Filter basket within PF occasionally sticks to the grouphead

[paisley]

Hi Folks:

The espresso shots are improving day by day but there is a problem that comes up and it happened again today. I am not sure if this is normal or something I should worry over. The filter basket within the PF seems to occasionally stick to the group head. Today was the second time I had it stick when turning the machine on. I cleaned the filter basket and PF before turning it off yesterday. I always wipe the GH down before reinserting the PF with basket. I turned the machine on this morning and went about my business while waiting for it to heat up. When I returned some 45 minutes later, I removed the PF to find the basket still in the group head - stuck.

The bottle of Cafiza I ordered came in on Saturday so I used that time to dilute according to directions into a bowl of water so I could soak the PF, filter basket, group head screen, the screw holding it, and the little metal thing that feels like an odd little washer. I brushed and cleaned each piece before rinsing them thoroughly. I replaced everything as it was before. I made certain all went back exactly as it came out. I won't have a backwash disk until Monday (tomorrow) so I couldn't do the backwash cleaning and honestly, I am not certain if it is time to do that yet or not. I've had the machine a week as of tomorrow. I am certain the folks at Chris' Coffee cleaned and descaled the machine thoroughly before I bought it as it was a refurbished unit. I did run the water through the machine to clear out anything left over from the repair, packing delivery, and arrival here before using the unit. The filter basket stuck to the group head a few times before today but I didn't think much of it until now.

Am I doing something wrong? Is there something I need to do to prevent this from happening or is it something that just happens on occasion?

Thanks so much for any assistance. I hope this doesn't sound odd or anything but I want to make certain I am doing all I can do for the machine. A sticking filter doesn't sound like much of a problem but considering I've never owned a "real machine" I wanted to be certain before dismissing it altogether.

Warmest regards,

Paisley
BTW, the machine is a Silvia

[HB]

Am I doing something wrong? Is there something I need to do to prevent this from happening or is it something that just happens on occasion?

It's been years since I sold Silvia, but I remember it had a "wimpy" retainer clip. I thought Rancilio had upgraded the stock portafilter to the commercial grade one below (shown modified by Lino Verna):


My bottomless portafilter of choice - the Verna Original

This portafilter holds a ridged basket with an iron grip. I replaced the retainer clip on my old Silvia and it did help. Later I upgraded to the La Marzocco portafilter (then the Rancilio commercial, still my favorite)... then... oh nevermind, lots of upgrades ago. To answer your question, "it happens", and with some portafilter / basket combinations, it happens a lot more frequently. Not to worry.

[paisley]

Whew! Thank you so much. I'll rest easier now.

I found those PF's you mentioned a few weeks ago. I am considering buying one though I am not sure if I want the commercial Rancilio or the La Marzocco. If I can ever get tamping down well enough, I want to try one of the naked portafilters. I think I am having too much sputtering through the shots yet to attempt the naked yet. It's improving but it is taking some time.

I think I have a ridged filter basket. It holds well except when it feels as if it is sticking to something under the group head. I almost feel as if it is sticking to the gasket but cannot be sure since I can't see in that area.

Thanks again,

Paisley

[HB]

I almost feel as if it is sticking to the gasket but cannot be sure since I can't see in that area.

They sometimes stick if you muscle it on too tight, especially after being left to bake on a squeaky-clean gasket. Try leaving the portafilter just snugged on, not torqued on. Naked or not, I'll recommend the Rancilio commercial portafilter for you. First of all, it fits without modification (the La Marzocco is a tight fit), and it's excellent chopped because it lies flat.

Don't take my word for it though, ask Mr. Triple Ristretto himself, Jon Rosenthal.

[cannonfodder]

My Isomac does the same thing occasionally. If I tighten the PF, it likes to stick once the machine cools. After use, I just rinse out the basket and portafilter, wipe off the dispersion screen with a damp towel and loosely attach the portafilter. Down side is if you bump into the handle, even gently, it may fall from the machine. Bottom line, as Dan said, it occasionally happens and is nothing to worry about.

[paisley]

Thank you so much.

Paisley

[paisley]

Update:

Since using the information and ideas, the sticking basket problem has gone away for the most part. I don't put the portafilter in so tight any longer. I leave it a bit loose but not so much that it will fall out. The filter basket hasn't stuck since.

One thing that seems to help the most is using the backwash disk (several quick successive on/off cycles), rinsing through a shot of plain water, and wiping the group head well with a wet bar towel. I haven't used the Cafiza in the backflush disk yet but I do run plain water from the reservoir until it becomes clear without any gritted coffee in the basket. I haven't run the CleanCaf either. I'm planning on reading more about cleaning schedules soon. I am keeping the machine as clean as possible until I work on a schedule. I'm using bottled water at the moment so any scaling is limited.

Thanks again,

Paisley

[IronBarista]

Another benefit when you keep it loose, it won't wear the gasket out as quickly.