I am more than willing to say that I was wrong. And that I am glad that you have found the part that is not sending the correct voltage to the probe. Have you had any other updates?

I really want to hear the end of this story.

-Cecil

I'm hoping to hear more this week. I gave him the drip tray on Friday so he can test the buttons, assuming everything else starts up OK.

I told him initially that it's not urgent so it may be another week. I assumed he'd charge me less for his time if I told him I didn't need it done right away.

I just talked to Lee again. He thinks the electronics are all good to go. He says the pump runs, but there is a water leak. So I will get to fix that when I get it back. I am picking it up this weekend -- he lives about 30 miles away.

I've also ordered a Zassenhaus hand grinder. I'm going to see how that works. If it doesn't work well enough for espresso, I'm planning to give it to my father for use with regular coffee. I was going to try to order one from Orphan Espresso, but they never get back to me, so I finally gave up.

And I ordered a cafelat tamper and a tamping mat.

Hopefully this time next week I will be pulling my own shots on the Cimbali!

Here's an update:
I have the machine back and it's sitting in my kitchen. Lee's repair has made the machine respond to the tank sensor like it should. I had a big leak at the pump that would spray when the pump came on, however, a little teflon tape and some snugging fixed that problem.

I also recharged my water softener with table salt per the Cimbali instructions.

At this point, it appears water is not making it to the boiler. The pump sounds a bit loud so I wonder if the path is restricted. I opened the boiler drain and nothing came out. In addition, I don't see much movement of water in the tube that comes from the tank now that the leak is fixed. So I think I have a block somewhere. I'm trying to take it apart and find the last place water reached.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I wonder if I have a valve not opening.

Through what path does the machine fill the boiler? Is it through the hot water economizer?

While I was checking the water lines, I decided to see if the valve to the hot water economizer was getting power. It wasn't. That had me worried that the board still wasn't working properly. I happened to notice that the steam wand valve seemed to be warm to the touch. I double checked my wires against the cimbali wiring diagram (posted earlier by Eric), and it turns out I had 8 and 9 mixed up. So I switched the wires of the steam valve and the fill valve, and hooked everything back up and turned it back on. Presto! It filled the boiler for a while and then stopped when the boiler was full.

Now I am ready to check the heating!

Yyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!

Next update... it heats! It only took about 10 minutes and it started getting pressure in the boiler. It got up to about .8 bar and then I noticed water leaking from around the hot water economizer. I already had a new gasket coming for that. Hopefully that will fix that leak. Even after it got up to .8 bar, the vacuum breaker was still hissing a little. I don't know if that's normal or not.

I also tried to press the brew button at one point and it turned on the pump, but nothing came out. I'm wondering if this is because I have the hot water economizer screw too tight.

yay! you've come pretty far.

anti vac - no, shouldn't hiss. cimbali ones do catch a bit of water though and perhaps this boiling off is the hissing you are hearing??

econ valve - i was pretty sure that water does not pass thru this on its way to the HX (at least, it doesn't on my machine). the worst you could do is have tea water too hot or cold.

pump - did you run it long enough? hx would have been empty. hope you haven't got your pump ins and outs switched

My vacuum breaker had some water bubbling out of it. But I think it wasn't completely sealing. I'll find out for sure once the economizer leak is fixed. I think that may well require the new gasket; that should be here tomorrow.

Economizer -- yes, you are right. I looked at the plumbing diagram and it doesn't go through there at all. The hot water tap water is what goes through the economizer.

Pump ins and outs are correct because the boiler filled. I had double-checked them. But you bring up a good point about the HX being empty. Perhaps I should run it again and watch the intake tube to see if water is actually moving.

water out of gr problem - also you may wish to confirm gr solenoid is working.

OK, next...
I have a gasket coming for the economizer connection to the boiler,but by just snugging the screws, I was able to stop that leak (I'm still going to replace the gasket when it comes in). But I still have a very slow leak from "inside" the economizer -- around the adjustment screw. I think it's due to the little green gasket in there. That little gasket is quite stiff. Originally I wasn't going to take the economizer apart -- but it's probably good I did; there was a lot of scale in it. My original plans meant that I didn't order a gasket. I think I'll see if the people in Des Moines have one.

