Portafilter not locking in place anymore

September 8th, 2021, 12:10 pm

Hi

So I am having issues with my exbobar lever office espresso machine where the filter holder no longer locks properly now and if I don't hold it while making a coffee it can sometimes just fall out causing a mess.

At first I thought it was the filter holder so replaced it with a new one but even that had issues. This is the one i got https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/the-prof ... -grip.html

I then bought a new filter basket but no joy (https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/competit ... -gram.html ) and then finally I replaced the gasket for the first time a few days ago and that only made a marginal improvement.

Below are some pics

here is how far it can "lock"

https://i.ibb.co/CmwSqgQ/PXL-20210908-154656396.jpg

Here is how it looks when i take off the basket.
It locks more!

https://i.ibb.co/M8h18zt/PXL-20210908-154736933.jpg

My basket

https://i.ibb.co/SwJ5pdm/PXL-20210908-154827527.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/99RkNXf/PXL-20210908-154832795.jpg

My porto filter:

https://i.ibb.co/3dgRzF6/PXL-20210908-154558098.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/QbqVNnK/PXL-20210908-154610525.jpg

What it looks like from above:

https://i.ibb.co/9y8z3cp/PXL-20210908-154526104-MP.jpg

#2: Post by **JRising** » September 8th, 2021, 12:44 pm

Certainly a better fitting, new gasket would help.
If your most recent was a 9mm that made it sit at 5 O'clock, put in an 8.5mm (or an 8mm if that was an 8.5).

#3: Post by **Jeff** » September 8th, 2021, 12:48 pm

There are a couple different "ear" sizes and it's unusual to me that there would be enough wear for the PF handle (or bayonet of the group head) to be the issue.

Usually this is the sign of a warped or mis-seated gasket. In an E61, the OEM-style gaskets harden after a couple years. Many, including me, prefer the Cafelat, silicone gaskets.

#4: Post by **Nunas** » September 8th, 2021, 3:19 pm

Further to all the good advice you've received to go with a thinner gasket, go silicone...there's an even more basic problem that can cause this problem. Drop your filter screen and have a look at the gasket. Do you have it upside down? The chamfered edge goes up so that the flat edge mates with the rim of the PF basket.