Help on Cappuccino Amore - Page 4

[espressme]

Brett,
If you happen across a spare portafilter I could use one. I have the brass version - a restoration project, though I'm thinking of selling her instead. It heats up and holds water until the lever is depressed - seems like it might work once I get the PF. It does have the dispersion screen if I can be of any help with that -
PC

Hello Peacecup,
Would you be kind and post a photo of your dispersion screen? I believe it may be the type Brett needs. Or, it may remove one more possibility!
Thanks
richard

[bobpaule]

OK, i fixed mine up, short of the switch for steaming and the needle valve.

The correct mcmaster.com part numbers are:

9691K62 Buna-N U-Cup

8525T24 Buna-N 24x24" AND

AND 36795 Pro Value Dual-Blade Gasket and Washer Cutter (cuts internal and outside diameters at same time using a hand drill)

That sheet will give you gaskets for a whole fleet, see earlier post for sizes.

Tried and got good shots. Don't have much time to clean it after each use, and the brass and copper are very sensitive, so i will keep the SL-90 and sell this one.

It is up on ebay if you are interested.

[happytamper]

I have let my Cap Amore sit idle for a long time. But this week I finally went out looking for Gaskets and by visiting two shops I have located one of the three gaskets I was missing. I found the one that is flanged on both sides. The other two gaskets which are both the same and flanged on one side were not available. Turns out the gaskets for the "Riviera baby" are the ones that are needed. I am still looking for them so if anyone knows a source I would appreciate it.

I put the machine together and brought it up the temp but it still leaks. I think the piston head will have to be replaced. I thought it might work. And the two gaskets flanged one side only that came with the machine may be adding to the leaking problem. Still have to install a pressurestat and will order one soon.

I was wondering if anyone ever tried to stack brass disks of various sizes for a pistonhead. I think it would be an easier arrangement to maintain and definitely easier on the gaskets when they need to be changed. The whole arrangement could be screwed into the rod of the piston head. No more stretching gaskets.

[bobpaule]

New development.

After putting it up on ebay guess who sent me a message? A guy from Hawaii happens to have the steam wand assembly and is willing to send it to me.

Wow, what luck. I guess i will have to take it off ebay now.

[beansbats]

Good evening,

I have been following this thread for a while, because I also acquired an Amore on on EBay. The one I now have is similar to the one happytamper has, and is the spring lever version. So far I have been afraid to to pull a shot because after it heats up and as I pull the lever water squirts out of the hole on the back of the group head. Does anyone know what this hole is supposed to be for (It isn't diagrammed in the instructions)? I am afraid maybe I overfilled the tank.

Just because I am excited about owning the machine I have included a picture

Thanks,
Steve

[happytamper]

Good evening,

I have been following this thread for a while, because I also acquired an Amore on on EBay. The one I now have is similar to the one happytamper has, and is the spring lever version. So far I have been afraid to to pull a shot because after it heats up and as I pull the lever water squirts out of the hole on the back of the group head. Does anyone know what this hole is supposed to be for (It isn't diagrammed in the instructions)? I am afraid maybe I overfilled the tank.

Just because I am excited about owning the machine I have included a picture

Thanks,
Steve

<image>

Nice machine, congrats.

I recently found one of the three gaskets that need to be replaced on my machine. It was the one with the double flange. The two others are still the old ones. When I heated the machine up and pulled a shot mine also squirts water out the back hole. Maybe it is because of the old gaskets or the corroded piston head. Not sure what the problem is.

Would it be possible to get an image of the piston head and the orientation of the gaskets? I am wondering if yours is corroded as well. Also never had a manual so if there is any info in the manual please pass it on. These Amores are difficult to get going and parts are scarce. Best of luck.

[happytamper]

So it's Monday, and I started calling places (Sorry, we don't carry that; Sorry we can't help you; Sorry...) and found that I have an old espresso machine...


Orientation of the Buna-N cups:
Lowest opens DOWN, so as to PUSH water down toward your espresso
Upper two open toward each other
SO - Middle one - UP
& - Top one DOWN
The Top prevents water from going UP into the cylinder, then out the airhole, down to the base, into the electronics, and tripping your ground circuit interrupt. The middle one prevents the water from pushing down while the tank is heating. The bottom one is used to properly push water into the coffee, and ultimately into your cup...

Will report back once we complete this step. It's a lot like the game of LIFE...

