I recently installed new gaskets to my La Pavoni Europiccola. The project was successful except for one problem. After the repair, the lever would return to the up position following a cool-down from pulling a shot. (I don't remember whether this was happening prior to the repair, but I think the lever always stayed in the down position prior to and after the machine heating up.) In any case, it now returns to the up position after every cool-down. For the first few shots, the lever would quickly lower itself as the machine was heating up and pressure built up. But recently, the lever stays in the up position as the water is heating, causing the hot water to drip out of the head and into the drip tray. If I lower the handle manually prior to start-up, all works well and the shot comes out perfectly. Did I do something wrong in the repair process? Should I add a little more silicon grease to the lever piston? Thanks for any advice offered.
Cameron

No, you did everything right and the vacuum created when the sealed machine cools down pulls the piston and therefore lever upward. This is the best sign of a perfectly sealed and lubricated machine. "Lerverus Erectus" will subside over time but can be cured by opening the steam wand valve.

Doug or others,

I wonder what causes water to drip out of the grouphead on warm-up, yet the lever raises on cool-down? On warm-up, the lever doesn't raise, water drips out of the shower screen, though. This is for a pre-Millennium Europiccola with dual switches. Does it mean the gaskets fit well only when expanded by heat, so they're ready to change out?

Gary,

If I'm reading your post correctly, your machine drips a little water upon warm-up. My Cremina did this quite a while back, like 3 months after I bought it fully refurbed from Barb and Doug. If I lifted the lever for just a quick flush, the dripping stopped. I thought to myself, surely the seals are not worn already...and as I suspected, they were not. When I dropped the piston I found a small amount of grounds that had made it up through the shower screen and lodged themselves on the back-side of the lower piston seal. I cleaned the seals, piston, and sleeve and re-lubed all before reassembly. Problem solved.

Lesson learned...don't overload the basket.

uscfroadie wrote:
Lesson learned...don't overload the basket.

Caught in the act! I've been overloading the basket.

ronbeso wrote:For the first few shots, the lever would quickly lower itself as the machine was heating up and pressure built up. But recently, the lever stays in the up position as the water is heating, causing the hot water to drip out of the head and into the drip tray. If I lower the handle manually prior to start-up, all works well and the shot comes out perfectly

Cameron,

Sounds like your lube job went well, so congrats on tackling this yourself. As Barb/Doug pointed out, your machine is working as it should. As for the hot water coming out of the grouphead as your machine is heating up; that's because when the lever raised upon cool down it did so so rapidly that it stopped above the inlet port in the grouphead. Pushing the lever down just a tad will block the port and prevent this from happening. You also could just partially open the steam wand after you are done pulling shots to allow the boiler to vent just a tad of pressure. Just don't leave it open, turn on your machine, and walk away. If you do, you may end up with your machine venting steam until there is no more water in the boiler and your heating element trips the thermal fuse to prevent a total meltdown. Just sayin...it's been done before.

Something to look forward to once I rebuild my Millennium Gaggia Factory G106. So far it's been doing great, but the lever never rose on it's own when I picked it up from it's original owner... I did pick up the rebuild kit from OE for the upcoming maintenance.

What's the best way to tell that it's time for a rebuild?

Merle, did you pick up another Factory?

Chris,

No new Facotry for me. I've owned two previously; sold one, gave the other to a good friend for a Christmas present once I got my Cremina. Great machines for the $$.

Your Factory will not have the lever raise becuase you have a vacuum breaker in the boiler cap. When your machine cools the vacuum breaker will open and will vent out any pressure. Older Pavonis do not have the vacuum breaker, so it forms a solid seal, just like my Cremina.

Personally, I would not change ANY seals unless they leak. The two Factorys I've owned were manufactured in 2000, and both are on their original seals, with one exception. The sight glass seals and grouphead gasket have been changed in both. Other than that, all seals are original. A proper lube service every 4 months will keep them working for a long time. Just my $.02