Are there any tell-tail signs of good/bad maintenance that can be reasonably accessed if one is inspecting a used Vivaldi that was in commercial service and is now being sold?

Given a wrench and a few minutes, I could inspect an E61 mushroom valve that would have a lot to say about its care, but I have no experience that would tell me if there is anyway to do something similarly revealing on a La Spaziale.

Any suggestions, folks?

I would remove the steam boiler's water level sensor (see the blue wire atop the steam boiler in Picture 6). Judging from the brass part labeled "B" in Photo 3, it looks like the bottom of the boiler is removable, giving you full access to the brew boiler's interior. You may want to pose your question on Chas Rimpo's site S1 Cafe; one of the members would be able to verify or refute my assumption.

My understanding is that the steam boiler makes loud noises as it heats up when it is scaled; pounding like sounds...

If the machine has the newer steam boiler temperature probe that sticks down into the water you can remove it and check for scale on the probe.

Good luck,
Mark

HB wrote:I would remove the steam boiler's water level sensor (see the blue wire atop the steam boiler in Picture 6). Judging from the brass part labeled "B" in Photo 3, it looks like the bottom of the boiler is removable, giving you full access to the brew boiler's interior. You may want to pose your question on Chas Rimpo's site S1 Cafe; one of the members would be able to verify or refute my assumption.

You can unscrew and remove the brass cover on the brew boiler complete with the heating element. If you have the time & the owner will allow it you can also remove the cover to the steam boiler. This write up I posted on the S1cafe forum has info & photos of the group/steam boilers disassembled.
http://s1cafe.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=872 You will also want to check the elbows on the water lines attached to the steam boiler for build up. The steam boiler has a drain plug on the bottom so its easy to flush out if you needed to do a citric acid descale.

The chrome front cover behind the g/h is easily removed(2 screws) as is the top cover/cup warmer(1 screw)so you can get a clear view of the internals although the rear cover & one side cover would have to come off to inspect the water line elbows on the steam boiler.

It's a very low maintenance machine so there aren't too many things they could screw up from neglect: The double shower screen arrangement traps grinds so the 3 way valve stays pretty clean. In home/light commercial use a detergent backflush is needed only every 3-4 weeks if that. Nothing to lubricate unlike the E61 type machines. The amount of scale build up will depend on the hardness of the owners water which you could easily check with a hardness test strip.

earlgrey_44 wrote:Are there any tell-tail signs of good/bad maintenance that can be reasonably accessed if one is inspecting a used Vivaldi that was in commercial service and is now being sold?

Given a wrench and a few minutes, I could inspect an E61 mushroom valve that would have a lot to say about its care, but I have no experience that would tell me if there is anyway to do something similarly revealing on a La Spaziale.

Any suggestions, folks?

When the steam boiler gets scaled I hear it crack during the heating cycle as the temperature comes back up.

I then de-scale, and the noise goes away. I de-scale from the top. I remove the top tray (one Phillips screw) remove the over-pressure valve (metric deep socket, I cannot remember the size, 13/16" spark plug deep socket works fine if you are careful and factory didn't overdo it during assembly), siphon the boiler, pour de-scale solution in the top through a funnel, install valve, heat boiler, let cool, remove valve, siphon, install valve w/teflon tape, done. Could not be simpler.

I have never had to do anything with the brew boiler.

I condition the water with the Chris kit - softener and filter. I check softness monthly and re-charge the softener when indicated, but now and then I have to de-scale - three times in 2.5 years, I think. I use the hot water tap quite a lot, so I am putting a good volume of water through the steam boiler.