Hint for easy E61 gasket/shower screen installation

[gmclean13]

My first time putting in a shower screen and gasket in a E61 machine wasn't too much fun. Following the information from this site, it seemed straight forward. All I got from it was frustrated and a neck ache working this thing over !

Talking to some of the engineers I work with at the plant, they gave me a suggestion, freezer. The suggestion was to put the screen and gasket together and place in the freezer overnight. I guess it is the simple idea of cold contracting material. Sounded like a good idea and it was time for me to change it any way.

Following the basic principals of placing the screen and gasket on top of the portafilter, I went ahead and lifted and put in place. I can't say that it just magically went into place like clockwork, but almost. All I had to do was use the end of the handle from the plastic group head brush and push up the one side that wasn't all the way in. I put the portafilter back in and easily turned it to the 6:00 position. I was out and in inside of 5 minutes. A little bit of work versus a bunch of time and a few unsavory words! Over all, I thought it was a good suggestion and worth trying!

[HB]

Thanks for the idea, it may come in handy.

To elaborate on the point for those following along, the E61 dispersion screen is held in place by the gasket. The gasket snugly fits in the groove of the brewhead; the thread How to remove the dispersion screen and gasket of an E61? covers it in more detail. Some have suggested using brew pressure to force the gasket out (i.e., snug the portafilter slightly, pressurize the group to force water behind the gasket, loosen the portafilter slightly; repeat until the gasket pops out).

There's lots of threads about removing the gasket, but I think this is the first about putting it back. It also helps if you use the portafilter without the basket to initially seat the gasket. That is, put the dispersion screen and gasket in the basket-less portafilter, slot them into the grouphead, and then pull up until the gasket is deep enough in the slot to engage the portafilter ears in the grouphead channel. Once the ears engage, snug the gasket in a bit, then remove the portafilter and drop in a basket. The gasket should be down far enough in its groove to seat it the rest of the way using the tightening of the portafilter.