Olympia Cremina Boiler-Neck-Mounted Pressure Gauge Reducing Coupling

[timo888]

At this juncture, I'm not expecting anyone to commit to anything, but I would like to know how many Cremina owners are seriously interested in having the ability to mount a pressure gauge onto the neck of the boiler. In that way, you'd be able to watch the pressure while using the steam wand, and can see the drop in pressure when you let off some steam--one of the recommended ways of bringing Cremina's very hot water down to brew temperature.

This coupling would be for analytical purposes and making suitable adjustments and is not recommended as a permanent replacement for the factory cap.

I have found a company willing to make, in small quantities, an appropriate reducing coupling. The owner's daughter answers the phone, and she and her pop have been friendly and helpful. The company specializes in metric fittings.

I've asked them essentially for a 66mm tall 30mm diameter hex-shank in brass (same diameter as the lock nut) with one end a female 25mm metric parallel thread with 1.50mm pitch to fit over the Cremina boiler neck's thread and on the other end a female 1/4" NPT thread for the pressure gauge. Pressure gauges with 1/4" NPT male thread are readily sourced.

So let me know if you're interested by replying to this thread, and I can then pass on the quantity desired and get an exact quote instead of ballpark numbers. The ballpark range is wide: roughly ~$40 apiece if ordered in a quantity of six (6) and maybe as low as $4 apiece if ordered in quantity one-hundred (100). So, the greater the interest, the lower the price per unit will be. In any event it will be less expensive than ordering a dummy boiler cap from the factory and tapping an NPT thread through that.

Regards
Timo

[Gregory Q]

Hey Timmo...

Good thinking on the boiler cap. I was thinking of doing something similar, but cylindrical with a 1/8 NPT
female in the centre. A small pressure gauge with a back mounted male thread could then be used, and then whole thing could be surrounded by a wood (or other material) knob.

The net effect would be a slightly taller boiler cap with a slightly recessed, inset gauge. The other material
that I have been considering is Corian, a product made for kitchen counter tops. (It machines like wood, and is durable around heat and moisture)

Please count me among the interested.

Cheers
Greg

[espressoperson]

Timo,

Thoughtful of you to be sharing your industriousness with other Cremina owners. I don't understand most of what you described which is why I am so interested in buying your solution. How about offering a complete package, all parts including the gauge, if you are willing to put them together, charging for parts and labor, of course. Have you considered a permanent replacement cap and gauge? You might find enough people interested, even if it might cost more.

[msmacchiato]

I like the complete package suggestion, since I live in a remote area and I am fairly clueless myself.
None of my machines have a gauge; therefore, it would be a new learning experience I have often considered. so, count me in!

[espressme]

Hi Folks,

Since this thread came up again, I am prepared to do a few gauges. Actually I am doing another one now. I am strongly suggesting that they be made up as usable only to set and / or reset the pressurestat. Yes, they could be made with a wooden knob below, and a back mounted gauge. The price goes up and the wood may break or split due to the heat. Still, probably a bit cheaper than an imported Oly gauge.
If there is interest, email me.
Sincerely
Richard

[chopinhauer]

Yes, definitely count me in please. I've long wanted to have a direct way to gauge the pressure in my cremina; just from time to time so I can make adjustments. The one in espressme's post looks pretty good for these purposes.

[houdina]

I would be in for one.

Gregg

[espressme]

Since there is an interest, I would think this is a time to concern ourselves with the way the gauge is mounted.
The LaPav gauge shown is only available in bottom mounting. There is also an E-91 pressure gauge with a back mount. The cost of those gauges is about $40-$50. McMaster-Carr HERE has gauges that are available with the mounting connection on the bottom or the back. That means the gauges are vertical or, horizontal like the Olympia gauge. Search "Pressure gauges" on their site. 2% accuracy is about .05 Bar. The gauge should be 30PSI with the center 14.7 psi being equal to one bar. I would recommend a 2½" diameter.

Since there is no way to know which way the boiler neck is threaded, each gauge will, of necessity, be put in and adjusted by the buyer.

The horizontal gauge may be better in that it may be read however the cap is oriented. Either gauge may be directionally oriented by tightening with trial and error amounts of Teflon tape in the connection. There should be about one rotation available with the ¼ NPT taper threads of the gauges.

Best financial choice would be I make the adapters with a ¼"NPT threaded mounting hole and you individually buy the gauge that you wish. I can furnish an adapter from that to the LaPav gauge threads for $5 extra.
Thanks all!
Richard
EDIT: I could also add to all, a square ¾" shank to ¼" to ½" from the top for later use as a base for a knob of wood or something else.

