Restoring my new Pasquini - Page 7
- Juanjo
- Posts: 153
- Joined: 15 years ago
you could try to make something like this
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc11 ... SC8874.jpg
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc11 ... SC8872.jpg
in theory and IMO it should work.!
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc11 ... SC8874.jpg
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc11 ... SC8872.jpg
in theory and IMO it should work.!
cheers,
Juanjo
Juanjo
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- Posts: 136
- Joined: 16 years ago
Thanks, Jeff, I'm partial to the wood, too. This is the kind of wood project I'm usually working on: kayakJmanEspresso wrote:Wow, that machine looks beautiful. Ive never even seen any machine by pasquini, besides the Livia 90, let along a two group. Really awesome looking... The wood Bezel is superb. Im a BIG fan of woodwork... Juanjo turned me a handle which fits on my La MArzocco portafilter, and I love using it. Wood is such a natural product.. Idk what it is about it that makes me like it so much, but what I do know, is nicely grained wood matches anything, and looks great on everything
Enjoy the 'spro my man!
Juanjo - thanks for the ideas. That gets me moving in the right direction.
Ross
Ross Leidy
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- Posts: 136
- Joined: 16 years ago
Today, I removed the plug on the boiler end plate after allowing the machine to auto-fill. No water spilled out, so I think this is a perfect place to add the vacuum breaker. Now it's just a matter of assembling the right fittings. Here's a photo of the plug. The diameter looks to be about 3/8", and I'm assuming it's got BSPP threads. On the Bezzera diagrams, this plug is described as "Plug M10 H12 OT". Can anyone decipher what size/threads this is and recommend a source for fittings (an elbow or tube fittings like the one in Juanjo's photos)? Also, is there anyone who has used the new vacuum breaker sold by CC with the barbed fitting on top? (http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/hom ... eakervalve) Any idea what size/type of threads it has?
Now that the machine has a semi-permanent home, I installed the filter/softener. I mounted it on a separate panel so I could assemble it on the workbench and then slip it into the cabinet and fasten the panel to the side. After it was all hooked up, I turned on the water and purged a couple gallons. Hey, something new - no leaks. Those JG connectors are fantastic. So I fired-up the boiler and sat back for the 1 hour warm up. I noticed a couple things as I was pulling shots:
Ross
Here's a photo of my filter/softener setup:
Now that the machine has a semi-permanent home, I installed the filter/softener. I mounted it on a separate panel so I could assemble it on the workbench and then slip it into the cabinet and fasten the panel to the side. After it was all hooked up, I turned on the water and purged a couple gallons. Hey, something new - no leaks. Those JG connectors are fantastic. So I fired-up the boiler and sat back for the 1 hour warm up. I noticed a couple things as I was pulling shots:
- The pressure regulator would hang at 25-30psi when I was running the pump, but when it shut off, it went up to around 60-70. A couple times I noticed that the pressure had pegged the regulator gauge. Is this normal? Do I need a check valve?
- The brew pressure, which used to consistently hit around 9 bar when I ran on house pressure, now would only go to about 7 during brewing. I just went back and installed a blind filter and tested again. I went straight to 7 bars and then close to a second later, bump to 8. Does this pressure sound okay, or should I adjust the pump?
Ross
Here's a photo of my filter/softener setup:
Ross Leidy
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- Posts: 136
- Joined: 16 years ago
Okay, I learned something new about my machine today. After days of internet research on how to add a vacuum breaker (and ordering one), I happened upon a thread on coffeesnobs that suggested that some Bezzeras have a combination safety valve and vacuum breaker. The IPL I have for my machine lists it just as a safety valve, so it had never even occurred to me. This evening, I disassembled the valve, and behold, it just had a stuck ball. I cleaned it up, installed new o-rings, reinstalled the valve in the boiler, and fired up. Once the boiler water started getting up to temp, I got a few seconds of steam from the valve (that was new), and then it sealed up. Woo-hoo! No extra plumbing needed, although I now have a spare vacuum breaker. I can finally put thing on a timer.
Ross
Here's all the parts of the valve disassembled.
Ross
Here's all the parts of the valve disassembled.
Ross Leidy
- mhoy
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: 16 years ago
You may want to consider replacing it anyway, if it stuck once, it may stick again (open or closed).
Mark
Mark
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- Posts: 136
- Joined: 16 years ago
I finally sprung for a new rotary pump. The old (original, I suspect) Procon was a little noisy, was a bit tight to turn by hand, and (as I found out later) was responsible for the slight flutter in the pressure gauge when brewing.
After reading some other posts here on HD about Fluid-o-Tech pumps and their great price when ordered direct, I contacted Shawn at FOT who helped me identify an appropriate replacement for the Procon. He recommended the PA1504, which set me back a whole $79. I placed the order Tuesday morning and the pump arrived at my house on Thursday. Kudos to Shawn for the great service and value.
Here's the old and new pumps side-by-side. The Procon is looking a little sad, I must say.
New FOT installed. (Insulating the boiler is a future project.)
I took a short video of the pressure gauge while activating the pump. The needle is rock steady at 9 bars. With the old pump, the needle was rapidly fluctuating +/- 0.1 bar.
