Start up issue with older Europiccolo

[martinSWE]

Hi,

being a newcomer to this excellent forum, I hope this is not a question that has been answered a million times already.
If so - sorry.
Anyway, here goes: I just purchased a used Europiccolo (the older version with two switches) and not being used to the machine I wonder if it is behaving correctly. When started up, it heats up quickly and the level glass valve starts releasing steam and drips water - but the safety valve starts releasing water and steam almost immediately.

I've tried opening the steam pipe for ten secs or so, halting the safety valve for only that long. I can still pull off fairly decent shots, but I am curious if this is how it is supposed to work. Is there something that might need to be replaced?

Best regards,
Martin

[bill]

A couple things to consider: Re the two-position switch, use the high position to heat up the boiler. When the safety valve begins to release steam go back to the low-position. You shouldn't see any steam from the safety valve in low. Use low to brew the espresso and then high for steaming milk. Second, I don't think you should see any water or steam from the area of the glass water-level tube. You probably have either a cracked glass tube or a defective gasket; both of these are easy to replace. Hope this is some help.

[happytamper]

Sounds like your site glass is cracked or needs new gaskets. To change these gaskets you have to be careful not to crack the glass if it is not already cracked. For info on changing seals see this site http://www.pavoniexpress.com/sealrepl.html

As for the switches, as the previous post said, the one with the I and II marks can be placed to the II mark until steam is released and then returned to the I mark. If you want to steam milk after you pull a shot return the bottom switch to the II mark. You will get the hang of it soon enough.

enjoy your Pavoni.

[martinSWE]

Thanks!

I will investigate the gaskets. However, there's not a lot of water coming out, just the odd bubble next to the bolt head.

I understand the difference between the two switch modes, but they don't seem to make any difference when it comes to halting the intensity of the safety valve. I still get steam (and massive noise) coming out when switched to position I. Should I just try to ignore this?

[bill]

I'm not sure where the leak around the glass tube is coming from, but if you don't have a pressure gauge there is a screw on top of the tube where a gauge can be mounted. There is a small washer under the screw that could be leaking. If you do have the gauge there should still be a washer where the gauge screws in to the top of the tube assembly. Either way just remove the screw or gauge and replace the washer. You can probably find one at a hardware store that'll work.
Re the leaking safety valve it sounds like it's probably stuck open. If you unscrew it you should see, I think, a small spring and a ball bearing. The spring holds the ball against the valve seat until pressure pushes against the ball and release the pressure. It's been a few years since I've looked at one but I don't think there's any kind of adjustment to make. Just clean the seat, ball and spring and put it back together. That'll probably fix the problem.
If it still leaks either the spring needs replacing (most likely) or it's just doing its job and the pressure is too high. If you need a new spring get one from a Pavoni parts reseller since the size is critical to the safety valve working correctly.

[bobby yarrow]

I just replaced the ball & spring on the safety valve of my older europiccola, and of course the spring pressure makes all the difference. It's incredibly simple if you have right size metric wrenches . . . the acorn nut & lower nut take larger wrenches than I had in metric. Anyhow, the spring & ball themselves cost $5 from european gift, and my machine now works as I think it should, making a loud steam release when in position 2 and very little steam release in position 1.

[martinSWE]

Ok, thanks everyone. I'll get the wrenches needed and will give it a try.
I have a Pavoni spare parts vendor just a few blocks away, so that should not be a problem.

I'll brief you on my progress. Thanks!