Hello everyone. I have just joined HB, and have been trying to locate "symptoms of the mcal" through the FAQs. I haven't been able to find an answer to my query, hence this post. I recently descaled the machine using citric acid, and opened up the group head to re-grease the piston. Since I have put it back together, water spurts out of the hole at the rear of the group as I am pulling the lever down and waiting for the preinfusion to take place. This did not happen before. I am not sure if this is wear and tear on the piston seals, as there were certainly no leaks before I removed the piston. But surely, if the piston seals were worn, water would seep out of the group by the portafilter? I was thinking that leaks develop, and get worse over time, and not profusely, instantaneously. When I refitted the piston I was careful, trying to observe any elements which may affect its performance. I have since removed the piston again, and re-fitted it, and still it leaks in the same way... have I overlooked something here?

Hi Justin,

I'm not sure which hole you mean: do you mean the hole where the group head mounts onto the tank or the hole at the top where the piston spindle moves up and down? I'm guessing the latter, in which case it sounds like your top piston seal could have gone.

When the piston is down the lower seal would stop the water getting out of the bottom of the group head, but it would let some past when the piston is raised (handle lowered) and the top seal if damaged wouldn't be able to stop the water coming out of the top.

The top seal is the one most likely to get damaged when replacing the piston unit.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.....

Mike

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your response. The hole which I am referring to is at the back of the group, about 1cm below the top flange. Water is not coming out where the piston moves. If you stand to one side of the machine and look in the same direction as the machine is facing, you will see the hole. It is about 2mm in diameter. However, your diagnosis makes sense, and it seems that the top seal has gone. It just seems rather odd that it should 'go' in one stroke, and not gradually start to leak.
O.k. I see there are plenty of places in the U.S. to locate seals for the mcal, but less so here in the U.K. Any ideas?
Thanks, Justin.

Ah. OK . The little air hole.

I'm assuming you already have food grade lubricant.

Pick up some second hand feeler gauges and follow Stuggi's excellent tip, plus the other advice in this thread amongst others: Piston gasket replacement on Elektra Microcasa a Leva

You can get piston seals from these people in the UK:

Ferraris are probably your best bet http://www.ferrariscoffee.co.uk/contact.html

Fairfax http://www.fairfaxcoffee.com/ may still have some in stock although they seem to be winding down their Elektra support:

My Espresso may also stock spares: http://myespresso.co.uk

I often get mine through coffeeitalia http://www.coffeeitalia.co.uk/ because they're generally quicker than the people in the UK and I get on with them from bigger purchases - and also from Orphan Espresso http://www.orphanespresso.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_60 in the States when I'm ordering other things from them. Stefano at Stefano's Espresso Care also has a great reputation http://www.espressocare.com/home_office...ektra.html The latter are both "proper" lever specialists and..... very nice people too. The best in the UK in my opinion are Ferraris.

Cheers

Mike

Cheers

Mike

Hi Mike,
Thanks for all the info. I'll get on to it.
Justin.

Forgot to say Thank you to Ed too. Thank guys. Justin

I've discovered a leak on my Microcasa a Leva and am wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. When I pull the lever down and the chamber starts to fill with water, I notice water bubbling from the 4 bolts that attach the lever assembly to the boiler. Before I disassemble it, does anyone have any ideas what the problem could be (o-ring,etc)?

That one is the group to boiler o ring seal on the newer models or the flat alimentary seal on the older models.

Thanks Doug. It looks like its the grouphead to boiler gasket.