Classic Coffee Gaggia Rework - Page 2

September 19th, 2017, 4:30 am

pizzaman383 wrote:Did you remove a screen from the group head before taking your last picture? If not, you are missing the dispersion block and the dispersion screen.

Yes I did, it was already too late when I took the picture

September 19th, 2017, 4:35 am

TheCappuccinoKid wrote:Just to confirm any differences between our Classics, that last photo shows what it pretty much looks like inside my silver standard edition Classic (circa 2001, around). You appear to have the alu. boiler, as mine has, so we're both fortunate for that. Not sure if the pumps are the same. Mine has an "Invensys" pump. Yours could be either Invensys or a 220v Ulka.

Mine is an Ulka EP5

September 19th, 2017, 4:42 am

Cleaning the group head and portafilter

I expected these parts to be full of coffee oils and residues

30' bath into hot water and Cafiza

After being thoroughly rinsed with fresh water and scrubbed with a brush, they're ready to brew again

September 19th, 2017, 9:01 am

Taking the boiler out

Before moving the boiler I wanted to make sure that all connections were marked/photographed, I don't want to come back next week and have no idea where to connect all the wires.

First, mark all the boiler connections

Thermostat 1

Fuse

Disconnect the OPV valve

Number the second thermostat's connections

And off it comes!

Detail of the solenoid valve and OPV

The chassis is quite rusty on the inside

September 19th, 2017, 12:56 pm

ricca509 wrote:Mine is an Ulka EP5

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Interesting, in that yours appears to be a 1995 machine, mine I believe is around 2001, but they used an Ulka Ep5 in the earlier model, not the later one. I'm guessing the Invensys is a better pump, as the EP5 is the cheapest of the Ulka's. (Shouldn't make too much of a difference though, as far as coffee production is concerned...).

September 20th, 2017, 6:17 pm

It is indeed a 1995 machine, to be exact the bottom says "09 95"

September 22nd, 2017, 11:30 am

Opened the boiler today, to be honest I expected it to be much worse. There's scale, but nothing crazy.
Will start with my dascaler/cafiza and see where I get.

September 22nd, 2017, 11:33 am

Cleaned the boiler and group head, and I've also received the Gaggia Classic (Pre - 2015) Service Kit

Will start putting it back together asap, test it for a while and then decide on the chassis color!

September 26th, 2017, 6:18 pm

I've eventually come round to change all gaskets and the two thermostats that came in with the service kit.
This is the boiler cleaned and back together

Also cleaned the solenoid and OPV

New pieces

In the meantime, I've also received the bottomless portafilter with 21g Basket and the Pre Modified Rancilio Silvia Steam Wand for Gaggia.

A comparison of the new and old steam wand

And here is the new wand installed

September 26th, 2017, 7:17 pm

You might want to consider lapping the bottom surface of the boiler top. The aluminum can pit and that is typically what causes leaks. The lapping can help make sure that you can see if there are any pits near where the gasket o-ring seats. If so, you can take off more material until it is clear for the seal.