Hello,

This is my first post on Home-Barista. I beg for apologize in case this is a duplicate thread. If so, I would be happy for links to the right source.

I bought an old La Pavoni Europiccola, dated 1963 according to the seller. I payed SEK1000 (~EUR100). It's in really good condition, but in need of new gaskets. Two questions arise:

1) Where can I buy gaskets that fit?
2) How can I open up the machine with common tools that can be bought in a store?

Here are a couple of images on my machine.

Oh, by the way. I have been googling about it, and found some pieces of relevant information, like this thread on Home-Barista and this article. These are, though, a little too advanced for me. I feel lost when reading them.

All tips and advices would be greatly appreciated. I really like to make this machine usable.

@ johey,

Mr. Ceccarelli's site might help you?
http://www.francescoceccarelli.eu/index_eng.htm

Greetings

Hi Johey,
Most importantly, before following any instructions that talk about "banging" out the piston with a mallet, you'll need to check what type of dispersion screen is on the grouphead
Have a look at Parts for Old Europiccola (1960s)
As you will see in that thread the dispersion will either be a "pop" out type or most likely the type that unscrews
Either way, you'll need to remove the large circular gasket that is around the dispersion screen.
If it looks similar to this pic

then the screen and brass sleeve will need to be unscrewed - This can be done by placing 2 nail sets in a vice, and lining them up the the holes in the brass screen and slowly turning to "unscrew" the sleeve from the grouphead.
The guys over at Orphan Espresso have gaskets for the older types of la pavoni's
Hope that helps you out a little more
Anthony

Thank you alot for quick and great advice!

I think this is the model where you need to unscrew the screen. When I realised that I might need access to special tools and that the gaskets I could buy for Europiccola in my local store don't fit this old machine, I put it out for sale again. And I bought a newer Pavoni Pro. But now, knowing that the parts can be ordered and that it really is possible opening up the machine, I'm concidering keeping it and put some time on fixing it.

I suggest to keep this vintage machine. The looks maybe not as fancy as the new models', but the build quality is much better. The cast aluminium base is more stable, the piston/cylinder is better quality either. It's like undestructable...

I spoke with my onkel, and he will help me build a tool to unscrew the screen. "No problems".

Yesterday I ordered a group gasket from Orphan. All other gaskets in the machine are the same as in the other pre-milennium piccolas, right? Right?

I bought a set of gaskets from a local coffee store. Hope they will fit.

SiD- wrote:The looks maybe not as fancy as the new models', but [...]

No, no, no... This one is a real beauty. The newer Pro I bought is way behind on fanciness. Thank you for convincing me keeping this machine!

Ofcourse it is a beauty!
Here's my old one:

Johan....yes, the portafilter gasket you ordered is needed. Once you get the cylinder out you may need to come up with a thin o ring to seal it when reinstalling, and likely, if you need a new boiler cap gasket you will need to make one by hand or adapt some rubber seal for this large cap....not a standard EPicc part anymore. Otherwise, you are on the right path.

Great to hear!

Yesterday I managed to remove the old group gasket. Not in one piece, but anyway... Now I have verified that the screen has two holes so it needs to be descrewed. And I meassured the gasket size to verify that I actually ordered the right thing. Seems so. Heh.

Before bringing the machine to my onkel, I think about trying hammer two nails in a piece of wood and hope it will be strong enough.

Hi Johey,

I also tried the "2 nails in wood" approach, and found that either the wood split or the nails bent - To unscrew the screen doesn't require superman strength, but a lot more that you think
The bent nails and split wood led me to use nail sets in a vise
Nails sets similar to these can be found in most hardware stores....Best of Luck, sounds like you are almost there, and we're glad that you giving another vintage machine a second life

Anthony