Newbie needs help with Peppina - lower the lever, no liquid

[momo73]

Hey am I glad to have come across this site.
I own a couple of modern machines, But with most things I prefer older models.
I have recently acquired a Peppina lever machine. in mint condition. Everything was there except for the manual (which I have now downloaded)
Element is new and heats up quickly, problem is that when I lower the lever no liquid come out of the unit!!
I am thinking that the holes might be blocked. What do I have to do???
any help is appreciated.. I want that coffee!!!!

Ciao
MOMO

[mogogear]

If I was a mind reader I bet you are a barista in SF Bay area - and a guy named Marcus gave you his La Peppina????

How close am I?- ( Check out the levers forum for Peppina info)

Welcome fellow lever man

[momo73]

Not really close.

My name is Mauro, I'm a restauranteur from Montreal.
nice try

I've looked on the lever forums, but no one mentioned this specific problem

Thanks
MOMO

[another_jim]

Take out the pf, pull the lever all the way down, and let it up gently (there's a spring) -- water should shoot out. If it doesn't, pump it a few times and see if that helps. If it doesn't, the Peppina is not mint, but busted.

If you get flow without the restrictions,
-- lock and load in some coffee.
-- pull the lever all the way down, then pump it until it hits resistance after going a little way up,
-- wait 10 seconds
-- let go and let the spring do the work
-- adjust the grind to get the rate of flow you want (a drip or two after 10 seconds is close to ideal)

[timo888]

What happens when you let the lever rise? Does any water come out of the dispersion screen, or leak from the hole in front of the base?

When the lever is pulled down, the piston descends, and the spring is compressed; water from the pot fills the piston chamber below. When the lever rises, the spring expands and the piston ascends, forcing water in the chamber through a port hole at the top of the chamber into the group and thus out the screen.

Regards
Timo

[momo73]

The machine is like new, but old. What happens is when the lever is lowered, and the rubber seal that is supposed to drop and let water into the chamber, well the rubber disc stays closed and doesn't let water into the chamber. I have used a long thin metal rod to push the rubber down, then the machine works. I think that because the machine has never been used, and the rubber has been squished closed under pressure for so long that it might be a little distorted. Where can I find a new rubber seal????
Ciao

Mauro

[timo888]

The machine is like new, but old. What happens is when the lever is lowered, and the rubber seal that is supposed to drop and let water into the chamber, well the rubber disc stays closed and doesn't let water into the chamber. I have used a long thin metal rod to push the rubber down, then the machine works. I think that because the machine has never been used, and the rubber has been squished closed under pressure for so long that it might be a little distorted. Where can I find a new rubber seal????
Ciao

Mauro

The rubber washer in the ceiling of the piston chamber has probably stiffened with age. It needs to flex, as you have seen for yourself. I am restoring a La Peppina now, and have had to buy o-rings of various sizes as well as several sizes of washers, all in considerably larger quantities than I will need. It was impossible to find exact matches for the washers so I'm having to improvise and experiment. There's also a small washer behind the dispersion screen that prevents brew-water from being sucked back into the piston chamber. If that stiffens, you could get rancid coffee oil building up in the channel.

In a couple of days, after I have determined which ersatz washers work best, I will put little Peppina restoration kits up on eBay, including a nifty brush to clean out the channel between the piston chamber and the group. I have not attempted to replace the rings inside the group, only in the piston and the seal between boiler and heating element, and the two one-way valve washers, so the kit won't contain those group seal rings for now. Nonetheless, the kit will be a great bargain compared to what you'd have to pay to buy your own large quantities from various sources.

At the moment (19 April 06) I have only the piston and boiler o-rings available on eBay. Wait for the washers and the brush.

Regards
Timo