Astoria vacuum breaker broken?

by **the_trystero** on Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:42 pm

Ugh, I turned on the Mr Espresso this morning, did some chores, came back and my Mr Espresso looked like Old Faithful. I assume the vacuum breaker got stuck open. I haven't had a chance to pop off the top off to take a look yet. Also, I sent an email to OE but in the meantime I was wondering a couple of things since I'm hosting around 30 people for brunch on Sunday.

Is there a way to unstick it?

If I can't get a replacement by the weekend is there an easy way to run without the vacuum breaker? Get a threaded plug from a plumbing supply place?

Also, the pressure has been running from 1.15 to 1.3 bar so I think I'm going to turn it down a bit. Where's the pstat on the Astoria?

by **allon** on Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:53 pm

I had to hack a vacuum breaker into my machine, since it didn't come with one.
First, verify it IS the vacuum breaker. If it is, remove the breaker, soak it in vinegar or descale solution, reinstall. Not that hard, actually.

If you want to run without a vacuum breaker, you just have to bring the machine up to pressure, then open the steaming wand to let the air pressure out, 'til you get some good steam, then close the steaming wand, and you're good until you turn the machine off.

The p-stat on mine is a standard Sirai - back left, have to remove a small screw to get the big cover off, then a big slotted screw with arrows showing which direction is + and which is -

Good luck!

by **the_trystero** on Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:03 pm

Awesome, thank you! One way or another I should be fine by the weekend if it's just the vacuum breaker. I don't think the Livietta is up to the task.

And I think I'll drop the p-stat down to around .9 to 1.1.

by **duke-one** on Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:48 pm

My Astoria's vacuum breaker would stick once and while: a good wack on the side panel would always fix it. I bought a new valve but never had to install it. The spare valve goes with the machine to it's new owner.
KDM

by **allon** on Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:02 pm

I recently raised my pressure to 1.0-1.2, and have been pulling on the higher end of that...but its been colder in the basement, and the group probably cools faster, and I've been tweaking my roast profile a little bit, and it just works better that way for now.

by **orphanespresso** on Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:57 pm

Take off the cup warmer panel and check it out....vac breaker has a little brass stem sticking up..just give it a finger flip to make sure it is centered. in the housing. Hasn't been used enough to foul with scale but there could be some little bit of something on the o ring inside the valve.

by **the_trystero** on Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:00 am

It's been nice and warm here, and mine is sitting outside, so that might be influencing me a little too much. I'll try to get around 1 to 1.2.

by **the_trystero** on Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:01 am

orphanespresso wrote:Take off the cup warmer panel and check it out....vac breaker has a little brass stem sticking up..just give it a finger flip to make sure it is centered. in the housing. Hasn't been used enough to foul with scale but there could be some little bit of something on the o ring inside the valve.

Ha, thanks Doug!

by **orphanespresso** on Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:04 am

oh yeah, your machine has a Parker stat...grey metal box. The cover comes off by sliding it straight up so you can see the temp gauge and pointers...it can be adjusted without removing the cover by turning the big screw on top, like a Sirai.

by **the_trystero** on Wed Nov 02, 2011 6:11 pm

Ok, steam was coming out of the valve on the left, I tapped with the handle of screwdriver and it stopped. I assume that is the vacuum breaker. Also, what's the pair of wires for that goes into the top of the boiler?

Thanks for the info everyone, I dialed down the p-stat last night, too.


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