Hi all,

I just got what i consider to be a smokin' deal on a La Cimbali M20 which want to take apart to clean, and hopefully learn something in the process. Though some mechanical and electronic skills from wrenching on bikes. playing with audio equipment etc, the world of commercial espresso machines almost completely eludes me. The only real experience I have with espresso that doesn't involve placing an order is my little Mokita home machine that's been pumping out (reasonably) so-so shots for the past few years, which i've taken apart to descale a few times.

Back to the beast though, I've already learned a great deal lurking this forum but still have a long way to go. This thread has been great, but I can't seem to find much info (here or elsewhere) on the M20 model. A trip to the place that originally sold mine didn't help much either. I kinda got the impression their refusal to sell me a manual had more to do with them wanting to work on my machine than it being unavailable. Is their anywhere one might get sch a thing online? Again, I've found other Cimbali models but not this one.

Anyways, here are a few of the hundred or so pictures i took to be sure i can re-assemble it.

















Now a few questions:
-What am I looking at in the bottom right corners of pictures 2 and 7? What is the purpose of the knob-lever that pull out?

-The pressure dial won't budge when I open the steam, is it stuck? What does the lower gauge indicate?

-What is the function of the copper pieces that go nowhere sticking out of the solenoids in pic 3?

-What's in the box in pic 6?

-What is the purpose of the bolt and of the indicator light by the tank level window?

That's it for now i think. Thanks for bearing with me.

I haven't been inside an M20, but it all looks very standard commercial espresso machine fare.

The bottom right corner is the Pressure Stat (appears to be a Sirai). It controls the boiler pressure by turning on and off the heater element. I can not see the "pull knob" you mention, but suspect it is for the manual boiler fill when drained & first filling.

The pressure gauge (if it is working) is at too high of levels (note the needles in the red). Upper portion is steam pressure, lower portion is brew pressure. Both would go to zero when the machine is off and cold.

Copper pieces are the outlet tubes for the "three way solenoids" at the groupheads, when the shot is complete this relieves the pressure from the puck/portafilter, so it can be safely removed.

Not sure about the box you mention in figure 6, assume it is the electronics controller.

Not sure what bolt you are referring to by the water level window.

Now a few questions:
1- What am I looking at in the bottom right corners of pictures 2 and 7? What is the purpose of the knob-lever that pull out?
2- The pressure dial won't budge when I open the steam, is it stuck? What does the lower gauge indicate?
3- What is the function of the copper pieces that go nowhere sticking out of the solenoids in pic 3?
4- What's in the box in pic 6?
5- What is the purpose of the bolt and of the indicator light by the tank level window?

1 - Manual boiler refill, pull out and push down.
2 - Pressure gauge is broken, you need a new one. Almost shure the machine was frozen. Lower gauge reads "water line" / "pump pressure"
3 - Pressure relieve, they will blow off in the gutter behind the drip tray.
4 - The box is a read relais, inside the boiler is a floater with a magnet. It controlls the water level in the boiler.
5 - To drain the boiler, the light goes on during boiler refill.

I searched my Cimbali CD's for drawings etc. but no luck. This machine was build in the 70's or 80's. As far as I can remember, i've never seen digital files for the M20. How could it, it was build before the 5.25 floppy!!!
Just kiddin'. The machine is not changed basicly over the years. Most parts still available.

I do like to give you one advice: First hook up the machine to the mains and test it for a few days before taking it apart.

Frank

Jacques,

Welcome!

Nice machine you have there. I also noted you checked out my rebuild of the M30. I can say it's been a learning experience.

To get a manual, try sending Steve Herzic an email. He is the Technical Service Manager of Cimbali US.
STEVE.HERZIC@CIMBALI.US. He was able to provide me with my machine's documentation. For parts (which it doesn't look like you will be needing anything major) there are many sources. I've used the following:

CafeParts - pretty good selection of parts some way overpriced others very reasonable
EspressoParts - Not as many Cimbali parts as CafeParts has but very easy to deal with. Reasonable prices
Pasquini - Official Cimbali Importer to the states. Purchased a difficult to find manifold from them.

When buying parts, shop carefully because there can be a decent spread in prices for the same part. Some parts from CafeParts and EspressoParts may not be mfg. by Cimbali so if that's important you may have to go to Pasquini or other Official Cimbali dealers.

I'm currently waiting for a copper tube, for the boiler gauge, on backorder.

I echo Frank's suggestion to fire the thing up before taking it apart to get an idea what could be wrong. I didn't do that for my machine but in hindsight wish I did.

Good luck on your resto!


Mike

hey thank everyone for the info! For the record, I've plugged it in since receiving it and everything appears to be in order except for the ss hose visible in pic 4 which was leaking and has since been replaced. When I got it, it was plumbed in with a filter that had it's lid broken so the pump was essentially drawing the water out of it. I suspect the ss hose might have crapped out because of hot water backflowing through it but I dunno whether that's possible.

yellow_speedster wrote:2 - Pressure gauge is broken, you need a new one. Almost shure the machine was frozen.

That might just be, since it was kept in a place where the power was cut off, though the water in it was definitely not frozen when i picked it up. Why would this have that effect? Nothing to be done except replacing the piece?

Jacques,
If the machine froze the heat exchangers might have cracked. If you do a search you should come up with a photo somewhere with a photo of cracked Cimbali heat exchangers. I parted out a Cimbali two group, I believe an M30 and have lots of parts. Boiler, Heating element, Exchangers, piping galore, etc. Most bits have plenty of scale, so if you are not getting enough calcium this could be a good source. If they would fit, you or anyone else who needs these parts are welcome to them for postage.
Please PM me if you have questions.
Tom

Inside a cold (freezing) boiler the first thing that fails is the heat exchanger tube. It will usually burst from ice expansion before any other boiler part.

That is why that is one of the first parts you will want to check on any machine that has been in storage.

Some can be easily replaced, but others can be welded into the boiler itself, so do your homework.

-Cecil

Bonjour Jacques,

What a coincidence, I have just bought a M20 this week end and I also live in Montreal. Mine I think is more recent then yours. If the heat exchanger have not frozen and if you can get the round 'electrovanne', then this machine of yours will be quite easy to restore, there is nothing complicated in this machine. If you need some help, let me know, I could even help you start the 'monster'.

I just picked up an M20 the other day. Got it and Simonelli commercial grinder for $200. Divorce and a restaurant closed. Unfortunately I have no experience with anything this size. Have an electrician coming out this week to wire it up and guess I will go from their. I was told it was working when they pulled it and it looks like it is in fair condition.