Old vibe pump slow to reach full pressure

[boublanc]

hello guys
I have been testing my old Nancy to have an idea on how it is after 19 years of daily brewing, I noticed that when I mount a pressure gauge on the porta filter it takes up to 12 sec. for the pressure to build up to 11 bars, so I am in the process of adjusting the OPV and I can't help to wonder if the pump is a little weak. How fast should it reach full pressure? it seem to me that 12 sec. on a 25 sec. brew is way too long... What are your thoughts, how long does it take for a newer pump to reach 9 bar?
Thank you
Marcelin

[HB]

What are your thoughts, how long does it take for a newer pump to reach 9 bar?

It depends on the espresso machine, but most are fully pressurized in 6-7 seconds.

My thoughts? Well, you never said anything about how the espresso tastes, so I'll comment in general terms. Nineteen years of daily service from a vibe pump is a long time. The longer ramp up to maximum pressure is a two-edged sword, i.e., slower pressure ramp up means more time for preinfusion and potentially less channeling, but may sacrifice clarity (my informal tests with long preinfusion noted more "muddy" flavors). If the pump reaches and maintains full pressure throughout the extraction, you could leave well enough alone, or replace it with a new part knowing that you've gotten more than expected service life out of it.