1973 la pavoni heating element problem

#1: Post by **Olle** » December 4th, 2016, 5:49 pm

Hi. I am restoring my 1973 la pavoni, and I just reassembled it with new gaskets. I didn't change them all though, and when I started it up for the first time after the disasemble it was leaking very much from the heating element gasket. I took the element off and changed the old hard gasket, and since I found some scale on the heating element I took the chance to descale it. This is probably where it all went wrong. I put the heating element in a bowl with descaling, and let i be in there for about 10 minutes. I reasembled the whole thing again and when I put the plug in to the wall the fuse blew. The wireing is the same as before so that is not the problem. Is the heating element broken now? Can it be fixed? This heating element does not have a fuse as far I know, I am talking about the fuse in the appartment.

#2: Post by **wsfarrell** » December 4th, 2016, 7:21 pm

Here's a pretty comprehensive guide to testing and repairing elements from Orphan Espresso. Hope it solves your problem.

http://www.orphanespresso.com/Olympia-a ... 620-1.html

#3: Post by **drgary** » December 4th, 2016, 8:22 pm

Did you put the entire element in descaling solution, terminal ends included? If so the link above can help you solve that problem. You never want to immerse the terminal end of a heating element in water, since it can cause a water short.

December 5th, 2016, 1:26 am

Thanks for the replies. I didn't put the terminal ends into the solution, I think. Maby a little bit of them but not the whole. I will try the method from the OE link.

#5: Post by **drgary** » December 5th, 2016, 2:07 am

If worst comes to worst your element can be rebuilt at less cost than buying a new element for the current version of the machine.

December 5th, 2016, 6:27 am

Who can rebuild the element?

#7: Post by **drgary** » December 5th, 2016, 12:13 pm

Gabor, who's in Hungary. resistenza.60 at gmail dot com. I have an element he rebuilt. Works well.

#8: Post by **redbone** » December 5th, 2016, 2:00 pm

I'm currently waiting on two elements from him. Keep in mind it will take 2 months factoring in shipping and the 6 week wait process.

December 6th, 2016, 2:45 am

It was the exact same problem as in the link from OE. I put the element in the oven for an hour but no differens. Back in to the oven again and this time for 6 hours, and it works! No short at all. Now I just need to find the right materials to rebuild it. Are there something I can use insted of glyptal paint and teflon collars?