cannonfodder wrote:You need to turn down your over pressure valve. If that photo of the pressure gauge is during a shot and not a blind basket flush, you are brewing at 12 bars. Way, way high. It should be around 9 bar during the shot. When the machine is off and cold, does that gauge read 0?

Yes the photo with the gauge was taken while brewing - it also reads 12 bars with a blind basket flush.
And yes when cold the gauge reads 0.

Well not to speculate here
but looking at the way the machine is NOT clean
I will assume that the grouphead is so gummed up inside that prevents the opening of the discharge valve
regarding the OPV follow the above suggestions and lower it down
that when you are backflushing ( after you rebuild the group and clean it)
will open at 9-10 bar

quattrocchi wrote:Yes, it was Espresso Engineers. When I questioned the 12bar they said that with the kind of pump on the VBM 12 bar = 9bar. Have you altered yours to read 9 bar?

This weekend is disassembly time.

I have checked mine with a portafilter-mounted pressure gauge, and I think they are completely wrong. Maybe they had one that had an inaccurate pressure gauge and have been setting the rest based on that.

I also agree with Stefano, but had not said anything in my previous post. That machine looks very neglected and dirty. Looking at the condition, if it were my machine, I think I would pull the group off the machine for a dipping. I would also replace all the seals as well. Uchhh...

The lens on the gauges pops off, so it MAY be possible to get replacements for just the lens... maybe.

Randy - what was the offset on your gauge? I have mine set to 10.5 with a blind basket which corresponds with 9.5 at the group with a pressure gauge.

quattrocchi wrote:The lever action first of all feels ... gritty, especially after a clean with PulyCaff.

That said, I can detect some spring pressure from mid-lever position to down-lever position.

We are frantically hunting for our copy of the service sheet...

Thanks for all the advice.

That is normal. After a detergent backflush all the oils are washed off the internal parts. Now the cam runs on a follower with no lube, just brass on brass and it will feel a little gritty until you pull 2 or 3 shots then it smooths out. Normal operation for a lever actuated E61.

quattrocchi wrote:Yes, it was Espresso Engineers. When I questioned the 12bar they said that with the kind of pump on the VBM 12 bar = 9bar. Have you altered yours to read 9 bar?

This weekend is disassembly time.

Sorry, but they are idiots. I have had more than a few VBM's pass through my coffee bar. The vibe pump version runs just under one bar over brew pressure and no lower than 0.5 bar over on the ones I have checked. They are not the worlds best quality gauge there is some variance from unit to unit. So for 9 bar, set it about the gauge needle's width below 10 bar when using a blind basket, something like 9.8 bar. That should get you between 9 and 9.3 bar. You can always set it a little lower if you want. I run my Elektra rotary pump machine at around 8.7 bar. The rotary pump version is a little different.

The gauge covers can be replaced. They just lift off. In fact, if you develop a buzzing sound and it is coming from the top front of the machine, chances are the lenses or the chrome trim rings have loosened a little. They just snap in with a couple retaining clips and can vibrate loose over time.

The Domobar Super I have sitting here on my office desk does not have the moving brass color problem. It does protrude from the side of the group by 2 or 3mm but it does not move around or work in and out as you work the lever. It is always in the same location.

I have two Vibiemme e61. Both are set to 8.25bar on the puck / 122psi Scace II.
The brew pressure gauge on one reads 11 bar, the other just under 10 when brewing.
I've looked at a few other Vibiemme and they vary considerably, as do cheap and cheerful gauges on other machines.
Somewhere between 9.5 and 10 bar while brewing should get you within the ~9 bar on the puck park

The brass collar slides out on both groups and has done since day 1.
Zero funk, however

Interesting. I have not seen one with that wide of a swing. Luck of the draw I suppose.

cafeIKE wrote:I have two Vibiemme e61. Both are set to 8.25bar on the puck / 122psi Scace II.
The brew pressure gauge on one reads 11 bar, the other just under 10 when brewing.
I've looked at a few other Vibiemme and they vary considerably, as do cheap and cheerful gauges on other machines. Somewhere between 9.5 and 10 bar while brewing should get you within the ~9 bar on the puck park...

I'll contact the servicing agent and ask how they actually check the pump pressure. It was checked OK in late Jan and I noted then the gauge read 12. Ah, now I've found the job sheet:

19.1.2010 "Dismantled head unit cleaned out lime scale and coffee buildup replacing worn valves x3 and head gasket and screen and lever seals. Replaced worn steam and hot water valve seals and steam wand. Replaced faulty electronics and worn expansion valve seal. Descaled boiler level probe. Adjusted pump pressure, tested ok and (tagged?)."
1 fa516528/n head gasket 10.15 NZD
1 fa526100/a diffusion screen 12.29
1 vb/assvalvrog distribution valve 18.56
1 vb/assvalvinf infusion valve 25.78
1 vb/assvalvscar discharge valve 19.09
2 vb/guarpica lever rod seal 7.04 ea
3 vb/guarsilrudom steam valve seal - silicone 6.50 ea
1 vb/tubivadomsu steam wand - Dom 52.75 (we wore through to the brass!)
1 vb/eletregliv RL30 electronics GICAR 128.07 (the main reason we put it in)

Thanks for the continuing comments. Maybe they tested the pump pressure as ok at the puck but the pressure gauge is 'optimistic'. Since so many seals were replaced in January I feel more confident disassembling the group head for a clean-out. I see how erics took apart the mushroom area Checking an E61 Espresso Machine for Scale but would like to see a page on removing the lower parts, the drain bits.

cannonfodder wrote:Interesting. I have not seen one with that wide of a swing. Luck of the draw I suppose.

The 11 bar gauge drifted higher over the years, finally topping out at 11.
IIRC, it was about 9.8 when I first measured the puck pressure in Digital Pressure Adapter