Aurora Single Lever

[jmc]

Hi all,

As referred to in my post on the Conti, I am currently renovating another new purchase
- An Aurora single lever, bought two weeks ago. I don't know what year it is as the only ID
on it is what looks to be a production number. I've forwarded this to Brugnetti so hopefully they
will be able to tell me.

On getting it home all looked really good until I pulled the Piston/Lever out. Some idiot had
been pulling the lever down then letting it spring back with no resistance. Result - a broken part.

A mate with an engineering shop is a very handy thing in this situation. So with his help the part
has been drilled, tapped and bolted together. It's now at the welder's to be TIG welded for extra
strength - hope it works.
Everything else on the machine has been stripped down and is in pretty good condition - not
much scale at all. It must be an earlier model as it doesn't have HX. It also has a mercury switch
pressurestat which I'll replace with a Sirai.
The frame and side panels have been powder coated and I'm currently doing battle with the boiler
end plate studs ( 5 out & 5 to go ).

Boiler gaskets I can get made up. I will need piston seals.
Paul (NZ) - do you know if any of the seals from Coffee Parts will fit ?

John

[Paul]

seals:
bruggi parts - ring diamond c services in thomastown: ph 0394606111. Part # for the seals are FD100 and FD101

i'd bet that faema ones (from coffeeparts) would fit if these guys can't help you.

ps model is an 'europa'.

[jmc]

Thanks for that Paul, They seem to be a great place for almost any brand - and prices seem pretty reasonable.
One more question - will one of these work off gravity feed, plumbing it in will be too difficult in my situation.

John

[Paul]

When the machine is hot, your cold water feed needs to be of a pressure greater than that in the boiler. Probably 2 bar at the minimum.

I do hand fill some machines when cold but these are ones with a different type of safety valve. Ones in the 1950s were a lead weight holding down a pin. I lift these both and fill into the top of the boiler.

Most aurora machines are hx, yours is the first I have seen that is not. HX machines need a pressure regulated plumbed feed.

One thing you could do is run a small pump from a water cooler bottle. There are commercial versions available or you could make up something yourself. Just so long as it is at least 2 bar. Better would be 3 or 4.

[jmc]

I bought a caravan / RV pump, transformer, rectifier etc and the Euopa is now finished and working. (Pictures to follow)

Having this site to refer to in my first Lever restoration has made it all possible. Thanks to all ( and particularly Paul )

The hardest part was the removal of two of the boiler end plate studs - both snapped off - necessitating drilling out. One even had to be recoiled. Other than that it was all fairly straightforward.

Learning to use the Europa has proven to be not as simply as with my 2 group E61 la Pavoni commercial machine ( previously restored and now sold ) or my standby machine - a La Scala Butterfly E61. As Paul said above, mine must be a very early Aurora as it has no HX ( which was introduced on the later machines ). Consequently, if left on 24/7 as I do, it OVERHEATS ( such hissing and spitting as you've never seen !) No amount of flushing seems to bring it down.

After 1 1/2 weeks of frustration the solution was simple - Leave the portafilter out - insert it about 10 minutes before brewing - then brew as normal with a "Fellini". The cold portafilter cools the group head at the same time it comes up to brewing temperature and all is good. After this the machine takes a long time to overheat ( hours ) but doesn't seem to while I'm making coffees, so I think if I was using it in a commercial situation, then it just wouldn't overheat.

Next post - The Coffee

John

[peacecup]

I've read the Italian baristas used to use a damp towel to cool the group, which works fine for my little home lever.