Brasilia portofino dig single group repair - steam from grouphead
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: 12 years ago
Hi everybody!
Got my hands on a brasilia portofino dig single group from 1997, no group handle (just ordered that online, still waiting) and I'm trying to understand if it's working because I'm suspecting it was thrown away for a reason - please help me!
- Panel lights up
- Boiler fills with water
- Pump turns
- When front switch is turned to the "heating/steam mode" boiler heats up and pressure builds up in boiler
- With boiler pressurized I get steam from the wand and hot water from the hot-water-tap-thing BUT when I try one of the brewing buttons I only get a small amount of water and steam from the group head, obviously too little water for a cup of coffee. Sometimes I get more water and less steam, sometimes more steam and less water.
What I don't understand is that it doesn't seem to heat or build up pressure when the front switch is set to the plain "on" position, but everything else works in that mode - It is as if the boiler doesn't heat when set to "on". Is it supposed to be that way? Or is it supposed to heat in that mode as well? Could this be the explanation for the steam coming from the group head, or am I looking at several problems?
Btw, the machine looks like it hasn't been used much, almost spotless on the inside, so I feel really motivated to get it working
Any ideas greatly appreciated!
/Arvid
Got my hands on a brasilia portofino dig single group from 1997, no group handle (just ordered that online, still waiting) and I'm trying to understand if it's working because I'm suspecting it was thrown away for a reason - please help me!
- Panel lights up
- Boiler fills with water
- Pump turns
- When front switch is turned to the "heating/steam mode" boiler heats up and pressure builds up in boiler
- With boiler pressurized I get steam from the wand and hot water from the hot-water-tap-thing BUT when I try one of the brewing buttons I only get a small amount of water and steam from the group head, obviously too little water for a cup of coffee. Sometimes I get more water and less steam, sometimes more steam and less water.
What I don't understand is that it doesn't seem to heat or build up pressure when the front switch is set to the plain "on" position, but everything else works in that mode - It is as if the boiler doesn't heat when set to "on". Is it supposed to be that way? Or is it supposed to heat in that mode as well? Could this be the explanation for the steam coming from the group head, or am I looking at several problems?
Btw, the machine looks like it hasn't been used much, almost spotless on the inside, so I feel really motivated to get it working
Any ideas greatly appreciated!
/Arvid
- HB
- Admin
- Posts: 22018
- Joined: 19 years ago
I'm not familiar with the Portofino, but is there a chance it was stored outside? Because what you describe sounds like the symptoms of a heat exchanger that has burst due to being stored outside in freezing temperatures with water inside it. The other key symptom: The steam boiler's water level increases when brewing. This happens because the HX water is leaking into the steam boiler.rosteu wrote:With boiler pressurized I get steam from the wand and hot water from the hot-water-tap-thing BUT when I try one of the brewing buttons I only get a small amount of water and steam from the group head, obviously too little water for a cup of coffee. Sometimes I get more water and less steam, sometimes more steam and less water.
Dan Kehn
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: 12 years ago
Hmm, interesting idea, I'm located in Stockholm, and we have winter with freezing temperatures right now, so it's def a possibility..
Any ways of confirming the diagnose? Treatment options?
Any ways of confirming the diagnose? Treatment options?
- HB
- Admin
- Posts: 22018
- Joined: 19 years ago
As I wrote in my previous post, if the steam boiler level rises when you press the brew button, the HX is cracked. Some espresso machines have heat exchangers that are easily replaced; others have them welded directly to the boiler. I recommend taking it to a qualified repair technician for a hands-on assessment of its condition.
Dan Kehn
- allon
- Posts: 1639
- Joined: 13 years ago
Did the OP state that the boiler level rises when the brew button is pressed?
Does this machine have a I and II switch, where I turns on the machine except for the boiler, and II is full on?
Edit: http://www.brasilia-coffee.co.uk/downlo ... manual.pdf
Not sure if it is the same model, could be dependent on year.
Does this machine have a I and II switch, where I turns on the machine except for the boiler, and II is full on?
Edit: http://www.brasilia-coffee.co.uk/downlo ... manual.pdf
Not sure if it is the same model, could be dependent on year.
LMWDP #331
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: 12 years ago
I had a similar problem with a Brasilia Cappuccino Del 1, funnily enough also purchased in Sweden . Here the HX tube was cracked most likely due to outside winter storage with water in the system. At first I thought that is was a problem of scale in the HX-system (resulting in very little water coming out of the group) and a leaky safety valve, but when I replaced the defective boiler manometer (and the safety valve), I realised that the pressure in the boiler went up when I tried to pump water through the group. I am not sure about the Portofino, but the heat exchanger tube in the Brasilia Cappuccino is luckily not welded onto the boiler, so I removed it and had the hole welded by a professional plumber.
I have posted more info on the restoration here:
https://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espre ... ods/565964
Malthe
I have posted more info on the restoration here:
https://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espre ... ods/565964
Malthe
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: 12 years ago
Problem solved! Took pretty much everything apart and it turned out to be limescale in the flow meter inlet obstructing the flow of water from the pump to the HX - seems to work fine now!
Now I just have to find a portafilter for the machine - found one online store in Australia that would ship to Sweden at a relatively modest fee (espressoworkshop.com) anyone know of a closer store (guess most places are closer than Australia^^)
Thanks for the support!
/arvid
Now I just have to find a portafilter for the machine - found one online store in Australia that would ship to Sweden at a relatively modest fee (espressoworkshop.com) anyone know of a closer store (guess most places are closer than Australia^^)
Thanks for the support!
/arvid
- HB
- Admin
- Posts: 22018
- Joined: 19 years ago
Thanks for the update, glad my guess at the cause was wrong.
Dan Kehn
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: 12 years ago
I have previously ordered parts from http://www.espressoxxl.de in Germany - It looks like they have the portafilter and that's a bit closer . Good luck and glad to hear that it was not a broken HX tube...
Malthe
Malthe
- normriff
- Posts: 66
- Joined: 12 years ago
It sounds like everything is normal to me. The on/off switch has two positions. The first to activate the electronics and fill the boiler without risking damage to the heating element. The second also turns on the heating system.
Norm Riffle
The Original "It's A Grind", Portland Oregon - Espresso and Coffee Equipment Specialist since 1992
The Original "It's A Grind", Portland Oregon - Espresso and Coffee Equipment Specialist since 1992