I just unpacked my new-to-me vintage (1970s) Europiccola. The previous owner seems to have cleaned the boiler nicely. I'm following the manual's directions to heat the water and then let it run through with the lever held up and nothing in the portafilter. I've done this twice now and the water that comes out has the color of tea. Should I keep doing this until the water comes out clear or is that not going to happen?

Apologies if this has been answered before, but I couldn't find it.

The first place I would look at this point is on the top side of your dispersion screen, the bottom of the piston, and the V groove of the piston seals—these do get gummy.

I would disassemble the group and clean it well, and clean the screen with some Joe Glo or something similar. Then I would lube the cylinder and piston seals with the appropriate lube (I have some Dow from Orphan Espresso) before reassembly.

Good luck with your new machine.

Thanks, grong. I'll have to try that. I wish I lived near a parts place. I'd love to take the machine apart and try pulling a few shots today.

If your seals are in fine shape I don't see why you couldn't take the group apart for cleaning and put it back together to give it a try. Group disassembly is quite simple on this machine, and would be easy to repeat in a few days to add some lube or new seals. Then you will know better just what to order, perhaps.

You were spot on! I scrubbed the piston and soaked the basket, and now there's clear water coming out! Thanks so much. This is what was in there:




The gaskets seem to be in decent shape, although it might not be a bad idea to have replacements on hand. The gasket around the dispersion screen had a secondary piece to it. I don't see that in the parts diagrams I've found. Does anyone know what it is? It's the one on the left, below:

I have never seen that second seal in a Pavoni- and I have taken apart quite a few groups. I am thinking someone must have put that in to get a better seal with the PF- perhaps the main rubber ring is a bit hardened.

Have you had a peek inside the boiler? I have found on some Pavoni boilers there is a build of of blue powder near the very top of the boiler- above the water line. I read somewhere that this was poisonous copper chloride I always fill the boiler with a Citric acid/water solution- completely- to clean out this area. The last one I did produced several liters of bright blue water....

Thanks, sorrentinacoffee. The seal might be a little hardened. I don't know how soft it should be.

I did look inside the boiler with the flashlight. There was some blue stuff, but I assumed it was leftover cleaning solution (like Urnex). I was able to get rid of it just by rising out the boiler. The threads of the top (where you pour in water) are blue-green. I'll have to try standing the top in citric acid, just up to the threads. Not sure how I'd clean the threads on the boiler, though.

I appreciate the tips!