Rocket Mozzafiato Stops Brewing
-
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 6 years ago
Hi first time posting here.
I've had a Rocket Mozzafiato for just over a year. In the last two weeks I've had an issue where the machine stops brewing. When I pull the lever to pull a shot of coffee, it starts as normal. After a few seconds the light will flash once, the pressure gauge goes to 0 and the machine stops pulling the shot.
It does this once every 2 or 3 shots and almost every time I activate the pump without pulling a shot.
I recently cleaned the group head.
Does anyone have an idea what could be going on?
Thank You.
I've had a Rocket Mozzafiato for just over a year. In the last two weeks I've had an issue where the machine stops brewing. When I pull the lever to pull a shot of coffee, it starts as normal. After a few seconds the light will flash once, the pressure gauge goes to 0 and the machine stops pulling the shot.
It does this once every 2 or 3 shots and almost every time I activate the pump without pulling a shot.
I recently cleaned the group head.
Does anyone have an idea what could be going on?
Thank You.
-
- Supporter ♡
- Posts: 3683
- Joined: 9 years ago
Since your machine is only a year old is it under warranty? If so, I'd not mess with anything beyond a loose wire or such. Assuming no warranty, and that you've already searched for and not found a loose wire in the pump circuit, my first guess would be the vibe pump. Usually they work or they don't; either the diode blows, or the coil. Since yours works sometimes then abruptly stops the first thing I'd suspect is a piece of crud in the pump. This could be remedied by dissolving or removing it.
As a first attempt let's assume it is soluble. I'd be sure the boiler was full and not ready to autofill (or simply short the probe to ground to be sure). Since your machine is an HX, you could then put some dilute vinegar or commercial cleaner in the reservoir and work the pump until it fires and draws the solution through the HX and out the group head. Then let it sit for a while and flush with clean water. If the crud is calcium or such this ought to fix things. However, if it is a grain of ground coffee or a bit of sand or dirt from the water line, it won't dissolve. So, you have to repair or replace the pump.
They are not expensive and most people just replace them. But, they are not hard to take apart and clean, unless you're not 'handy'. If it were me, I'd replace it then take the old one apart. The trick with these things is to take it apart and put it back together in the exact same order. Just like field cleaning a rifle, you should lay the parts out in order and oriented in the direction they came out. There is a tiny ball bearing that most neophytes loose; watch for it. If you do find a bit of crud, remove it and you'll have a spare pump.
BTW, these vibe pumps are a bit fragile, as they are intermittent duty devices. The max run time is 60-seconds and the duty cycle is 50/50. That is, they must be left off for at least as long as they are run. Be careful of this when flushing.
As a first attempt let's assume it is soluble. I'd be sure the boiler was full and not ready to autofill (or simply short the probe to ground to be sure). Since your machine is an HX, you could then put some dilute vinegar or commercial cleaner in the reservoir and work the pump until it fires and draws the solution through the HX and out the group head. Then let it sit for a while and flush with clean water. If the crud is calcium or such this ought to fix things. However, if it is a grain of ground coffee or a bit of sand or dirt from the water line, it won't dissolve. So, you have to repair or replace the pump.
They are not expensive and most people just replace them. But, they are not hard to take apart and clean, unless you're not 'handy'. If it were me, I'd replace it then take the old one apart. The trick with these things is to take it apart and put it back together in the exact same order. Just like field cleaning a rifle, you should lay the parts out in order and oriented in the direction they came out. There is a tiny ball bearing that most neophytes loose; watch for it. If you do find a bit of crud, remove it and you'll have a spare pump.
BTW, these vibe pumps are a bit fragile, as they are intermittent duty devices. The max run time is 60-seconds and the duty cycle is 50/50. That is, they must be left off for at least as long as they are run. Be careful of this when flushing.
-
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 6 years ago
Thanks for the reply Nunas!
I am waiting on tech support from where I bought it to let me know if it is still under warranty. I might end up just doing the work myself anyways since I bought it in Toronto and I'm from Montreal.
Changing the pump seems like the best option. But my Rocket is the Evoluzione R and it looks like it has a rotary pump.
Do you think it still ok to use the machine while this issue happens?
I am waiting on tech support from where I bought it to let me know if it is still under warranty. I might end up just doing the work myself anyways since I bought it in Toronto and I'm from Montreal.
Changing the pump seems like the best option. But my Rocket is the Evoluzione R and it looks like it has a rotary pump.
Do you think it still ok to use the machine while this issue happens?
-
- Supporter ♡
- Posts: 3683
- Joined: 9 years ago
A rotary pump! Sorry for wasting your time. I've no experience with them.
- erics
- Supporter ★
- Posts: 6302
- Joined: 19 years ago
You really need to post a video as simply changing the pump will likely not solve this problem.Changing the pump seems like the best option.
-
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 6 years ago
Here is a link to a video I took yesterday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc5M-lLT31M
Tech support from where I purchased it is telling me to lube the O-ring in the water tank and try to reseat it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc5M-lLT31M
Tech support from where I purchased it is telling me to lube the O-ring in the water tank and try to reseat it.
- erics
- Supporter ★
- Posts: 6302
- Joined: 19 years ago
The reservoir on all modern Rocket machines empties into what I have termed a "baby" cylindrical reservoir. Yes, you can lube the o-ring at the bottom of the main reservoir (a very light film of Dow 111) BUT that is NOT your problem.
There is a white wire attached to a male spade terminal on the baby reservoir. Make sure that both ends of this white wire are secure as the other end goes directly to the control box. You can (temporarily) ground this white wire and this should solve your problem.
Your E-61 group needs to be disassembled and inspected/lubed as it is a squeaking monster.
There is a white wire attached to a male spade terminal on the baby reservoir. Make sure that both ends of this white wire are secure as the other end goes directly to the control box. You can (temporarily) ground this white wire and this should solve your problem.
Your E-61 group needs to be disassembled and inspected/lubed as it is a squeaking monster.
-
- Posts: 358
- Joined: 8 years ago
Is it possible your machine just thinks it's out of water in the reservoir? Maybe something to do with the water sensor...
-
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 6 years ago
Thanks for the tips.
The store where I bought it thinks its the reservoir not sealing properly as the problem only started after I pulled the reservoir and cleaned it. I will try lubing that O-ring first and see if it helps. They also said I should put washers on the bottom screws where the base of the reservoir attaches to lift it a bit. Apparently it is a known issue with the first generation of this machine.
If this does not help I will check the white wire as you said. The E-61 squeaked since day one. I will disassemble and lube it. Any particular lube for this application?
The store where I bought it thinks its the reservoir not sealing properly as the problem only started after I pulled the reservoir and cleaned it. I will try lubing that O-ring first and see if it helps. They also said I should put washers on the bottom screws where the base of the reservoir attaches to lift it a bit. Apparently it is a known issue with the first generation of this machine.
If this does not help I will check the white wire as you said. The E-61 squeaked since day one. I will disassemble and lube it. Any particular lube for this application?
- erics
- Supporter ★
- Posts: 6302
- Joined: 19 years ago
Dow 111Any particular lube for this application?
Also put a thin film of grease on the brew lever where it contacts the "brew button".