You had stated that this all began after you had your machine serviced. Perhaps the new seal used on your piston is in correct, ? Too large and thereby causing way too much binding? Something, I would perhaps contact the people who did the work and see what they can surmise.

The "hanging up of the piston could explain the the extra little "shot" that occurs after you thought the shot was done... them psiton maybe hung up just short of the bottom of the travel. Then a minute or so passes and it drops down all the way- and you get a little spurt of crema....

Just noticed this old thread i had started and thought i would fill in what happened.
Turns out the so called expert in brooklyn who charged me an arm and a leg to service this machine put one of the piston seals in upside down, which i think accounts for the sluggish return of the lever.
Everything has since been fixed and the machine has run beautifully for six months but now another small problem -
The seal on the boiler cap - the place where you fill up the boiler - has gone. Actually the whole thread is pretty much shot and will require at the very least a new gasket or o-ring I cant tell what used to be on there, or if i can source it a whole new cap.
Good thing i managed to pick up a la cimbali domus as a back up machine over the weekend.

Aaron-- BTW - you mentioned that you had brand new seals in your Bezzera..... where pray tell did you get them from please sir! I always like to have spares!

I cant actually say. I had it serviced by a company in Brooklyn, G&M Coffee in Bayridge (20th avenue) I am not sure where they got their seals from.
They replaced the seals (one upside installed upside down as previously mentioned), the spring, which was badly rusted and rebuilt the fulcrum point which was bent and worn.
They are not the most refined group of people though, and my machine came back with a number of dents and scratches to the soft brass of the group which really pissed me off.
If you call them up and speak to Giacomo, tell him you have the same espresso as the Australian guy and that you need some seals. I dont know if they will help you out of not, but its worth a shot.
Good luck

Thankx

aaronmaestri,
Do you have a phone for Giacomo? I can't find them and I would like to add them to my resources page on my blog- I like to document where to find the things ..

Thanks

Never Mind- I found it under G&M Cappuccino Repair on 20 Ave Brooklyn........