Backflush for a lever? Yes!

[espressme]

Hi Folks,
This is about a sort of a backflush for Big Old Lever machines
I have found that I don't want to remove the three dispersion screen screws very often on my lovely old Conti. She is a bit overweight and I am a bit of a klutz. Here is my solution to the problem.
So: See the photos
1. Cut a disk/cylinder from a large DRY cellulose sponge. It will be too sloppy to do so if it is wet. When wet,the sponge should be about twice the height of your deepest basket.You can get more peace of mind if you poke a thin paring or eXacto knife blade through the sponge in a couple of places.
2. Soak the sponge in a strong mixture of your cleaner of choice.
3. Place the soaked sponge into your basket and portafilter. This also flushes the gasket as the PF is locked into place.
4. Since my machine is plumbed in, I can run water through the group with the machine off. If you can not do so, just turn the machine off when it comes to temperature.
5. With the machine off, but warm, lock the saturated sponge into the group.
6. Let it set a bit. Like 5 minutes,
7. Pull a shot or two through the sponge. Cellulose sponges have open pores.
8. Take the portafilter and sponge out of the group.
9. Use some of the liquid to clean the group gasket and drip tray.
10. Run more water through the group and portafilter. Either turn the machine on or, as in my case, flush it with the pump from the 5 gallon bottle.

When you again bring the machine up to temperature, pull a couple of shots to assure the group and the portafilter are rinsed clean also.
This also does a nice job of de-gunking the passages in some enclosed passage portafilters.

Thanks for the time. I have used this on other lever machines also. Think before trying it! You will be exposing yourself to some very hot water and / or steam. The piston may become a bit sticky afterward, but mine have loosened after a couple of shots.

Cheers
Richard / espressme
PS, If anyone one has a reason not to use this method, Please Post!

[peacecup]

Here is my solution to the problem.

Another solution is to send that beauty over to Sweden

Cheers,

PC

[Chert]

Hi,

I enjoy a La Pavoni 8 cup lever. I clean the group occasionally and I'll inspect it closer the next time I change gaskets, but it seems since the puck is dry initially, if one uses filtered water and only raises the lever once per extraction there is no source for sediments, calcium or coffee oils to enter the group.

I also am curious about a few other questions: What is the origin of your Prestina or where could I find one? How much one should expect to pay for such a machine? Would the boiler provide steam similar to a commercial modern machine, since lack of steam power is the only beef I have against my europiccola. I would like to be able at times to pull more shots in succession with greater rapidity as I like to do an annual fundraiser at work for the local American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Does the spring action allow some variability of user determined extraction pressure as a purely manual lever does? I've noticed the Pavoni and Rancilio two group spring levers and the awesome Kees van der Westen piece but I realize a vintage machine could be quite durable and much less expensive.

Thanks.

[espressme]

I have found that with any of my lever machines, and the way I use them, there has been an un-noticed migration of fines and oils into the dispersion screen. These machines include the rogues' gallery below my avatar. The buildup may be a source of off flavors. YMMV
The Prestina is a commercial machine!! I like the Prestina,there is little to go wrong. She is on 24/7 except for a boiler flush and cleaning every so often. It has served me well at large doings and been known to convert 5 pounds of choice roast into milk drinks and Americanos in a very short space of time. The steaming is great. One quickly learns to add water, manual fill, whenever the demand slacks off. Keep it full and steam is plentiful! It is a 1000watt heater. It does take an hour or more to heat up. That huge group and piston assembly is 20+ pounds of brass! It does not have a vacuum breaker so you must relieve the false pressure. Her real advantage is that you can use her most anywhere when some modern machines will blow 15amp breakers in older homes.As with any machine, there is a learning curve. She is quite forgiving though.
Bill rebuilt this one of mine as a home project a few years back.
conti-rebuild-t1949.html

There is one for sale HERE
Don't be afraid to bargain, The machines may have been in stock for a while.

Conti made quite a few levers over the years and some are not so pretty.

Cheers!

[samgiles]

I like the look of this. I have a Europiccola. I used to suck cleaning solution up into the group by raising the lever. While I'm sure it cleaned it very well, I suspect it also removed any lubricant that may have been in there. The lever did become more and more difficult to raise over time and the action was not very smooth. I did my first seal change a couple of weeks ago and applied DOW Corning 111 which has made a huge difference. I'm now reluctant to suck cleaning solution up there. What are your thoughts on this Richard? Am I worrying unnecessarily?