Also, there is no water moving when I press the brew button -- something is blocking it. I took apart the line at the flow meter and it is bone dry. No water is even going into the FM. So water must not be getting past this really complex looking setup at the back of the machine where the water comes in. I have no idea what it is called. The input line goes into it. The boiler fill/economizer line hooks to it. The line to the flow meter connects to it. I wasn't able to get that apart easily, so I decided to just leave it. It may have a blockage in it. That's the best I can think of right now. Obviously, the water can get to the economizer connection, but may not be making it back to where the flow meter line connects.

I'll go get a picture of it so you all know what I'm talking about if you don't already.

Here is the place where I think there might be a blockage. But I was not having much luck getting this apart when I had the machine torn down.

The tube on the left goes to the flowmeter. The tube on the right goes to the boiler (which fills properly). The one on the far right, that's pretty much out of this picture, is incoming water.

The hydraulic diagrams on pages 27-30 here sorta explains it: http://www.home-barista.com/downloads/l...manual.pdf . It is a check-valve & expansion valve "assembly". I would disassemble with caution as it MAY be made from unobtanium.

Chris

It's great to hear that the board is working! I've been out on vacation the last week and still haven't decided to get my board fixed or buy one. Will make up my mind shortly. I do have a question. I'm having a slight leak where the economizer attaches to the boiler and thought it was a copper ring/gasket. Is that what you have ordered or is it a white plastic gasket?

Did you soak every copper/brass fitting in the citric acid solution? I made sure that every fitting took a bath. I'm thinking you probably have a scale blockage someplace.

Congrats on your progress so far!

Mike

cyclones wrote:OK, next...
I have a gasket coming for the economizer connection to the boiler,but by just snugging the screws, I was able to stop that leak (I'm still going to replace the gasket when it comes in). But I still have a very slow leak from "inside" the economizer -- around the adjustment screw. I think it's due to the little green gasket in there. That little gasket is quite stiff. Originally I wasn't going to take the economizer apart -- but it's probably good I did; there was a lot of scale in it. My original plans meant that I didn't order a gasket. I think I'll see if the people in Des Moines have one.

Also, there is no water moving when I press the brew button -- something is blocking it. I took apart the line at the flow meter and it is bone dry. No water is even going into the FM. So water must not be getting past this really complex looking setup at the back of the machine where the water comes in. I have no idea what it is called. The input line goes into it. The boiler fill/economizer line hooks to it. The line to the flow meter connects to it. I wasn't able to get that apart easily, so I decided to just leave it. It may have a blockage in it. That's the best I can think of right now. Obviously, the water can get to the economizer connection, but may not be making it back to where the flow meter line connects.

I'll go get a picture of it so you all know what I'm talking about if you don't already.

Mike,
Mine is a green rubber gasket. The replacement didn't come today, but hopefully tomorrow! I also need a replacement gasket for the economizer adjustment screw -- it's a very small green one.

Today I got my cafelat tamper and mat, and a stainless steel pitcher. The cafelat tamper is quite impressive in its weight.

I am trying to take apart the check valve and related parts right now using some hot water to try to loosen them up like I did with the group head. Hopefully this goes well and I get water flowing to the group head.

I got the assembly apart. The blockage is definitely in the check valve. I don't know if the valve will come apart or not. I guess we'll see. I'll give it a try and see what happens. I'm looking for further input from you guys on where next to go with this.

i was surprised but I got it apart and found crud inside. Citric acid seemed to work to take it off. The valve is soaking overnight because I needed to sleep. Crossing my fingers that this will make the check valve work again.

And what about the expansion valve? That needs to be set and tested for proper functioning and, making the assumption that it could be "crudded up" also, the setting and testing would not be too valid.

Chris,

Once you get that thing fired up, sleep will be all but a distant memory!

cyclones wrote:i was surprised but I got it apart and found crud inside. Citric acid seemed to work to take it off. The valve is soaking overnight because I needed to sleep.

I put the check valve in a fresh, hot acid bath this morning, and when I got home, more junk had come out. I rinsed the thing off and then took a paper clip, stuck it up the hose connection and was able to get the valve unstuck using little force. I then put it all back in the acid bath to get the inside cleaned out. Looks like this challenge is behind me! So now the brew buttons should result in water through the group head.

The expansion valve has also been soaking in the acid bath, but I don't know if I'll get it apart or not. It looks like ideally it needs a very wide blade screwdriver or similar tool to get it apart. So far, my straight blades have not been able to break it loose. I could try boiling water again I suppose.

Only things left are the little washer in the hot water economizer and possibly the vacuum breaker.

. . . very wide blade screwdriver . . .

Or what's called a drag link socket or a purpose ground hardened fender washer.