Peppina Redux - Page 10

[timo888]

Do you have any idea if the one he is going to send will be flexible enough to do what you did?

Sorry, no. I have not seen the ones Sergio is sending out. For the washers I had made, the inner diameter was also slightly larger, to make it easier to slip them over the head of the screw. The cost of custom made washers using potable-water-safe FDA EPDM and the cost of having the screw removed at a machine shop are roughly the same ... if you can find Richard's boondocks pricing in Santa Rosa

Regards
Timo

[espressme]

The Piston cylinder washer is like the original..little or no stretch. The group washer is of the white FDA approved type. Might stretch?!?!
Visiting a small one or two person machine shop with a fresh can of coffee under your arm will do wonders! You might also try to find an old phart with a small shop in his basement or garage. I could have done it myself if my machines were a bit larger. Check also with your local Vo-Tech for many instructors of the metals areas have their own shops to make ends meet.
Best I can do! YMMV
Richard

Sorry, no. I have not seen the ones Sergio is sending out. For the washers I had made, the inner diameter was also slightly larger, to make it easier to slip them over the head of the screw. The cost of custom made washers using potable-water-safe FDA EPDM and the cost of having the screw removed at a machine shop are roughly the same ... if you can find Richard's boondocks pricing in Santa Rosa
Regards
Timo

[SJM]

The arrival of an 18 year old nephew with muscles solved the problem of screw removal.
Much to my amazement, underneath the shower screen is pristine, and the gaskets look great.

All is not lost





Susan

[espressme]

Congratulations, That took care and skill to put just the right amount of pressure to get it out withiout breaking it. You owe the man!
I would carefully clean the area where the washer seals. Please use something that will leave no scratches or worn valleys in the brass. A new felt pad from your Dremel tool pushed around with a chopstick in the hole would do the deed. ( not that filthy thing I use on tamper bases )That would stay flat even if the pressure is to one side. "NO"power! Use Barkeep's Friend, Softscrub, or Bon Ami. Not any heavy abrasive cleaners, not even the Dremel brass wire brush! You might use that on tne inside bottom of the kettle to remove some of the loose plating.

The arrival of an 18 year old nephew with muscles solved the problem of screw removal.
Much to my amazement, underneath the shower screen is pristine, and the gaskets look great.
All is not lost
Susan

[Bushrod]

And if the smaller one-way washer in the group is too stiff, it allows air to be sucked back into the piston cylinder. You might hear a bit of a whooshing sound. Both conditions are likely.
Regards
Timo

Hi Timo,

Can you tell me the part number for this washer? I think this is the only thing wrong with mine. Can it be replaced without using any homemade tools or compressing the spring? I don't really want to completely disassemble it.

I ordered the complete seal kit from seller "amridge" on ebay last night. $20 including shipping.
We'll see...

[timo888]

Can you tell me the part number for this washer? ... Can it be replaced without using any homemade tools or compressing the spring? I don't really want to completely disassemble it.

The group washer I was referring to is circled; looks to be #1134 held in place by screw #1210. You remove the group bell. No need to touch the spring for this washer. The other one-way washer, above the piston, is accessible only if you remove the group from the base, but there is no need to remove the spring for that procedure either.
O-ring #1136 is also important; it seals the bell to the group-head. Note that the exploded parts view does not include the metal spacer rings. One is nested inside o-ring #1136 and goes between bell and group-head; the other metal spacer ring goes above the dispersion screen.



Regards
Timo

[espressme]

I've emailed the seller ( and bought a set.) Surprise, they consider us here at H-B as the reason they got to working with Peppinas. They say they were able to get the correct thickness of FDA EPDM washer material to actually insert the screws to the full depth on their machines (2.) They also have better replacement screws for the group screen.This is a good thing for us all! When I rebuilt the Red Heads, I had to locktite my washer screws a bit out from fully home because the NOS group washer was too thick.. Timmo also sourced and obtained sets for us over the last few years.
Cheers
Richard
PS, I received notice that the sets shipped today!Thurs.

[Bushrod]

Thanks for the tips. I actually went back and reread the thread yesterday. I think I could replace evry seal without too much trouble.

I'm looking forward to it working properly again! I may even keep it.

The guy selling the kits bid on mine when it was on ebay. Do they have some sort of La Peppina refurbishment program going on?

[espressme]

I don't know about that, but most of us lever heads are a bit over the top as far as what we collect. Upgradeitis I think it is called. We do levers to become part of the process and collect similar ones to upgrade our old machines. I know my LaPeppinas are no-where near the colors they started with and one is a heck of a lot cleaner. As far as being part of the process, some of my other machines are a lot better than when dropped ( Literally ) on my doorstep. I could easily have spent less and had a great "NEW" machine for a lot less trial and confusion. If I were to look at the cost, benefit ratio, I would be appalled! However, that said, I would not do it differently. The reworking of recalcitrant steel, metal and electrics may lead one to madness or Zen.

So, I would contact them and check as to whether they do upgrades. It may just be a hobby and a service to the rest of us.
Cheers
Richard

Thanks for the tips. I actually went back and reread the thread yesterday. I think I could replace evry seal without too much trouble.

I'm looking forward to it working properly again! I may even keep it.

The guy selling the kits bid on mine when it was on ebay. Do they have some sort of La Peppina refurbishment program going on?

[timo888]

I don't know about that, but most of us lever heads are a bit over the top as far as what we collect. Upgradeitis I think it is called.

Or Retrogradeitis