Thanks for having me at the HB forums.

I'll jump right in and say, I just brought home a 1 group LS NEW EK 3K. It looks like it has seen some wear and tear. I'd like to get it up and running ASAP.

What do I need to know about getting it ready for use? I think I have a handle on getting water to the unit via some plumbing magic. What about water filtration/softening? I am in an apartment so I can't go too crazy.

When I brought the machine home I noticed right away that the shower screen and group head was populated with dried up espresso dust.

What should I inspect, replace, maintain rebuild right off the bat? I am in the market for a Rocky or a Mini as well. I figure I might as well order what I need all at once.

This didn't include a PF, basket or anything else. I'd like a triple basket. I assume I will replace the cheap parts in the shower screen. How do I test, clean, descale, maintain the boiler in this unit? I've printed out the manual from the La Spaziale website already and read it.

I would appreciate any feedback from people who own, operate, service or maintain these machines.

I need parts like replacement plastic for the side covers as well.

Thanks everyone.

Sean

You're welcome, CremaCrazy.

HB has a lot of threads about how to re-run a machine. Lot of people here bought a used one and got similar questions, at least the first time I suppose (me too).

I don't know La Spaziale 3K, don't know if it works and don't know your knowledge about coffee; I suggest some points:

1) take a close look at the machine

(a) I assume the machine hasn't a water tank; attach a pipe to the inlet and put it in a tank with water (even if it's non filtered, just to check); attach a pipe to the drain and put it in a second empty tank
(b) check the sight-glass to know the boiler water level; if the boiler is under level, detach wires from heater before turning on
(c) turn on; if the boiler is under level and there is an autolevel, pump should start to fill boiler; if there is no autolevel and the water is low activate manual boiler refill; this way you will know if pump works. If you had detached wires from heater, turn off everything, reattach them then turn on again.
(d) wait and see if temperature raise. If this happens, heater do its job, otherwise you have to replace it. Check the pressurestat dead band; you will notice the boiler pressure gauge slowly raise until roughly 1 bar and see how much pressure falls until a click make pressure raise again. Notice the oscillation pressure; if it's more than 0.2 bar consider to make something to the pressurestat, not now but soon.
(c) activate the pump and watch if water falls from group.

Now you can turn off and go ahead, if everything went right.

2) some minimum maintenance

(a) replace shower screen, portafilter gasket, find a portafilter with some baskets and a blind one for backflush plus some coffee soap
(b) turn on, wait until heater stops and perform a backflush to wash group
(c) try a pull, just to say "it works"

If you reach this you got something working and nothing drinkable.

Then:
1) empty the boiler, plumb-in and refill with fresh water (with heater off)
2) adjust pressurestat to reach 1 - 1.1 bar; later you can tweak as needed
3) try to check and adjust extraction pressure, using the pump gauge if there is one or with a gauge attached to a portafilter. Adjust to 9 bar (if you are using a blind filter fix at 9.5 bar).
4) read some threads on Home Barista
5) get a good grinder and start to play
6) try to check water temperature (see Scace Thermofilter, for example)
7) when you will be unsatisfied with your toy, consider to descale, rebuild, upgrade, etc. Again, HB has lot of information about every matter.

Hope this helps.
Pierluigi

Thank you so much for the great information. I will try to use the search feature better as well.

I (think I) understand that this machine is somehow not quite an HX, and appears to have a single boiler in it, that somehow pulls steam from the top and water from the bottom, with some magic at the group head to maintain a constant temperature.

Upon closer inspection, I notice the the power wires that feed the boiler seem like they have gotten very hot, the insulation seems crisp and browned on the larger (power, I assume) wires.




I also figured out that the machine uses 2200Watts. It has a huge line cord, yet someone put a 15A plug on it. I plan on replacing with a 20A plug and sharing the circuit with the rarely used electric range.

I am hoping that low voltage to the machine was what caused the (apparently) over-current problem to the boiler power. I can replace the melted wires with new wire of correct gauge and insulation composition.

Is there anything I can easily do to inspect the boiler heater element and the tank? Am I better off just trying it out after replacing the wiring.

As far as back-flushing and cleaning out the group head etc. The manual I printed out from the LaSpaziale site seems like a catch-all "Barista" manual with "end of day" cleanup and "every 2 week" maintenance.

It doesn't seem to have important things like a schematic diagram of the electrical, or a BOM/parts list. Does anyone have a suggestion on were to get something more akin to a "service manual" for this specific (family of) machine(s)?

