I just pulled our Solis sl70 out of the basement, 5 years after we moved. It worked before being packed away.

I plugged it in and as soon as I activated the pump, it immediately tripped the GFI. I tried another circuit - same result. Sometimes it will trip the GFI as soon as I turn it on (i.e., just heating, not pumping).

I have not been able to find an equipment shop in the northern Colorado where we live that is willing to diagnose it, and I am somewhat handy, so I figure it is worth trying to fix it.

Since it did work before we put it in the box when we moved, I am wondering if it is possible that the pump is stuck (maybe lax descaling on our part).

I have the user manual, but it says nothing about disassembly. I saw the philips screw at the back of the top metal cover, and loosened that screw and the back edge comes up, but so far I have been able to work out how to get that cover off. Could someone give me any tips on taking the sl70 apart?

thanks for any pointers.

-Peter

My very first espresso machine was a Solis SL70. Loved that machine and have lots of fond memories. Easy to use, well built, and relatively inexpensive (at the time). My only mistake was never pairing it with a good enough grinder. Eventually gave it to my espresso loving brother in law and he used it for years.

I can't help you, but wish you luck and I hope you're able to fix it!

still looking for help.

I was able to get the covers off and although I first assumed it was a melted heater, when a friend helped me, it looks like while the pump makes noise, it doesn't seem to pump any water.
Does anyone have a source for that pump?
ULKA S.p.A ITALY Model E Type EP4 120V

thanks Peter

EP4 is a plastic-outlet E4-series pump, with is a bit different than the more common E5-series used in many other machines.

There is some information at http://www.ulka-ceme.co.uk/EP-4-.htm.

Double-check the model number and they should be available as spares from both coffee-parts vendors and perhaps at marketplace generalists, such as third-party sellers in Amazon. It is probably worth trying to re-prime the pump. If its coil shows any evidence of melting or flow, I'd replace it.

thanks so much for your helpful reply Jeff.

I have found several sources for the EP5 version.

The differences seem to be
EP4 1/1 min duty cycle 41w (mine has a date stamp of 22/04/05)
EP5 2/1 min duty cycle 52 w

I wonder if it is worth the $35 risk to see if the physical size of the EP5 version is close enough to swap?

Also I don't know how to check the coils - nor do I know how to re-prime (and google hasn't helped me out yet on that front).

Any further coaching would be appreciated.

thanks Peter

found this helpful thread
Rotary pump will not draw water after long storage

and so I trying taking the pump apart since I have now tested it outside the machine and it is not pull water (even when I raised the input reservior above the pump - so some positive pressure was in play).

Still wondering if I can swap in an EP5 pump...

thanks Peter

after taking out the plastic pump that slides inside the motor and messing around with it, I have it pumping water!

not sure if the flow rate will be enough to drive the boiler but I guess I'll try re-assembling the machine and see if it will pump descaler through.

Still willing to hear more coaching - and thanks for the ideas and encouragement so far.

thanks

-Peter