Dear Nunas and rest of HB users,

I checked the 2-way solenoid valve and it seemed to be well closed in the off state. I was not able to really check the internals because I was not able to open the cylinder after dissembling the magnet, it was simply stuck too tight. So I decided to rule out the 2-way solenoid as culprit.

I then tried to overfill the boiler as mentioned in my earlier post. However, there did not seem to be a major leak in the HX since the water level of the water tank was not really changing when the brew pump was activated for a longer time with a blindfilter in the PF.

I then did further descaling of the HX to see if the former descaling maybe left so crystals stuck in the pipe. But that did not really change anything.

What I found out after flushing with water is that I got constant water without steam only after doing a cooling flush of 400ml!! (about 13-14 oz). I thought that the reason for that could either be a defective pressurestat leading to much too heigh temperatures in the boiler, or the suspected cracked HX which lets steam enter into the brew water line when there is vapor pressure in the boiler (pressure in the boiler should be mostly gone after doing a 400 ml cooling flush, I think).

Since I had installed a new pressurestat which should be preset to 1.1 bar, I ruled out the defective pressurestat and began to dissemble the machine completely including taking apart the boiler. However, I was not able to get the HX tube out of the boiler, the screws on the hoses on the top of the boiler where just too tight (the boiler already started bending as I was using too much force).

When I inspected the HX tube inside the boiler I could not see any hole or irregularities in the tube. Also the Heating element in the lower part of the boiler looks good.

Now, when I took apart the boiler the gasket between the two boiler halves fell in to a few pieces. And as fas as I can see online, there is no more replacement for it available.

So, I am now frustrated to the point, that I decided to not move forward with the machine although I have already invested around 250 USD in the used machine plus parts. It could well be that the newly ordered pressurestat is not working as it should. Or the hole that creates steam leakage into the brew line is not visible. But it would cost me a lot more time, money and motivation to find that out.

I will buy a new Bezzera BZ10 in the near future, hoping to get a serious update without technical problems.

Thanks a lot for the help!

congratulations on your findings.

Well, you certainly gave it the old college try; too bad it could not be fixed. It's a pity you're out the money spent. As for the time spent, I dare say it was time well spent, as you now must have acquired a really good working knowledge of the HX machine and troubleshooting techniques. I hope you enjoy your new machine and wish you many years of no problems with it.

Have you confirmed the OPV doesn't open until 9 bar? I'd be concerned about it being plumbed into the hot side of the water line. Depending on the seal material in the OPV, it may not hold up to the temperatures from the HX. If the OPV is toast, water would boil out of the HX through the OPV.

"Now, when I took apart the boiler the gasket between the two boiler halves fell in to a few pieces. And as fas as I can see online, there is no more replacement for it available."

If that is stopping you, it is not hard to make a gasket, and if that is a struggle, you can get the right material and have a plumber make the gasket for you.