La Cimbali M30 Class - Page 2

Need help with equipment usage or want to share your latest discovery?
gor-l
Posts: 37
Joined: 12 years ago

#11: Post by gor-l »

lmclaren wrote:Good score Craig,
- is an understatement!
Craig, your machine looks like it has just had a bath!

I don't know if you've looked at mine, but it is filthy by comparison. I have had a lot more work to do.
I thought mine was a steal at £100 plus £100 to get it home!

I'm just wondering if you can trace the source of the blockage by disconnecting an easily accessible pipe somewhere.
If you can fix up a power feed to the motor, disconnect the pipe that feeds the lucifer valve on the head and with the boiler cold run some water through, you will/should be able to tell if the flow is sufficient. If it is a trickle, then the blockage must by further back upstream and you can leave the head alone. I'm assuming that the pump will only run when the machine is up to temperature and that you don't want scalding hot water all over the place. :wink:

Check through the lines too - there are small filters like pellets made of stainless wire hidden in some of the fittings. if one is fouled up, that could account for the blockage too. Obviously, since one head works, you need only go back as far as the manifold.

If it is the head, then I agree with Lee, coffee residue is more likely. My heads are black inside, as are the lucifers. Again, if you open it up in the right place, you can assess how bad the problem is and decide how much you want to clean out.

I'm optimistic for an easy fix - blockages must be easier to fix that leaks or worn parts.
Fingers crossed, and post a pic of your first pulls on the working side. :wink:
Ta,
Thom.

ontum (original poster)
Posts: 87
Joined: 12 years ago

#12: Post by ontum (original poster) »

Great news. The water issue to the left group head wasn't a difficult fix, but it did take me a few hours to figure out. I took my time looking as several components of the group head and eventually figured out that the supply problem had to be internal or in the actual supply line right before the group head. I loosened the supply line at the "T" and to my surprise water began to spray everywhere as the tap was stilled turned on. Turns out that there is a small "group jet" in that large nut to control the flow of water. I would have never guessed that they stuck that sucker in there. It took me a while to figure it out because the water flows through the "T" to the right group head that had fine water supply.



I soaked the pipe, jet, and screen in citric acid and reinstalled the pieces. Now I have great water flow at last.

Sadly I didn't have great success with my first, or next ten, espresso pulls and am in the process of figuring out how to make better espresso on this sweat machine.

Next it is time to research water filtration, a fully plumbed in drain, and a timer so I don't have to run it all the time.

Thanks,
Craig

Post Reply