Thanks again for all the help. I have my work cut out for me.

Sean

Here are some pics of shower screen and GH as I received the machine. I think more is supposed to come out. I removed the hex bolt and only one screen/diffuser was released. I think there is more stuck up inside with all of the coffee crust.





Thanks again for indulging me. I can put better pics up on flicr or something as well if wanted.

Sufficient to say that the machine is going to need a fair amount of work to restore to working condition and a bit more to get it to "like new" shape.

Sean

Sufficient to say that the machine is going to need a fair amount of work to restore to working condition and a bit more to get it to "like new" shape.

I agree. Consider to tear down everything , descale, scrub rust away, etc. Locate a technician shop nearby (if any) to ask in case of troubles (someone who restore machines for living) and to buy parts. Otherwise surf the net for LS 3k spare parts.
I suggest to replace heater and security valve (boiler overpressure, in photo). This lead to open boiler (so you can inspect it... ), but once opened, it's best to descale... and so on with other pieces like group, pipes, etc. From what I can tell, be ready to replace pressurestat also.

Have fun
Pierluigi

UPDATE:

I managed to plumb this beast in after tons of wasted time at various hardware stores.

Mr. Espresso In Oakland, CA had the exact 3/8" replacement braided hoses I needed.

All the hoses I received up to the water pump were shot and needed to be replaced.

I have now wired up a 20A outlet (GFIC), and re terminated the power receptacle for 20A as well.


The machines turns on, heats up, the boiler stops boiling when the pressure valve touches the red (1/2 way point). steam is produced from the wand, and hot water comes out of the faucet now.


The pump originally barely made any humming noises (surprising for such a large piece of hardware).

Eventually the pump has gotten louder and seems to go on and off when as expected as observed in the the level in the glass.

The pump does seem to "pump", but I am pretty sure it needs to be replaced/or rebuilt. It sounds like it is working too hard to put a little more water in the boiler. It also doesn't produce any flow at the group head. But some steam does come out there.

When I push a "shot" button on the control panel, the solenoid clicks, the pump makes noise and after a few seconds the LED I pressed starts blinking. I believe there is a flow meter that is telling the computer that there is no flow.


Please offer more advice for me. Should I assume the impeller/pump mechanisim that is connected to the large electric motor is where my latest problem lies?

Is this rebuild-able, or does it need to be replaced.

Thank you for all the help so far. I am making great hot water and steam now!! Honey-Crema shots sure would be a nice addition though.


Thanks again.
Sean

Well I have removed the pump from the motor. The motor now spins freely and sounds like an electric motor under no load should sound.

Our friends at espressoparts.com (espresso parts), have offered me a replacement pump for about $100 less than I was able to find anywhere else.

I will be placing that order tomorrow and hopefully seeing water flow out of the group head by Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks for all the useful advice and links. I still haven't cleaned up the group head. I am waiting to get some water out of if so I can clean and back-flush thoroughly.

I sure hope to taste some good shots out of this.

Since I am replacing the pump, what do I need to know about pressure adjustment?

A rotary pump should make a low buzz, no rattles. A common problem about no water from group is that some lime clogs water path; I don't know you machine and can't tell where to look first.
Everything could break, but pump unlikely can. Since it's expensive, find an exploded view of your machine and look for some restrictor on the water path and start from there. Take it apart and check.
If everything is clean than consider to replace pump.
Post some photos, could helps.
Pierluigi

If the pump is a fluid-o-tech you can order it directly from them for less than any dealer sells them.
http://www.fluidotech.com/Pages/fluidotech_english.aspx

161 Atwater St
Plantsville, CT 06479
Phone 860-276-9270
Fax 860-620-0193

I had to replace the pump in my La Spaziale Vivaldi II; it cost me $79 plus $11 freight to California charged to my VISA and shipped immediately.

Good luck...

Thanks again everyone and especially those with such useful advice.

I am going to try to figure out if the pump is the problem, or tubes are clogged up somewhere.


Any clues as to how I should proceed? I don't mind spending money when needed, but I'd hate to replace an expensive pump only to find out that I had a clogged water channel or something.


MDL: Thanks very much for that link. If it is my pump, you saved me a ton of cash. What part of California are you in? I'd love to buy you a beer, (or a quad ristretto).

A really appreciate all the feedback and advice I've gotten. I might have been able to take the machine somewhere and drop it off to be "fixed", but I wouldn't have learned much about how commercials machines are put together and work.



More pictures to come.