by orphanespresso on Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:56 am
Hello! Just got registered (and man, those letters & numbers on the squiggly line background are HARD to read!)
Richard & Rich, your seals are on the way! HB IS to blame for our lever-itis, though we've been coffeeing up for quite some time. The phrase 'we' you note - there are two of us, Barb (who types, and sources stuff) and Doug (who dictates & makes most of the espresso).
First - let me say, this isn't intended to be a commercial post - we are not trying to push the seal kits, or anything else, just telling the story (though you can email me for kits or Dow 111 lube if you like).
The first La Peppina we chased on Ebay was the one Susan purchased, after being inspired by Richards video, and reading some posts here. Of course, the 2nd, we chased and bought, and got - we were amazed & delighted with it! Of course, it had issues with the washers after about a week....water going back into the kettle. La Peppina #2, from ebay, missing drip tray, cord, and portafilter. ALSO problems - stiff washers, but useable. So, then we started looking for rebuilt sets.
Call, call, call, email, email, email, So Cal folks, no response, wait, call, hope for the best. (did I mention, I really hate begging people to take my money to sell me a thing, or group of things I need? No reason business can't be simple and straightforward) So, then began the adventure.
Kudo's to Timo888, and everyone else who's work, and research helped us to begin to source the parts. On the surface, the O-rings seem simple - just measurements, but actual size is NOT the same as nominal size, but that got solved eventually, the stumbling block was the washers because of the issue of proper flexibility & hardness (as you all already know!)
So, we got various sheets of materials in various density, hardness, flexibility. EPDM high density & regular, 4 different hardness, same thing for Buna-N, Nitrile, etc. Cut the washers by hand with scissors, and took La Peppina apart, over & over in dozens of combinations. Too thin...too thick...slightly stiff doesn't work. Main problem was water going back into the kettle if the piston washer wasn't right. Finally got the big washer to work right when it was cold, but not when hot. Back to the drawing board! We had that poor machine apart so many times...can probably do it in the dark - like a Nascar pitstop it can be done in under a minute (no, I'm not going to time it!). Eventually got the big one right.
The small washer is less complicated, but required a harder material than the big one. It's possible that most people don't need the small washer, but, we figure most people only would want to do this once so included the small washer too. Finally got the right sized o-rings, and the right materials for the washers. Found new screws, and they are a big improvement, but the originals seem so specific that we haven't been able to find EXACT duplicates - the head is very slightly different, and to match they would have to be cast - too much $$ for such a very small difference. These work well though - BIG improvement.
We took the complete set, as though we'd just gotten it in the mail, installed it in the machine (actually did it with both our La Peppinas to be sure), used the machine for 2 weeks to test run with no degradation or performance problems. That was at least 12 cups of espresso daily...yes, sometimes more.... The washers are made with punches, and we've just designed the template for centering the middle (Richard - you may see a very, very slight off center to the washer hole - it will work, and we're getting the centering fixed - practice, practice, practice, AND a template!)
We agree with Timo about the kettle lid gasket being nearly impossible, though Barb hasn't given up yet. The kettle to group gasket isn't in the set because our kettle doesn't leak.
By the way, one of the piston cylinders was heavily scored, with vertical scratches, and Doug was able to remove the deep scratches using an automotive cylinder hone on a drill, and didn't affect the performance - still seals just fine.
We are in North Idaho, about 100 miles south of Couer d'Alene, about 300 miles north of Boise. A bit on the isolated side, but we like it that way. Our first snow is predicted for tomorrow, so while we're stuck inside for the winter, we are going to create a complete user friendly, step by step, with photos instruction guide for rebuilding La Peppina. May not be useful to the experts on this forum, but we think may be helpful to someone in the world...and keep us out of trouble.
P.S. $100 for the set was too obscene to contemplate.
Barb & Doug Garrott
aka
Johhnyguitar or Amridge on ebay
Time to join "LMWDP" and get your "leverhead" confirmation number or two ! 
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