After 2 weeks of playing with my Cremina, I decided to pop off the shower screen to see what build was there and do any cleaning if needed. I used one of those paint can tools to pop it off (Doug of OE had recommended that in one of his videos). In doing so, I ended up tearing the orange gasket/seal that the screen sits in. I'm kicking myself right now.

I have an email to OE to get a replacement gasket, but my question is: What tool is safe to remove the gasket? I cannot remove the screen unless I remove the gasket first (the screen sits in the gasket).

Thanks.

The safest way to remove screen and gasket is to gently push it out from top using the piston. You'd have to take pins out and top nuts to do that.

Thanks Dennis. Just to be clear, are you talking about this?:

Yes, here is that shown in action, video quality not that good but you will get the idea:

Sorry to hear about the damage. But, you'll be up and running in no time.

Out of curiosity, was there much buildup on the backside of the screen and on the piston after only a couple of weeks?

I just watched the video. While I don't have a Cremina (yet!) I've had a Pavoni for years and removed the screen numerous times this way.

One point of clarification -- tekomino correct me if I'm wrong -- remove the acorn nut, but DON'T completely remove the second nut: just back it out to the end of the rod. This will prevent you from accidentally pushing the piston all of the way out of the cylinder.

FWIW, I find on my Europiccola that even after months of daily use I have minimal buildup inside the screen. Regular flushing (to get to correct brewhead temp) probably helps a lot.

Yes, after getting the screen off, it was very clean. I wanted to see if there was any kind of buildup so I can figure out some sort of cleaning schedule. I do a cleaning flush everyday.

Thanks for the video Dennis. I wish I had found that before the minor disaster.

bigstormgirl wrote:After 2 weeks of playing with my Cremina, I decided to pop off the shower screen to see what build was there and do any cleaning if needed. I used one of those paint can tools to pop it off (Doug of OE had recommended that in one of his videos). . . .

OE's Olympia information is generally oriented to old equipment, in spite of them ostensibly being the current U.S. dealer and warranty station for Olympia. Newer Olympia equipment, like yours, has undergone numerous subtle design changes over the years, and the shower screen and gasket are one of those changes. The newer design, as you now know, uses the gasket to hold the shower screen in place, and the gasket must be removed before the screen can be pulled off.

The video posted a few notes back in this thread demonstrates a technique that will not work for the newer design. You need to remove the gasket and then pull the shower screen. (And use of a screwdriver in lieu of snap ring pliers is an exceedingly poor practice.)

Yes, the new machines use a slip over the cylinder end screen (and no, it will not fit over in the old group...First thing I tried). This is the same setup as the Elektra MCAL and La Pavoni screens which are also held in place by the group gasket. I find that almost all service of the group to be most simply and safely done with the group removed from the machine.

A slip over screen can be used on older Creminas is the groove that holds the original screen is damaged but one has to file to reduce the size of the cylinder end and then figure out a group seal since the original square format will then be too tall.

Yes, the bulk of our published information covers the pre 2002 models for the simple reason that the vast majority of Olympia machines in use are the older models.

Cindy...hope that the black seal fits OK..we do not yet have a suppy of OEM spares available singly apart from a kit.

Ostensibly yours
Doug

Slow Turtle wrote:One point of clarification -- tekomino correct me if I'm wrong -- remove the acorn nut, but DON'T completely remove the second nut: just back it out to the end of the rod. This will prevent you from accidentally pushing the piston all of the way out of the cylinder.

FWIW, I find on my Europiccola that even after months of daily use I have minimal buildup inside the screen. Regular flushing (to get to correct brewhead temp) probably helps a lot.

I can confirm that. I can also recommend, as Richard does, using circlip pliers to get off the front circlip if that is what you have on your machine. Doug, ostensibly of OE, sells a nice cheap set which works perfectly. You are not only less likely to injure yourself that way, but also less like to lose the circlips by pinging them off into hyperspace.

Richard, I'm at a bit of a loss as to why you say popping the screen by lowering the piston won't work on the new models where the gasket holds the screen in place...

Cheers

Mike