Faema President - clogged grouphead

A haven dedicated to manual espresso machine aficionados.
TsurTriger
Posts: 38
Joined: 8 years ago

#1: Post by TsurTriger »

Hello,
I have President 1Grp head that seems to be clogged.
The machine arrived very fast to 0.9Bar pressure in the boiler (around 20 minutes) but when I pull down the lever, there is very poor stream of water into the group head.

My water stream:
For comparison, other President water stream (from other Home-Barista member):
Someone has any idea how to fix it?

User avatar
dominico
Team HB
Posts: 2007
Joined: 9 years ago

#2: Post by dominico »

It looks like you posted the same video twice.

My guess is that your inlet valve is set almost closed.

That nut hanging down behind the group covers a valve which allows you to adjust the flow. The valve is very finicky, only a half turn between fully closed and fully open.

Here is a video I made to demonstrate how the valve works: As you can see the far group has the nut still in place, with the near group I have removed it to be able to adjust the valve.
https://bit.ly/3N1bhPR
Il caffè è un piacere, se non è buono che piacere è?

User avatar
dominico
Team HB
Posts: 2007
Joined: 9 years ago

#3: Post by dominico »

I'll also state that if the cause of your flow is indeed simply that valve, then a slow inlet flow is not necessarily a bad thing. I set mine low on purpose as I feel it works better for light roasted coffee to have the chamber fill more slowly with water.
https://bit.ly/3N1bhPR
Il caffè è un piacere, se non è buono che piacere è?

TsurTriger (original poster)
Posts: 38
Joined: 8 years ago

#4: Post by TsurTriger (original poster) »

Opps, you're right. I tried to post your video as comparison.

OK, I will try it as soon as I'll be back at home. I hope you're right. I'll update you.

Thanks, again 8) , for your very helpful inputs.

User avatar
Paul_Pratt
Posts: 1467
Joined: 19 years ago

#5: Post by Paul_Pratt »

Yes I agree with Dominick, the flow valve may need to be opened a bit more. But the flow doesn't look too bad to me.

TsurTriger (original poster)
Posts: 38
Joined: 8 years ago

#6: Post by TsurTriger (original poster) »

dominico wrote:It looks like you posted the same video twice.

My guess is that your inlet valve is set almost closed.

That nut hanging down behind the group covers a valve which allows you to adjust the flow. The valve is very finicky, only a half turn between fully closed and fully open.

Here is a video I made to demonstrate how the valve works: As you can see the far group has the nut still in place, with the near group I have removed it to be able to adjust the valve.
WOW, you rocks ! 8)
Works great. Now I know better my lovely President mechanism.
That adjustable pre-infusion is genius.