[BillR]

I'm interested too. Richard, please keep me informed of the mounting options.

Bill

[orphanespresso]

Richard....good to see you are keeping those hands busy, not to mention the grey matter. As an aside, the Elektra a leva gauge has the same thread as the LaPav gauge, and may be a bit cheaper by a hair. Nice mod for the Cremina though...sure beats constant fiddling with the pstat to get the temp right.
Doug

[mborkow]

i'd be interested

[TUS172]

Hi Richard,
Good to see you're still at it... What size stock did you us for the cap... 1.25" ? Nice work by the way! You did a good job with the knurling too... I am using the La Pavoni gauge for the 'C' Lever.
In the past I attached a permanent gauge from McMaster Carr to my '86 Cremina...
If anyone is interested in permanently attaching a gauge to their Cremina... attaching-pressure-gauge-to-olympia-cremina-t3601.html
But I must say it is involved and costly ( I have sourced less expensive parts since doing that mod... but still costly).
What Richard is offering is truly a great option for any owner of an older Cremina. Not to mention much more cost effective! As I understand it... Richard you produce the cap, threaded and ready to go... they buy the gauge and mount it?
Once you use his setup to dial in the Cremina to your liking the need to recheck it should be seldom.
Sounds great to me! I'd be interested in one of your caps Richard... Saves me shop time (time I no longer seem to have) It would be for "Granny"... The original '67... 67 Cremina that I would never do a mod to! I would want mine to be a 1/8" NPT so that I can mount a McMaster Carr gauge... The one I would mount is from pg. 570 of their online catalog. 4066K21 is the catalog #... 0-30 Pressure range. You will note it is somewhat more expensive than the 1/4NPT... 2.5" dial gauges... but it is a very high quality gauge and a nicer look. I've had one on the '86 for about 1.5 years... use it twice daily and never a problem.
Thanks Friend.

[espressme]

I've found the gauge source I used for the Europiccola mod I made.
HERE
The gauge case is painted black steel and it is 3% accuracy which is equal to .06 bar total. Less than a tenth of a bar. It has worked well on the LaPav. and is under 20$
A larger gauge is HERE. About $25

PS I had a chrome case from another gauge so that is why the photo is a chrome case.
Cheers!
Richard

[larborr]

Hi Richard,

Count me in too, if they are are still available. Seems like a easy way to check pressure/temp.

Thanks.

[espressme]

The CNC guy says he can do them over the next couple of weeks. Your price $50 plus shipping ~ $4 1st class, with delivery confirmation.
I need an order of 10 to go with the CNC guy.
If I do a few of them at home, the price is $60 ea + shipping.
They will be tapped/threaded for the Cremina and Oly products ( Maximatic, Club, Pasquini Livietta, Cafferex) on one end and ¼"-NPT on the other. I am checking to find other machines it may fit. I furnish two Teflon gaskets with each.
You will buy and install your choice of gauge. The home centers have a bushing to reduce the pipe thread to 1/8th-NPT. As before, I will make up a bushing for 1/8th-BPST for $5 extra which will adapt to the LaPav gauge.
PM me and I shall keep score with an edit here.
Thanks
Richard

PS tell the regular espresso machine folks about this too. There are a lot of Maximatic and Pasquinis out there.

[espressme]

I am not sure if your boiler has a fitting that is 25mmx1.5 external thread so you will be buying on faith. See if you can do a measurement.
Thanks
Richard

Hi Richard,
Count me in too, if they are are still available. Seems like a easy way to check pressure/temp.
Thanks.

[larborr]

Hi Richard,

I'll check, but it was built in 1981 (per serial number) if that helps.

I was asssuming they olympia keep the same boiler neck thread...

Larry

[espressme]

Hi Larry,
Did you find whether the boiler neck is the same as the regular Olys? If it looks like the Oly and Pasquini it probably is.
I intend to make the few that are ordered at home as there are not enough to have CNC'd.
Cheers
Richard

[TUS172]

Thanks Richard,
I have ordered my gauge and will have the unit up and on Granny soon. I ended up going 1/4npt... "Go Figure" It finally dawned on this old mind that this cap is simply a functional and rarely used attachment and something that I would not display or use on a daily basis.
I would be throwing a substantial amount of money down the tubes for a smaller 1.5" gauge! I then found a suitable 2.5" gauge that was around $21.00. The $40.00 I saved will be spent on the 'C' Lever.
Great workmanship... thanks for saving me some shop time.

[larborr]

It a 1981 Olympia Cremina so I think it's oK

Let me know the logistics on how you want to handle the transacton.

Big thanks