it and thus cannot vouch for its effectiveness).

Other options: Remove one of the fittings on top of the boiler and syphon the water out. If it was a lighter single group semi-commercial E61, I would consider removing the big bolt atop the grouphead and turning the machine upside down to drain it. But obviously that's not safe/practical in your case.

I've done it recently about 6 or so times (while citric acid washing it). Drain the boiler - Unscrew the 4 black finger screws on the front cover and remove the 'surrounds'. Be careful when you do this as you will need to disconnect the plug to the LED lights on the back panel. Once thats off, its a little fiddly but quite straightforward to unscrew the boiler drain valve in the photo (circled blue). Remember, as soon as its off, water will flow freely so consider how that will be contained. That drains the boiler. If you want to drain the HXs thats harder. Its very cold in Old Blighty now, so water in the HX lines is a definite threat and one that I hoped you looked into before buying it. In the attached pic, undo the large nut to the left of the blue circle and that will release water from the HX. Do the same on the other HX circuit on the other side (other side more accessible). If you can't manage that, then at least leave the brew lever on the front panel in the 'middle' position. I'm several thousand miles away from the machine, but I recall thinking when i disassembled it that it would at least allow some expansion room/vent to atmosphere if it did start to freeze... ie if water was connected, in that position it will dribble out therefore must at least allow some venting.

Hope this has been of some help. Saw 2 of these in quick succession on UK eBay, hope you got a good deal and its not got a ruptured HX. They look to be built very tough/well.

Cheers, Chris

Another messier option, but a little more accessible would be to unscrew the fitting at the bottom of the boiler level sight gauge. You could get most of the boiler water out that way, but you'd have to be very careful about overflow into the electronics below the drip tray or the pump/motor combo in close proximity.

Also remember if you are going to plug it in, its a 20 amp machine... DO NOT plug it into a standard UK socket.

I also don't think its got anything to stop it starting the heating element if its near empty (it has a thermal overload, but that will only stop it once its overheated).

If you really don't want to pull anything apart, then do the following.

Check it has a water connection plugged in. Make sure the boiler has water in it. Make sure its on a 20 amp circuit. Turn it on and get it up to operating temperature. Once its hot, turn off the water connection and unplug it from the water. Turn on both groups and run them in short bursts to drain what you can from the HXs. Don't overdo it or you will ruin the pump. Turn off the machine. Open the hot water wand with a bucket under it and drain off as much as you can (remember, machine unplugged or the autofill will try to kick in and run the pump dry).

Only a half solution but better than nothing.

Cheers, Chris

Thanks Chris,

I think I going to try the boiler drain tap as suggested. If I use this will I be able to seal afterwards without having to get hold of a gasket if it has one. and do you undo the nut and then connect the drain pipe?

Thanks for your help!

Christopher

No gasket needed, its self sealing. There is no drain pipe as such, so use whatever you can you catch the water and divert it to where you want it to go. I cut up a plastic milk bottle and slid it underneath to divert the run-off to a nearby bucket.

Great thanks for all your help !!!

Christopher