E61 has no water flush upon reassembly

by **Philg** on Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:48 pm

Always wonder if I could mess this up...

I took the lever out and the bottom off to lube. Put it back together and when I lift the lever, water comes through the group as usual, but nothing out the bottom when I pull the lever down.

I assume I put something in backwards or upside down - I've released pressure and taken the bottom off. I'll take the handle off when it's cool.

Any suggestions as to what I might have done wrong?

Thanks.

http://users.rcn.com/erics/ · by **erics** on Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:17 pm

Hopefully nuttin - the preinfusion valve needs some pressure to open.

Now try the same thing with a back flush disk or blank filter.

by **Randy G.** on Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:52 pm

+1.5 to what Eric said. I suppose if you worked at it you could, but it is difficult to put them back together wrong if all you took apart was the bottom part of the group. The only mistake might be exchanging the brew valve's spring (valve at the top of the group) and the infusion valve's spring as they are close to the same size. The infusion spring (bottom) is a bit lighter in force.

by **Philg** on Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:37 pm

Thank you (yet again) Eric, and Randy.

Yes, back flush worked and a shot pulled fine.

Still no flush when I raise the lever with the group empty, does that seem OK? I'm going to try a few back flushes to see if it "loosens." Just out of curiosity, have you heard of this happening before, any idea as to the cause?

Would you recommend anything else?

Thanks again,
Phil

by **Randy G.** on Fri Oct 21, 2011 8:04 pm

TMI.. but: The "Whoosh" comes from pressure that is built up in the group. The water pressure has to build, and that can only happen in a sealed (or semi-sealed) environment. That sealed vessel is created when the group is closed by inserting a portafilter (whether blind of ready to brew). When the pressure reaches 1.5BAR the infusion valve opens and allows the infusion chamber to fill. Once filled, pressure builds to around 9 BAR in the group. Lowering the lever closes the brew valve and opens the infusion valve which in turn pushes the exhaust valve open. The pressure is released in what scientists refer to as the "Whoosh." I might only be partially correct about that last part...

by **Philg** on Fri Oct 21, 2011 8:40 pm

Hi Randy,

Thanks. I thought that I used to get water exhausting even after I rinsed the group - if not a woosh, perhaps a wussh, but of course, what you say makes sense. Could be my whole "problem" was my panicked imagination. In any case, I'm grateful to you and Eric for helping me with it.

Thanks,
Phil


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