Oops, Just noticed this post. I will check tomorrow if I have them right.

[espressme]

Good evening,
I have been following this thread for a while, because I also acquired an Amore on on EBay. The one I now have is similar to the one happytamper has, and is the spring lever version. So far I have been afraid to to pull a shot because after it heats up and as I pull the lever water squirts out of the hole on the back of the group head. Does anyone know what this hole is supposed to be for (It isn't diagrammed in the instructions)? I am afraid maybe I overfilled the tank.
Just because I am excited about owning the machine I have included a picture
Thanks,
Steve

Good find Steve, Thanks for the photo as there are way too many types on this thread for us to try to troubleshoot by name!
I have had two problems with mine. (big direct lever "Enrico")
1. The piston unscrewed and the upper seal got below the inlet..
2. A dry upper seal.
If the water came up the piston shaft, then I would suspect the piston rod seal.
Dow 111 on the seals did the trick for the dry upper seal. and a bit of locktite for the loose piston.
Give thanks that your machine will be easier to get the piston out of and see what is going on!
sincerely
richard / espressme
PS, what size is your Portafilter?

[happytamper]

Good find Steve, Thanks for the photo as there are way too many types on this thread for us to try to troubleshoot by name!
I have had two problems with mine. (big direct lever "Enrico")
1. The piston unscrewed and the upper seal got below the inlet..
2. A dry upper seal.
If the water came up the piston shaft, then I would suspect the piston rod seal.
Dow 111 on the seals did the trick for the dry upper seal. and a bit of locktite for the loose piston.
Give thanks that your machine will be easier to get the piston out of and see what is going on!
sincerely
richard / espressme
PS, what size is your Portafilter?

There is a confusion with the many different types of machines. The cappuccino Amore that I have is the same as steves and the portafilter is 58 mm.

Someone wanted a photo of the dispersion screen. Is the photo they need for a cappuccino Amore dispersion screen? I will have mine off while I check the gaskets so I can pot it if it would be of interest.

Also any ideas if it would work out if I used three double flanged gaskets? I can only find these.

I will also try and lube the gaskets I have to soften them up a bit.

[beansbats]

Thanks for your responses! I will try to take the grouphead apart in the next couple of days, and see what is going on. I'm thinking I'll also order some of that Dow 111 lube.

Regards,
Steve

[peacecup]

I've been negligent getting the dispersion screen photo. I just have been too busy to touch the CA. I'll need gaskets for mine as well, so I'll be watching the rebuild. Here's a photo of mine:




The hole on top of the group is to allow air to escape when the group fills with water. If water is coming out that hole I suspect that the boiler pressure is rather high, and that the piston seals have gone bad. I'll be watching for photos when you've taken yours apart.

Also, if you come upon a parts source, I really need a portafilter for mine, so I'd appreciate hearing if you see one.

Thanks,

PC

[espressme]

Hi Folks,

Here are a couple of photos of the Switch mod thanks to Bobpaule. He found the switches and gave me one for a very fair price.
Because the new switch ( on the right)is not as tall as the original, I made the adapter out of a piece of thin brass. That allows
the switch to snap into the machne:


And the screen and group, there are little punch marks around the scren to snap into the groove around the cylinder.:


"Henry" the Italianstyle" "Enrico" is finally coming to the end of the maintenance and refurb. Next installment will be the the group
cylinder rework.

Have fun Folks
sincerely
espressme

[bobpaule]

Nice job espressme. I was a bit more lazy, just cut out a square of aluminum and stuffed it into the joint where the copper sides meet the faceplate, making sure it pushes on the upper part of the switch. Now i need one of you analytical chemists to reassure me that the metals will not perform some weird anion exchange and get ruined.

More GOOD NEWS, Burkii, a guy from Hawaii sent me some parts, and i saw the thermostat on his springloaded Enrico IS ADJUSTABLE! I imediately looked with a flashlight under my machine and i could see where the mounting holes were, so i blindly guesstimated the location of the switch, to get an idea look below. I took the drill the the bottom plate and drilled very slowly and carefully until i hit a fiberglass protective layer. I cut a hole with a #11 blade (surgeons and hobbyists love it) and below it lies the adjustable with a screwdriver t-stat. I replaced the steam valve-wand assembly with the one he sent me, keeping the color graded gauge from my old one (his dial was white) and increased the t-stat a bit so boiler pressure now hovers around 1, no more backflow into the reservoir.

