Resolved: Vibiemme Domobar PID - lost rotary pump pressure
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Espresso_Monkey
- Posts: 260
- Joined: 12 years ago
Hi folks
I've got a VBM DB which is about 5-6 years old.
I have an acute reduction of water pressure from the pump. Formerly pumping about 9 bar, it has now suddenly dropped to around 4-5 bar.
Some relevant info for diagnosis:
I've got a VBM DB which is about 5-6 years old.
I have an acute reduction of water pressure from the pump. Formerly pumping about 9 bar, it has now suddenly dropped to around 4-5 bar.
Some relevant info for diagnosis:
- The drop was quite acute, not gradual
- The pump has never been replaced, although I'm led to believe that the rotary pump is pretty bullet-proof
- I have tried adjusting the pump pressure using the adjustment screw at the back. This appears to make little or no difference
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JRising
- Team HB
- Posts: 3731
- Joined: 5 years ago
Does it sound the same?
Very often, strange behavior in a rotary pump follows a period of strange noise if the pump has been starved for water.
You say the pump's pressure is lower, but pumps don't really create pressure, they create flow. They are affected by pressure if their flow can't easily escape. Can you confirm that the water isn't escaping somewhere? ie. no flow through head, no flow through OPV? If it's passing the OPV at 4-5 Bar, the OPV is the problem. If it's flowing through your coffee and portafilter at 4-5 Bar, the grinder's the issue. If there is absolutely no flow escaping the closed system downstream from the pump, then you can narrow the problem down to a problem within the pump itself. Removing, examining and reinstalling the pump bypass relief may get it working again if it's simply held open by some hair that has made it into the system (seen it... Ick).
Very often, strange behavior in a rotary pump follows a period of strange noise if the pump has been starved for water.
You say the pump's pressure is lower, but pumps don't really create pressure, they create flow. They are affected by pressure if their flow can't easily escape. Can you confirm that the water isn't escaping somewhere? ie. no flow through head, no flow through OPV? If it's passing the OPV at 4-5 Bar, the OPV is the problem. If it's flowing through your coffee and portafilter at 4-5 Bar, the grinder's the issue. If there is absolutely no flow escaping the closed system downstream from the pump, then you can narrow the problem down to a problem within the pump itself. Removing, examining and reinstalling the pump bypass relief may get it working again if it's simply held open by some hair that has made it into the system (seen it... Ick).
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freo
- Posts: 14
- Joined: 5 years ago
OPV issue is definitely the most likely cause. My machine had a very similar problem where it would only get to 4bar. Replaced the OPV and it corrected the problem. Is there water/steam being discharged back into the reservoir? That would tell you straight away.
If the problem was with the backflow/check valve, then the pump would not be able to make any pressure at all and would just keep running.
If the problem was with the backflow/check valve, then the pump would not be able to make any pressure at all and would just keep running.
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stefano65
- Sponsor
- Posts: 1405
- Joined: 17 years ago
As suggested above the OPV will be the first component to test,
but depending on the version of domobar you have you might or might not be able to reach the output hose of the OPV,
if so or even not so but you can see it in the discharge drawer,
simulate a back flush
and adjust the by-pass screw (not the pump by-pass one)
screwing it in will increase the resistance of the spring,
if no changes before looking into other possibilities,
\open the OPV and check the closing gasket and the seat on the valve body.
but depending on the version of domobar you have you might or might not be able to reach the output hose of the OPV,
if so or even not so but you can see it in the discharge drawer,
simulate a back flush
and adjust the by-pass screw (not the pump by-pass one)
screwing it in will increase the resistance of the spring,
if no changes before looking into other possibilities,
\open the OPV and check the closing gasket and the seat on the valve body.
Stefano Cremonesi
Stefano's Espresso Care
Repairs & sales from Oregon.
Stefano's Espresso Care
Repairs & sales from Oregon.
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Randy G.
- Posts: 5340
- Joined: 17 years ago
As Stefano stated, the first place to look would have been the OPV.
- unscrew using he large sloted adjuster and remove.
- remove spring
- remove piston
Check O-ring for damage and cracking. Look for signs of wear, corrosion, scale, and foreign matter on the piston as well as in the bore.
- unscrew using he large sloted adjuster and remove.
- remove spring
- remove piston
Check O-ring for damage and cracking. Look for signs of wear, corrosion, scale, and foreign matter on the piston as well as in the bore.
EspressoMyEspresso.com - 2000-2023 - a good run, its time is done
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Espresso_Monkey (original poster)
- Posts: 260
- Joined: 12 years ago
Guys, thanks so much for the good advice. I knew I came to the right place 
Will try to look into this over the weekend.
Will try to look into this over the weekend.
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Espresso_Monkey (original poster)
- Posts: 260
- Joined: 12 years ago
A quick update:
Indeed, it was the OPV.
I opened the OPV and it was scaled up (despite a recent descaling...).
After cleaning it up, I readjusted the pump pressure and OPV pressure with a blind filter.
All running smoothly now...
Indeed, it was the OPV.
I opened the OPV and it was scaled up (despite a recent descaling...).
After cleaning it up, I readjusted the pump pressure and OPV pressure with a blind filter.
All running smoothly now...
