The "loaner" to you would consist of:

(a) Greylor LGP Pump (previously referenced)

(b) 5/16 OD x 3/16 ID flexible tubing - probably about (2) 4 foot sections

(c) section of 6x4 mm tubing w/nut to take the place of pump discharge line
(Note that 6x4 mm teflon tubing will be a nice tight fit inside of 3/16 ID flex line)

(d) 1-7/16" and 7/8" thin, short wrenches (for removing mushroom and mushroom cap)

(e) tool for removing/reinstalling gicleur (7 mm nut driver and 4" of 3/8 OD tube)

(f) Instructions

Send me your mailing address via normal email - erics@erols.com

What a sacrifice in the name of science.


Ill be looking for the results & feed back myself.

Funny this is being discuss I've been thinking about this same thing lately.

Erics is the bomb dig ity

Michael

Thanks M.

Here's da kit in its initial form:


More later as family is bugging me for chow.

Does anyone know if the Volante also suffers from a small suction line? I'm waiting for word from Jim at 1st line about the size but I thought I'd ask if anyone has descaled a direct plumbed Volante.

Eric how has the pump kit worked out since your last post?

For those that want to know, I just got this reply from Jim on the Volante:

3/8" British - it is enough to suck the solution

Ed - be just a LITTLE bit cautious. The "mains" connection on the great majority (if not all) home machines is, in fact, 3/8". The Italians term it a 3/8" Gas thread and this typically means 3/8" BSPP threading. There is no problem with the 3/8" size and no problem with the BSPP threads.

The problem occurs in the transition from this 3/8" size to whatever is attached to the pump. In the case of the Vetrano, the 3/8" transitions to a M5 x 3 tubing - that's 5 mm OD and 3 mm ID. This works just fine as long as one is supplying the Vetrano a positive pressure - say 2.5 bar or around 35 psi. When one tries to operate the rotary pump in that machine simply by taking suction from a nearby stationary reservoir, the pump will cavitate, i.e. this DID NOT work:

My solution to the descaling adventure DID NOT WORK either because of the check valve incorporated on our machines at the entrance to the hx. My little pump could not overcome that valve whereas the machine's pump, whether it be vibe or rotary can easily meet the pressure reqts to pass through that valve.

However, I have not given up just yet - but keep in mind that the idea is to have a complete "kit" that ANYONE could EASILY use - not something requiring the Snap-On Tool truck and a regiment of espresso machine technicians.

Eric, I am running a Vetrano from a bottle without positive pressure and it does work. I have been assured by Chris that it is no problem, as long as the machine does not have to draw the water upward. I am not sure what went wrong with your setup, which is similar to mine.

Scott -

About the only thing I can honestly say is that I'm glad it works for you. That was a loaner Vetrano I had which I was running a few tests on and the pump was surely cavitating when I tried to take suction from the container - both by sound and the miniscule flow I was getting through the group.

Taking suction from the "make-shift" reservoir I fabricated is the ideal way to descale.

Eric, can something like a Flojet BW1000A (http://www.1st-line.net/cgi-bin/categor ... type=store) be used as the pump in your descale kit? I have an old one lying around from the days before I plumbed in my Vetrano. And they cost a bit less than your cool lab pump!

John -

Thanks for posting that info on the FloJet - yes, I believe it would work. The "lab" pump was actually a good deal on Ebay - I hooked five for $165 total but that doesn't mean didily if they don't pass muster.

I will look into that Flojet model.