Love this machine. I've done so many things to her that it has acquired sentimental value, so now it will stay with me.

One more thing, i used a rubber bulb pump and oxygen tubing to make a sump pump for the reservoir, without it one can never fully empty it.

What totally pxxxes me off is that now i will have to add a third grinder to my home collection. Have you noticed the need for coarser grinding with this machine? I come from the ULKA world of Isomac Millennium/Venus and Solis SL-90.



The above should not be interpreted as encouragement to do the same. Do the same at own risk.

[espressme]

Nice job espressme. I was a bit more lazy, just cut out a square of aluminum and stuffed it into the joint where the copper sides meet the faceplate, making sure it pushes on the upper part of the switch. Now i need one of you analytical chemists to reassure me that the metals will not perform some weird anion exchange and get ruined.

snip...

Love this machine. I've done so many things to her that it has acquired sentimental value, so now it will stay with me.

I should think so, You sure have helped me out because of it!

One more thing, i used a rubber bulb pump and oxygen tubing to make a sump pump for the reservoir, without it one can never fully empty it.

Thats kinda sorta what my instructions said to do also! It would be a good idea on all the boiler lever machines!

What totally pxxxes me off is that now i will have to add a third grinder to my home collection. Have you noticed the need for coarser grinding with this machine? I come from the ULKA world of Isomac Millennium/Venus and Solis SL-90.

snip
Actually, I did my first trials with canned, ,coffee! Seems the machine may be designed for a home and heating water with the steam wand and shots the regular way! Awful small reservoir/boiler! My rocky will go to real extremes and I look forward to finding how well i did the refurb!
Wouldn't it be nice to do as the guy with the PID LaPav and plumb in?

The above should not be interpreted as encouragement to do the same. Do the same at own risk.

Ain't that the truth!
sincerely
richard
PS. Good idea! I may do that before reassembly!

[happytamper]

Here is a picture of the dispersion screen on the Cap Amore, Same machine as Peacecup.




bob paule,

I noticed the picture of the thermostat with the sensor. Did you get a new one for your machine? Mine is shot and I was thinking of just putting in a pressure stat but if maybe the thermostat would be fine as well. Where did you find the one in the pic.

I put the new center gasket on the corroded piston rod but the machine still leaks, Not sure if it is the piston rod or the two old gaskets (top and bottom).



Anyone know where to get the top and bottom gasket? The ones from the Baby Riviera are supposed to fit.

Another fun element to working on this machine is the removal of the piston assembly for maintenance, Here is a picture of my process. First remove the dispersion head and then find the scariest clamp in the workshop. Same method to put the assembly back together.


I would love a spring lever in my home. The strength needed for nine bars on my pavoni, (ever since the mod) has made my arm a bit tired, and sometime in the morning a spring would be a welcome break. I would also be able to steam the soya during the extraction. Am I just getting lazy? Is this just one step away from a motor? or perhaps even a fully automatic. egad.

[peacecup]

Hello Mitchel,

Well, thanks for getting the dispersion screen photo. I have been too busy to touch my CA, but may finally get to it again soon. It looks like I'll need to break out the C clamp, and probably find some piston seals.

I still need a PF. When you get time, could you please measure the ID of the PF basket, and the OD of the PF, to areas with and without lugs. I tried a standard 58-mm Gaggia and it was too large. Conversely, the 55 mm Saeco appears to be too small. Thanks,

PC

[tcvt]

I have a Faemina which I picked up at a Goodwill store for $5 about 10 years ago. I don't have a porta filter for it but somewhere have one that is a close fit. I'm curious how things turned out for the original poster and would like to know the link which was referred to where someone got parts diagrams. Or, if those diagrams can be emailed to me. I would like to try to get this machine working. How about a source for a porta filter.

Thanks.

Tom

[tcvt]

My previous reply was posted to the wrong thread, but any help is still welcomed. Here is the intended thread.

http://www.home-barista.com/forum...faemina-t1072.html

Tom

[prof_stack]

Interesting 4 pages of reading. So, Expressme and Peacecup have some experience with this machine?

Sounds like the Enrico Italianstyle might be more than I want to bite off right now.

[peacecup]

Prof,

My understanding is that parts are completely unavailable - I have never found a PF for mine, and I'm sure seals and gaskets are difficult to find. Others who have used working models may be able to say how they brew.

PC