The valve body pressurestat is hissing... why? - Page 2

Equipment doesn't work? Troubleshooting? If you're handy, members can help.
North (original poster)
Posts: 88
Joined: 14 years ago

#11: Post by North (original poster) »

Put it together today and as soon as the machine started building pressure it started to constantly come out from the top valve.

This is how I put it together:


Help appreciated.

North (original poster)
Posts: 88
Joined: 14 years ago

#12: Post by North (original poster) »

I might aswell descale while the machine is offline.

I peeked inside the boiler and it looks ok, there are some white "flakes" tho that I want out but I cant seem to get the heating-element out. I feel like turning the machine upside down and pour it out.

Can I just siphon out all the water and put CA or vinegar in the boiler and grouphead and let it sit for 24h ?



Here is a pic of the mushroom after about 5 years and never a descale:

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erics
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#13: Post by erics »

Does not the part I have indicated disassemble further?

Skål,

Eric S.
http://users.rcn.com/erics/
E-mail: erics at rcn dot com

North (original poster)
Posts: 88
Joined: 14 years ago

#14: Post by North (original poster) »

Hi.

No it cant be dissembled further.
Or, there is a small o-ring inside, but thats it. I have cleaned it and its housing.
Im gonna try and reassemble again i might have got the weak spring caught up somehow.


But about the cold descale. Can I just pour it into the boiler and grouphead and let it stay for some days?
And what is best to use - vinegar or Citric acid? (i got both today) And what is the proportions with water?

North (original poster)
Posts: 88
Joined: 14 years ago

#15: Post by North (original poster) »

Ok I got some pictures from another member that showed me a newer clear o-ring. Its located underneath the valve right at where the arrow is pointed in the picture above this post. It looked alot fuller then mine so I went on a hunt for a small o-ring. Basically there wasnt one anywhere so I had to order one from "The O-ring store" and I got some different ones but the one that fits was:

1 x 1.5mm X 2.5mm V75 Viton O-ring Black (V1.50X002.5) = $1.12

I could tell the difference instantly when blowing into the valve that I got a seal (before...it didnt seal and air leaked out when I blew into it)

So now the machine works again (woho) and it only hissed/spluttered abit at startup but after it became warm and got up to pressure it has been quiet. It also works like it should, have made some espresso today OMG I needed that!! :mrgreen:

But I have another question........how can I test the safety valve?

I have always been afraid of my machine blowing up and the latest incident in the coffee shop has just added fuel to that fire.
Now when I have taken it apart - cleaned - and reassembled I would like to know if it works like it should. The machine also didnt look so good inside as I thought so this also adds to the worry.

It seems to hold fine between 0.8 - 1.2 BAR for some hours now.

North (original poster)
Posts: 88
Joined: 14 years ago

#16: Post by North (original poster) »

Anyone?

Do I just screw on the pressurestat so that it comes over 1.8bar and see if the safety valve kicks in?

DJF
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#17: Post by DJF »

No. Just a little at a time and let the machine settle then go at it again until it's at operating pressure of around 1 bar or a little more. If your safety is at all suspect and you screw the stat right up your machine might go into orbit. :shock:

I regard p/stats, vacuum breakers and especially safety valves as consumables. They're cheap for peace of mind. If in any doubt at all get new ones and always use new washers.
"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I don't think so."

North (original poster)
Posts: 88
Joined: 14 years ago

#18: Post by North (original poster) »

Its not really suspect, my machine is holding at 1.2 bar as a max and the safety valve should kick in at 1.8, but as it have never reached 1.8 I don't know if it will work. I saw someone in a thread saying that one should test it from time to time.

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erics
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#19: Post by erics »

Do you have an espresso repair shop nearby? They MAY have the capability to test that ASSEMBLY and verify proper operation of all three components. As you may have seen from your own pics, that entire assembly is manufactured by MA-TER and, I believe, is only available as such according to the La Nuova parts book.



Testing the safety valve on a machine can lead to all sorts of problems and I would advise that you simply replace the entire assembly at this point.
Skål,

Eric S.
http://users.rcn.com/erics/
E-mail: erics at rcn dot com

North (original poster)
Posts: 88
Joined: 14 years ago

#20: Post by North (original poster) »

Why would I need to replace it, can you elaborate on how you think here?

All I did was clean it and replace an o-ring and it seems to be working now....better then ever.