How to adjust the LaPavoni / Gaggia pressurestat

[prof_stack]

Can any wise soul here direct or guide me on how to get to the pressurestat on a Gaggia Factory / LaPavoni Prof?

Does the screw in the drip tray have to come out first? If so, what kind of bit is needed? Sure doesn't look like any torx bit I have. Is it a "star" type screw? Weird.

Or does the black base just pull out and down from the front lip?

I want to adjust the stat in my older Gaggia before putting it up for sale now that the new Factory is working as advertised. I've been told that the stat itself can be tricky to adjust and breakage is common among clutzes like me.

[zubinpatrick]

You can buy the bit that turns this or if you are crafty a good pair of small needle nose pliers will turn it (maybe).
The pressure stat has a blob of glue on it that you need to remove before you try to adjust it.

[prof_stack (original poster)]

Thanks, the needlenose pliers did the trick and the bottom came off nicely. Here is what I found:


The plastic turned with some resistance, being warned not to force it, I was.

I screwed it away from the brass part and tested the unit. The gauge now goes up almost to 1.0 and then falls back a little before doing it again in a short time. So it appears that I got it fixed up by myself without messing up!

That was easy.

[avinator]

My ring broke when tried to adjust...

I have no idea what kind of glue they used but it was tough to scrape off (it was in the back and I had no easy access to it). I had to rig up another ring - What a pain... Why do they glue these rings ?

[Heckie]

Pavoni glues them at the factory because they don't want people adjusting the pstat's. A word of caution, scraping the glue or picking it off, as pointed out will likely bust the wheel. There are several adjustable Pavoni pstat's around that don't have glue on them, Stefano's. Good luck happy brewing!

[avinator]

Thanks for the Stefano link... I might have to order soon.

Any chance I can just get the wheel ?

[uscfroadie]

No chance on just a wheel; you have to buy a new P-stat.

Curious as to why were you changing it? Was the setting from the factory way off?

[orphanespresso]

Ater the first one of these that I broke, which taught me how to more safely remove the adjustment plastic ring I was able to make a replacement by using a thin washer which was just a little bigger than the thread and grinding it to the right diameter with a dremel, cutting small notches in the outer edge as an adjustment grab and it worked fine. I was highly motivated to fix this at the time but it was a tedious little job...much better not to break it in the first place

[avinator]

No chance on just a wheel; you have to buy a new P-stat.

Curious as to why were you changing it? Was the setting from the factory way off?

The setting was off... It never reached 1 bar. It was more toward the middle at all times. I am now getting the pressure to about ~1 bar and I am getting excellent results in my shots. My rig made out of thin wire still stands - I guess I lucked out on the setting ( it took me 3 tries ).

[avinator]

Ater the first one of these that I broke, which taught me how to more safely remove the adjustment plastic ring I was able to make a replacement by using a thin washer which was just a little bigger than the thread and grinding it to the right diameter with a dremel, cutting small notches in the outer edge as an adjustment grab and it worked fine. I was highly motivated to fix this at the time but it was a tedious little job...much better not to break it in the first place

You may want to consider manufacturing replacement wheels if it's feasible. I'll bet there are plenty of people out there which are or will be in need of these little suckers... Put me on top of the list !