The free-flow rate with the pump adjusted to 9 bar is around 200ml in 10 seconds. Based on a little bit of research, that sounds darn high. The gicleur is pictured here. I don't know what diameter it is, but perhaps it's on the large side. What are the consequences of a large diameter gicleur?
Ross
After reading some other posts here on HD about Fluid-o-Tech pumps and their great price when ordered direct, I contacted Shawn at FOT who helped me identify an appropriate replacement for the Procon. He recommended the PA1504, which set me back a whole $79. I placed the order Tuesday morning and the pump arrived at my house on Thursday. Kudos to Shawn for the great service and value.
Here's the old and new pumps side-by-side. The Procon is looking a little sad, I must say.
New FOT installed. (Insulating the boiler is a future project.)
I took a short video of the pressure gauge while activating the pump. The needle is rock steady at 9 bars. With the old pump, the needle was rapidly fluctuating +/- 0.1 bar.
The free-flow rate with the pump adjusted to 9 bar is around 200ml in 10 seconds. Based on a little bit of research, that sounds darn high. The gicleur is pictured here. I don't know what diameter it is, but perhaps it's on the large side. What are the consequences of a large diameter gicleur?
Ross
Ross Leidy
- erics
- Supporter ★
- Posts: 6302
- Joined: 19 years ago
Ross - Echoing what others have said, that is one beautiful restoration you have performed.
The consequences of a "large" diameter gicleur is to permit the higher water debit rate you are reporting (200 ml in 10 seconds). In thumbing through the Bezzera parts illustrations, it looks as though they applied either a 0.80 mm or 1.00 mm diameter gicleur for machines SIMILAR to yours. The size installed in your machine could be measured with a numbered drill set using a "see if it fits" basis. No doubt a machinist would have a more precise way of doing this (pin gages) but . . . I would contact Pasquini and see if they can send you a manual for your specific machine with the proper gicleur shown.
In addition, there is a slim chance you were UNINTENTIONALLY supplied the wrong pump by Fluid-O-Tech because the old pump you showed a pic of had the Rancilio logo and it seems a little out of place on a Bezzera/Pasquini machine. Pasquini and/or Bezzera should be able to tell you what Procon pump was installed in that machine and that can be easily cross referenced to a Fluid-O-Tech.
The consequences of a "large" diameter gicleur is to permit the higher water debit rate you are reporting (200 ml in 10 seconds). In thumbing through the Bezzera parts illustrations, it looks as though they applied either a 0.80 mm or 1.00 mm diameter gicleur for machines SIMILAR to yours. The size installed in your machine could be measured with a numbered drill set using a "see if it fits" basis. No doubt a machinist would have a more precise way of doing this (pin gages) but . . . I would contact Pasquini and see if they can send you a manual for your specific machine with the proper gicleur shown.
In addition, there is a slim chance you were UNINTENTIONALLY supplied the wrong pump by Fluid-O-Tech because the old pump you showed a pic of had the Rancilio logo and it seems a little out of place on a Bezzera/Pasquini machine. Pasquini and/or Bezzera should be able to tell you what Procon pump was installed in that machine and that can be easily cross referenced to a Fluid-O-Tech.
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- Posts: 136
- Joined: 16 years ago
Eric - thanks for the kind words. I've had a great time with my first restoration and am casting about for another.
Being a relative newbie, the Rancilo logo on the pump completely slipped by me. There was evidence of prior slipshod maintenance/repair on this machine, so the non-OEM pump doesn't surprise me. The FOT pump that I installed was a 60gph version, but I probably could have got by with a 45gph. Wouldn't the free flow rate be identical if the pump is maintaining 9bar?
It would be good to get of the Pasquini specs and manual. I've sent a number of emails to Pasquini with requests to help identify the model, but so far have not received any replies. I'll keep trying.
Being a relative newbie, the Rancilo logo on the pump completely slipped by me. There was evidence of prior slipshod maintenance/repair on this machine, so the non-OEM pump doesn't surprise me. The FOT pump that I installed was a 60gph version, but I probably could have got by with a 45gph. Wouldn't the free flow rate be identical if the pump is maintaining 9bar?
It would be good to get of the Pasquini specs and manual. I've sent a number of emails to Pasquini with requests to help identify the model, but so far have not received any replies. I'll keep trying.
Ross Leidy
- erics
- Supporter ★
- Posts: 6302
- Joined: 19 years ago
Now, I'm not answering your main question because I am thinking of some good words but - the " evidence of prior slipshod maintenance/repair on this machine" is what caused me to write the words which implied that an incorrect pump was applied. Bezzera lists two pumps for a SIMILAR machine to yours depending on the number of groups present - 100 litre/hr for 1-2 groups and 200 litres/hr for 3-4 groups. When you peruse this info - http://www.fluid-o-tech.com/files/Brass.pdf - you would see why I said what I did.
The hydraulics of the typical Bezzera machine would take me about a pot of coffee to digest - they are relatively complex.
The hydraulics of the typical Bezzera machine would take me about a pot of coffee to digest - they are relatively complex.