Hi All,

As you can see, I purchased an Microcasa a leva on ebay. I'd been hankering for one for years and finally saw, what seemed, a good example from Germany.

Anyway, it just arrived and, alas being poorly packed the sight glass was broken.







Anyway, I will have to buy a sight glass and full set of seals just to get it up and running. But I have a few questions.

First, can anyone tell what year this machine was made? The serial number it isn't clear to me. It was advertised as 9 years old, but it seems it was clearly made in the the 1990s, although which year also isn't clear. Does anyone know how to decipher Elektra's serial numbers, or otherwise take a guess at the manufacture date from the picture.



Secondly, before getting back to the vendor I'd like to try to fire it up to see how it runs. Given the site glass is broken I won't be able to bring it to temperature, but I would like to at least know whether it the machine turns on. Tell me, can this be done with the machine in this state, or should I not turn it on until I have fixed the sight glass.

Thirdly, before I put my order into to OE or Stephano's Espresso Care I'd like your views on what parts I will need to get this machine up and running and keep it running. Apart from a couple of sight glasses, and some new seals and gaskets, what else do you suggest?

And finally, how does one clean these machines externally? Naturally I will descale it etc, but I'm thinking of cleaning up the copper and brass exterior including the dirty steam nozzle, but have heard to be careful not to damage the lacquer. What do others do in this regard?

thanks for any help

Robert

First of all - commiserations.Getting a machine here from Europe can be a lottery, depending on how well its packed, and treatment from the postal system.

Year of manufacturer - on the I.D tag Volts 220. Hz 50. W 800. Anno (year) maybe 1995 or 85 Hard to tell

Testing - given you can't fill up past the lower sightglass i wouldn't as the element won't be covered.There are Elektra parts sellers in Australia if you're in a hurry to test.

Cleaning - lots of topics on here about cleaning brass and copper lacquer.Search function is your friend

I think the third digit of the year has to be a nine. I came to that conclusion from looking at the specimen of their font's 8. So it seems almost certain to me that it was 1995. (A bit older than advertised, but perhaps it was not sold right away.)

Glass tubing such as used in sight glasses is amazingly inexpensive from scientific supply places. All you need is a simple triangular file to cut it to the right length. (You simply scratch the glass with the file, wet it, and then gently pull and bend. If done properly it will make a clean break. It is a good idea to put it in a flame to "fire polish" the sharp ends.) All integer millimetre diameters are commonly available from 3mm to 12mm, and may larger sizes are available. It is no longer sold in inch sizes to the best of my knowledge.

Brass things are absolutely beautiful when polished and then properly coated. In my experience, however, some coatings are dramatically better than others. Some are not very good, and that is a charitable statement.

I would be a bit concerned about the boiler when you straighten the sight glass mounting, but I think the there may be no problem.

I replied to your email this morning AM

Yes, thanks Stefano. I didn't realise you were such an avid reader of this forum. I think I found the local distributor of Elektra parts in Australia so I might get those parts that are available Down Under here and those that aren't at your outfit (which seems to have a bigger range of MCal parts than OE).

So, the consensus is that it is a 1995 machine. If the steam knob is hard to turn, will that be fixed by a new gasket, or is there something else potentially wrong?

Good the SPAM cyber world was nice to us today

if might just need to heat up and start using it

or might need a little descaling inside ( not to soak the all valve in solution)
or
there is an Allen head nut inside that holds a Teflon seat and a sphere
you can try opening it up clean it and even a light (very light) coat of food grade grease

It's definitely a 1995 model. The '85 had stick-on decals whereas the metal badges did not appear until later..

Be very careful when you straighten that boiler. If you're unsure, take it to a boiler maker or metal worker who will apply some heat to help straighten it without fracturing the copper.

Good luck!

What's it look like inside the base where the stuff is?

I haven't been game to open up the base.

My plan is as follows:
1. Get the new sight glass, install it, straighten the boiler and then fire it up to see if it 'works'.
2. Descale the boiler.
3. Get new gaskets and change some (all) of them according to need. In the process I will check out the inside of the group head, clean it, lube it etc.
4. Then I might look underneath, if nothing else to set the pressurestat to the right setting (if it is too high or low).
5. PULL A SHOT OR TWO because I guess that is why I purchased the machine in the first place. (Luckily I have an Cremina and Europiccola already so I am not hanging out merely very curious to make the comparison).

Considering it had a long rough trip it might be worth taking the plastic base off just to be sure all wires are connected well etc. Avoiding a surprise when starting up.