Hey Guys,
I have come to home-barista because I have noticed the constant chatter about the Export and wanted to get advice from you guys.

I bought this export off of craigslist for a steal and knew it might give me a few problems.. There only seems to be one. The machine heats up very well, but it seems like there is some type of pressure issue. When i fill the boiler, turn the machine on and heat it up.. It makes a loud noise (louder than my friends identical SAMA IIRC). When the light (and heating element) clicks off and it's ready to go, the water that comes out when you depress the lever is very hot (haven't tested with thermometer, but it doesn't pull a great shot, so maybe not hot enough).
The problem is once the heating element kicks off it's off for good. Simply drawing water out via wand or group does not relieve any pressure and cause the element to go back on. Also if you just leave it alone and let it sit the element does not kick back on.

I would love to know what peoples' initial reactions are. I am not that familiar with the inner workings of this machine, so you guys could probably help me troubleshoot.

Thanks for your help in advance,

Mitchell

update:
after more searching I have learned these work on pressurestats (like HX without the line?). Regardless, when I picked up the machine I immediately descaled it (after pulling a couple of shots, immediately).

IIRC the machine had the same problem before i descaled, but i suppose this could be a pressurestat clog or something. Does anyone have an exploded parts diagram of the machine so I could see where the pressurestat even is..

Are these things easy to get around in?

Yeah Dan,

I have started it up both ways, With the wand open and with the wand closed. Both times when it comes up to temp it does the same thing.

It will steam in the beginning, but it will eventually run out as the element clicks off

i believe there is one FS on CG forums.. I appreciate your help Dan and everything you do here and on CG.

Happy Holidays,

Mitchell

mitchellb wrote:Also if you just leave it alone and let it sit the element does not kick back on.

Mitchell,
Since the heating element is controlled by pressure I'd be curious to know at what point does the element come back on? Or, was this a one-time occurance and it's been dead since?

Call Joe at Good Coffee CO. in Seattle - he's been working on these for over 30 years. It does sound like the pressurestat is bad - it should be a very easy fix. You can remove the bottom plate and have a look at the Pstat. Might be possible that it just needs an adjustment.

I just pulled one the best espressos ever on my Export. They are really easy to use, and produce great espresso. They are also very simple to maintain, so hang in there. Once you've got it up to speed you won't be sorry!

PC

PC,
Not coffee related but thought you'd be interested in this news item 'hot off the wire'.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22290101/from/ET/
Maybe SH was mistaken and the Matilda Briggs was coming from New Guinea, not Sumatra!
Bill

Mitchell-
Just a thought: did you totally empty the boiler when you descaled it? The only way to get it completely empty is to remove the cap and invert the machine over the sink. Since the pressurestat is all the way at the bottom, there could be some scale, sludge etc. gumming up the works. That still doesn't explain why it will turn on again after a prolonged shutdown.
From talking to the aforementioned Joe, I learned that Sama changed pressurestats a few times over the years, and that mine doesn't look like any of the photos I've seen so far (sorry, no photo of mine).

Ed