Initial Impressions of the Ponte Vecchio Lusso - Page 8

[mousetail]

My experience with spring-type dispersion screens is not extensive, though I have never damaged a dispersion screen by using the piston to force it off. The damage to these screens that I have seen documented here on H-B occured when attempts were made to pry them off. Prying can bend or break the claspers.

Regards
Timo

I agree. It's difficult to find a suitable tool to remove the screen without damage. I tried a variety of things including a crotchet hook but eventually gave up the attempt. My experience differs slightly from Timo's, in that, having clamped under the screen, I merely had to unscrew the clamp to release the spring pressure and the screen came free as the piston pushed against it.

Bob

[Dogshot]

having clamped under the screen, I merely had to unscrew the clamp to release the spring pressure and the screen came free as the piston pushed against it.

Sorry to be so obtuse, but do you actually place the clamp on the screen? Does the piston then not slam down to the screen once released? I'm not following where exactly you clamp the bottom of the clamp, and how the spring tension is gradually released without prior removal of the screen.

Mark

[timo888]

I agree. It's difficult to find a suitable tool to remove the screen without damage. I tried a variety of things including a crotchet hook but eventually gave up the attempt. My experience differs slightly from Timo's, in that, having clamped under the screen, I merely had to unscrew the clamp to release the spring pressure and the screen came free as the piston pushed against it.

This was the first time the dispersion screen had been removed from the machine I have. That might explain the relative ease with which your machine's screen was detached.

Regards
Timo

[mousetail]

Sorry to be so obtuse, but do you actually place the clamp on the screen?

Yes, I clamped from the screen to the top of the group. The piston in its rest position is almost touching the inside of the screen, and removing the lever pin just caused the piston to settle a fraction of a millimetre down on to the screen. Then I slowly unscrewed the clamp until the residual spring pressure was released.

Bob

[mogogear]

Evry time I read a post by you I smile-Great avatar Mousetail / Bob!

[Dogshot]

Yes, I clamped from the screen to the top of the group. The piston in its rest position is almost touching the inside of the screen, and removing the lever pin just caused the piston to settle a fraction of a millimetre down on to the screen. Then I slowly unscrewed the clamp until the residual spring pressure was released.

Bob

I see. Thanks Bob & Timo - I don't yet need to re-lube, but I now know exactly what I need and how to do it when the time comes. Much appreciated.

Lever machines are great - the general design is so elegant.

Mark

[peacecup]

I've used a paint can opener to pull off my dispersion screen. This, and a drop of olive oil on the lever workings occasionally, is the only maintenance I've needed to do in 1.5 years of very active service. I always use filtered Juneau water, which is naturally completely soft, and there is PLENTY of it.

I've never noticed any issues with the piston seals getting sticky - perhaps this is because I never activate the lever when the machine is not up to pressure (so water can lubricate the piston). I was VERY clearly told this by Joe at Good Coffee Company the first time I visited there. I grabbed the handle of his brown Sama Export demo machine and was about to test it....

PC

[Dogshot]

I've never noticed any issues with the piston seals getting sticky - perhaps this is because I never activate the lever when the machine is not up to pressure (so water can lubricate the piston).

Never pulling on the lever except with the express purpose of creating coffee appeals to my Christian upbringing , so I have never done that either. I hear that pulling on the lever without creative purpose can also make you go blind . Seriously, your advice makes sense, and I believe that I read this suggestion in one of your posts to getting my Export.

I have not used olive oil yet, but the lever on my machine still feels the same as when new.

Mark

[timo888]

One thing that I like about the PV group that is different from other groups like the Cremina, Pavoni (I think), and also some other spring groups like the Micro Casa is that there is no water exchange between the area above the piston and the area below it. This means that the spring in the PV group never actually comes in contact with brew water (and contacts less lube, seals etc).

Right, there is no water above the piston head. I forgot to mention that the Lusso's piston is not a solid chunk of brass, but a thick-walled (5mm? I forgot to measure) hollow cylinder with base but no top.

Regards
Timo

[timo888]

I've never noticed any issues with the piston seals getting sticky - perhaps this is because I never activate the lever when the machine is not up to pressure (so water can lubricate the piston).

And probably because you have not used a strong descaler. I hadn't raised the lever when the machine was cold either. The binding of the seals happened after using Durgol. But the Lusso is back to normal with a little Dow 111.

Regards
Timo

[timo888]

Peacecup had urged me to try a three-pull shot a while ago, but my 3-pull shots would blonde early in the third pull. PC and I dose and tamp differently. This morning, in a hurry, I happened to dose all at once from the doser rather than my usual thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack as the beans are being ground (necessity the m-f of invention) and the first pull was more like a rapidly dripping faucet than a flow, an extended preinfusion really, since I hadn't loosened the grind any. So I pulled twice more. A very nice ristretto indeed

[Scoots]

I just purchased a Lusso and need to order a tamper. I have seen conflicting information on the size, some say 48mm and others 45mm. This thread seems to agree on 45mm. Could anyone chime in with a definitive answer? Thanks!

So far the Lusso is way nice, though I am a newbie and am doing some quess work still. This thread has been very helpful.

JP

[timo888]

The inner diameter of the filter basket of the Ponte Vecchio Lusso is 45mm.

Regards
Timo

P.S. Congrats--enjoy the machine.

[Scoots]

Thanks, Timmo88, that is great help.

I experienced my first blow out this morning after not waiting long enough after a single shot loading in the double basket. YUCK!

JP

[peacecup]

I just pulled a great three-pull shot. Probably came in between 30-45 ml. I had been grinding very finely as of late, and tamping rather lightly. My shots were pouring very slowly, often requiring a little lean on the first pull. I just departed from this by grinding a little more coarsely, but dosing right up to the fill line. The shot poured just perfectly, and I was able to get three full pulls without any blonding. The taste was exquisite. It brought me back a little towards my PV roots - when I first got the machine I tended to grind more coarsely and tamp very hard. I gradually went to the finer grind/softer tamp, but this time came back a liitle.

The moral of the story? The little 45 is even more versatile than I previously thought. With the double basket one can pull anywhere between a 30 ml "espresso syrup" ristretto to a 60 ml traditional doppio, each in its own way, the essence of espresso.

PC

[prof_stack]

I've never noticed any issues with the piston seals getting sticky - perhaps this is because I never activate the lever when the machine is not up to pressure (so water can lubricate the piston). I was VERY clearly told this by Joe at Good Coffee Company the first time I visited there. I grabbed the handle of his brown Sama Export demo machine and was about to test it....
PC

That's EXACTLY what happened to me when I demo'd the unit. Joe was all over it.
Since he completely reserviced the Export before I bought it, I believed him. And still do.

[carrie kennedy]

We are trying to reassemble, anyone remember the correct order of the bevels on the three gaskets?
If we could do bevel up on the bottom two it sure would be a lot easier, and we know it matters.
Thanks
Carrie