Stuck Caravel Piston- - Page 2

by **hbuchtel** on Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:27 am

Thanks for the advice, but I should have made it more clear in my original post that it is not the piston itself that is stuck, but rather the small valve mechanism inside the valve which is giving me trouble.

I still haven't taken another crack at fixing it, which has a lot to do with my new Caravel being in perfect working condition! (though terrible cosmetically...)

Regards, Henry

by **hbuchtel** on Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:29 am

WOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!!!

A stroke of luck this evening - On my very cold balcony I briefly immersed the piston body in boiling water, gave the uppermost section of the inner 'piston-pusher' a solid whack with a wooden stake and hammer and it popped right out!

It is perfect :?:

timing 'cause I'm having a weird electrical problem with my other Caravel... I can't seem to get both working at the same time! I think it is because they are upset about having to share the same portafilter... though I know a good way to solve that problem

Regards, Henry

by **michaelbenis** on Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:18 am

Yes! Celebration time!

There's nothing like playing with fire and ice to free things up

by **sweaner** on Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:51 am

That PF looks nice, but $145 is more than I would spend.

by **orphanespresso** on Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:28 pm

Woo Hoo Henry! Good on you!

by **hbuchtel** on Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:18 am

sweaner wrote:That PF looks nice, but $145 is more than I would spend.

Yeah, it looked high to me at first as well. However, I feel good about spending $ on something I know is good quality (like the Penney tamper I use).

I got two great (mmmm!) shots out of my orange Caravel this afternoon, but then the metal retaining ring (holding the piston mechanism in the piston body) popped out of position again (this, and my stupid reaction to it, is what caused the mechanism to get jammed in the first place). Anybody else had this problem?

Regards, Henry

by **sorrentinacoffee** on Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:10 am

hello Henry,

I never had that problem- despite overpacking the machine to near choking and putting huge loads on the lever

... but I notice from your pictures that you have one of the very last type of pistons that were fitted in the Caravels- and that that type of piston is the flimsiest of all the designs I have seen by a wide margin.

I am not sure- but if yours ends up too damaged- I may have a spare earlier type piston kicking around in my storehouses somewhere... not sure if it would fit though as the top locking mechanism is probably different...


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