[iZappa]

My Victoria Arduino Athena 2 group leva machine actually came with a 58mm blindfilter! Never figured out how Nuova Simonelli expected me to use it. Tried it a few times with the portafilter only partially locked in position. That worked ok, but of course I managed to seal the portafilter completely in the end. That caused me some thinking and a slight burn. Needless to say, I went over to use the blindfilter on some E61 machines instead.

[espressme]

Hi Sam,
I used to clean my Cremina and LaPav with a measuring cup of water or solution and slurp it back and forth. I still use the measuring cup with water to rinse the group daily.

I think that this sponge method may reduce the effect of the cleaning solution going way up into the piston cylinder. The soak is at the bottom of the piston travel and soaks the screen. The piston only rises to the inlet during a pull. Then the flow is down and out. Now this is a SWAG!

I do pull the screens every few months, though, and 111 is a lifesaver. I have only been doing this for a few months and have had no problems, YMMV!

Cheers
Richard

I like the look of this. I have a Europiccola. I used to suck cleaning solution up into the group by raising the lever. While I'm sure it cleaned it very well, I suspect it also removed any lubricant that may have been in there. The lever did become more and more difficult to raise over time and the action was not very smooth. I did my first seal change a couple of weeks ago and applied DOW Corning 111 which has made a huge difference. I'm now reluctant to suck cleaning solution up there. What are your thoughts on this Richard? Am I worrying unnecessarily?

[samgiles]

Thanks Richard. I'm going to start using this. When you say you pull the screens off, do you pop it off with a screwdriver like some people suggest? I must say I'm apprehensive about doing it that way but the alternative of removing the group from the boiler every time seems kind of tedious.
Cheers,
Sam.

[espressme]

Hi Sam,
The LaPavoni series of lever machines use the group gasket to hold the dispersion screen in place. You must remove the gasket to remove the screen. A carefully wielded dental tool can do the job. If the gasket is too hard to slip the tool in beside it, it may be time to replace the gasket.
I think there mat be a couple threads to be found by a search for LaPavoni gaskets.
Have a good weekend!
Richard

[sweaner]

Are you sure you are all "Spongeworthy?"

[IMAWriter]

Richard, admittedly a dumb question, but...
As sponges vary in thickness, about how thick should we be? A kitchen sponge, I presume?

Edit....I meant how thick when DRY?
BTW, I accidentally came up with a word for guys like me that edit already moronic posts....
Ediot

[espressme]

Oooh Baad, You should feel sheepish!
Any way, to answer what started as a simple question:

1. Cut a disk/cylinder from a large DRY cellulose sponge. It will be too sloppy to do so if it is wet. When wet,the sponge should be about twice the height of your deepest basket.You can get more peace of mind if you poke a thin paring or eXacto knife blade through the sponge in a couple of places.

A reason for the phrasing is that some cellulose sponges are compressed in the package and expand to five or six times thicker. Some are as big as they will get. The one I used is the same dry or wet, about an inch and a halph.
Cheers
Richard

[narc]

Thanks Richard for the tip. A problem area to clean without removing the dispersion screen has been the base of the piston. Seems like no matter how much water you flush the oils will eventually build up. This method should eliminate the need of having to remove the screen and scrubbing the piston bottom.

[mogogear]

I have found that with any of my lever machines, and the way I use them, there has been an un-noticed migration of fines and oils into the dispersion screen. These machines include the rogues' gallery below my avatar. The buildup may be a source of off flavors. YMMV
The Prestina is a commercial machine!! I like the Prestina,there is little to go wrong. She is on 24/7 except for a boiler flush and cleaning every so often. It has served me well at large doings and been known to convert 5 pounds of choice roast into milk drinks and Americanos in a very short space of time. The steaming is great. One quickly learns to add water, manual fill, whenever the demand slacks off. Keep it full and steam is plentiful! It is a 1000watt heater. It does take an hour or more to heat up. That huge group and piston assembly is 20+ pounds of brass! It does not have a vacuum breaker so you must relieve the false pressure. Her real advantage is that you can use her most anywhere when some modern machines will blow 15amp breakers in older homes.As with any machine, there is a learning curve. She is quite forgiving though.
Bill rebuilt this one of mine as a home project a few years back.
conti-rebuild-t1949.html

There is one for sale HERE
Don't be afraid to bargain, The machines may have been in stock for a while.

Conti made quite a few levers over the years and some are not so pretty.
<image>
Cheers!

Nice little technique on the sponge Richard--!! Hello PeaceCup!!

FYI- I called Moschetti a long time ago when Iwas considering the Conti Prestina ( now yours) I call Moschetti and they told me that the machine pictured had been sold at that time... they don;t keep their website update very well..... I hope all of you are doing well...
Ciao