How often to lubricate lever machine's gaskets?

[S.L.]

I replaced the gaskets on one of my Cremina's about 4 weeks ago, and the lever has gotten progressively harder to "get started". Doesn't do the ghost pull after turning off any more (since about a week) either. Seems like a bit much to tear into the head every month- did I underlubricate? My other Cremina has ancient but fully functioning gaskets and has no problems, so I'm guessing that maybe the new gaskets are a bit too effective at scraping off the lube. Any thoughts?

[narc]

Once a year I do some major maintenance on the Elektra Micro Casa a Leva (MCaL). This includes application of a food grade silicone grease to the piston gaskets. For the first couple years I did not lube the gaskets. A bit of a squeak developed.

Any chance a simple oversight occurred. Like if even possible upsidedown placement of the gaskets?

[S.L.]

Gaskets are in right for sure, everything works great; just noticeably more friction in the head over the last couple of weeks. I'll pop it open and relubricate- maybe there's a break-in period on new gaskets.

[bobcraige]

This is not normal, nor is there a break in period. Assuming they are the correct gaskets and are correctly installed, I would suspect the wrong lubricant. The only acceptable lubricant is the one that comes in the gasket set. Anything else will ruin the seals and likely cause the symptoms you describe. The correct lubricant is DC111. If this is all correct, perhaps you did underlubricate.

[mcoluccio]

I replaced the gaskets on one of my Cremina's about 4 weeks ago, and the lever has gotten progressively harder to "get started". Doesn't do the ghost pull after turning off any more (since about a week) either. Seems like a bit much to tear into the head every month- did I underlubricate? My other Cremina has ancient but fully functioning gaskets and has no problems, so I'm guessing that maybe the new gaskets are a bit too effective at scraping off the lube. Any thoughts?

Funny, I have had the same problem with one of my cremina's. It bothered me so much that I had to take the head apart and re-lubricate. Be careful though, I have read that there is such a thing as over-lubricating, so I did so sparingly. I'm not sure what effect over lubricating has on these machines but to make a long story short, it still is stiff on the pull although it doesn't squeak. I've decided to adopt the wait and see attitude to see if the gaskets need time to seat.
One place that I think people overlook when lubricating is the roller bearing at the pivot of the lever. If this is not lubricated then It grinds and you eventually end up with a broken or distorted head.

Good luck,
matthew