I have stumbled upon a technique for easily removing my grouphead gasket/shower screen on my E61 Isomac Zaffiro and i was wondering if anyone else uses it or if it is somehow damaging. I place a backflush disk in my portafilter and do the portafilter wiggle under pressure. As i do the wiggle, i create a temporary seal so the pressure (on my gauge) builds up to maybe 3-5 bars. Then i quickly apply maybe 5-10 pounds of pressure counterclockwise to break the seal and allow water to flow again. Doing this rapidly 4-5 times seems to work the gasket off (so much that it may actually drop or pop off on the last time.) The trick is allowing the portafilter to catch, but not allowing the pump to build up so much pressure that the "pop" of breaking the seal is damaging to the machine. It allows me to get the gasket and shower screen off without damaging the gasket for easy cleaning. Any comments? Am i hurting something? Anybody else doing this? (I am a relative NOOB - 1 year - and did the best search i could to see if anybody else was posting on this before i posted - sorry if it's redundant)

Haha, that's the exact same thing that I do to remove the gasket on my Zaffiro. I just don't think this method is recommended very often because of the risk of burning yourself by the escaping water or being injured by a group screen and gasket exploding off of the group.

Try a paint can opener. The small tip with the right angle turn at the very end. If you don't have one, go to the local hardware store/paint store and ask for one. They give them away free.

Why not do this technique right after switching on the machine. That way, it's not hot yet.

popeye wrote:I have stumbled upon a technique for easily removing my grouphead gasket/shower screen on my E61 Isomac Zaffiro and i was wondering if anyone else uses it or if it is somehow damaging. I place a backflush disk in my portafilter and do the portafilter wiggle under pressure. As i do the wiggle, i create a temporary seal so the pressure (on my gauge) builds up to maybe 3-5 bars. Then i quickly apply maybe 5-10 pounds of pressure counterclockwise to break the seal and allow water to flow again. Doing this rapidly 4-5 times seems to work the gasket off (so much that it may actually drop or pop off on the last time.) The trick is allowing the portafilter to catch, but not allowing the pump to build up so much pressure that the "pop" of breaking the seal is damaging to the machine. It allows me to get the gasket and shower screen off without damaging the gasket for easy cleaning. Any comments?

Yes. This falls under the ever-popular home barista category of solutions to problems that don't exist. If you are backflushing properly, there shouldn't be anything behind the screen to worry about. The only time the gasket needs to be removed is when you replace it, at which time damaging it is irrelevant.

Marshall wrote:Yes. This falls under the ever-popular home barista category of solutions to problems that don't exist. If you are backflushing properly, there shouldn't be anything behind the screen to worry about. The only time the gasket needs to be removed is when you replace it, at which time damaging it is irrelevant.

Yes, but it still can be a difficult manuever, so any tips on removing it when it needs to be replaced sure are appreciated!

rpirong wrote:Yes, but it still can be a difficult manuever, so any tips on removing it when it needs to be replaced sure are appreciated!

The worst, baked-in, dried out old gaskets can be removed by screwing in a self-tapping screw a few turns and grasping the screwhead with a pliers. I think I picked that trick up from Randy Glass. Fortunately, I only had to use it once. A skinny screwdriver head has worked well as a wedge with "fresher" gaskets.

Marshall wrote:The worst, baked-in, dried out old gaskets can be removed by screwing in a self-tapping screw a few turns and grasping the screwhead with a pliers. I think I picked that trick up from Randy Glass. Fortunately, I only had to use it once. A skinny screwdriver head has worked well as a wedge with "fresher" gaskets.

While I've used that method on a 2 year old Silvia gasket that ended up crumbling it was so shot, I just tried the above technique with my 8 month old Bric' (on ~16hr a day) Didn't completely "blow it out" but just took a wee bit of lightly prying on the side edge of the screen and dropped right out. Did it right after detergent back flushing and had been on many hours, no problem not getting scalded wise. Sweet tip IMO

Marshall wrote:Yes. This falls under the ever-popular home barista category of solutions to problems that don't exist. If you are backflushing properly, there shouldn't be anything behind the screen to worry about. The only time the gasket needs to be removed is when you replace it, at which time damaging it is irrelevant.

I thought so too until today and now disagree. See this thread http://www.home-barista.com/tips/cleaning-note-front-flushing-e61-dispersion-screen-t1847.html

miKe mcKoffee wrote:I thought so too until today and now disagree. See this thread http://www.home-barista.com/tips/cleaning-note-front-flushing-e61-dispersion-screen-t1847.html

And see my response. Jim is staying with me next week. If we have time, I'll pry off the screen, and one of us will beg forgiveness.

Marshall wrote:And see my response. Jim is staying with me next week. If we have time, I'll pry off the screen, and one of us will beg forgiveness.

Actually I agree the screen itself was quite clean. But the inside wall of the screen carrier had a bit of gunk build up. Not major and no long soak required, just brief Cafiza solution soak and barest toothbrush brushing all gone. But enough that'll I'll be routinely popping it off in a month or so to see how it's fairing. If ok then go two months next time... Besides I agree with Dan, can't keep the equipment too clean! I'd rather err and clean when it's not needed than not clean when it is needed.