I was hoping somebody else would respond, but here in Boston (my location this week) it's Saturday morning ... the official Brewtus cleaning time; so I guess we had better get you started.
0. Go look at the pictures of parts (the manual or Ben's little URL ( http://tinyurl.com/5xkgua ) Notice that the screen look like a skinny filter basket with fat holes 1. Start with a cold machine (hot just makes the parts tighter and harder to hold). 2. Get some tools and a pencil and paper for notes to yourself. (A stiff narrow butter knife with metal that will not quickly bend ... or something comparable, a screwdriver or pry bar is an acceptable alternative. I've even used the handle of a soup spoon and other odds-and-ends that were at hand.) 3. Stand in front of the machine, curl your right palm up into a half fist and put your forefinger up into the underside of the group-head at about 5:00 as you look down at the top. You will feel the groove that the PF fits into and the "notch that is "extra" open so that you can fit the PF lugs into the grooves. This is where you will start trying to pry down the gasket and basket together. But first, just feel the quarter inch thick stiff black rubber gasket that comes down the outside of the silver metal skinny filter basket shaped thingy. You are not trying to take the rubber off the silver basket ... you are trying to pull the basket part so it slides down the group head projection that you can see clearly in the picture labeled "pre-flush" http://tinyurl.com/5xkgua) ... it's just held in place around the group head projection by friction (and a tight fit.) It is going to be very tight the first four or five times you do this exercise, but it does get easier (and the longer you go between cleanings, the harder it is to slide the basket off.) It doesn't need to be very tight because it is held in place by the PF when you are pulling a shot. 4. Insert your pry object into the gap at about a 30 degree angle so it will reach up and grab into the top of the rubber. (There is a little ridge in the metal around the bottom of the skinny filter basket thingy that you can see, you can also use this to pry on if you get REAL frustrated trying to get a good grip on the top of the gasket, but you are probably going to scratch it up; so try to go with the more difficult rubber gasket approach for a while first..) (At this time, you will probably vow to get a little pry bar with a tip bent at about 30 degrees the next time you are at Sears or Home Despot.) (5. Pause and reassure yourself that you can always order another shower screen and gasket if you screw up and you can usually even use your machine while waiting for the new parts.) 6. Get gasket basket unit to slide down about a half millimeter. Then go to the opposite side of the group head and repeat the process through the other lug gap to get an equal amount down. (Notice that it is harder to work back there.) Then go back to the first position and get another millimeter advance ... and repeat the pattern about three times. By then, if you reach up with fingers and grab the whole unit, it will feel "wobbly" and you can just pull it down. 7. After pulling it off, set it down with the screen side down on the counter. Put the forefinger and thumb of both hands on the rubber gasket and push it down to the counter so it separates from the basket. CAREFULLY NOTE THAT ONE EDGE IS SLIGHTLY ROUNDED ... Write down whether that edge is up near the group-head or down near the drip tray. 8. After cleaning things up as much as you feel like this first time, slip the gasket back on the basket and, holding the gasket, slip the unit back up into place firmly ... but do not expect it to go all the way. Next, get a PF and use this to push the basket up further until you can get the lugs in place. Then tighten the PF and it will drive the Screen back into the proper snug fit. 9. Walk around the house for a few minutes feeling that you are one hot dude! 10. Put your tools away. I can't remember if the rubber ever slid down off the basket while I was first doing this, but if it does, just use the metal ridge to pull the basket down and review point 5 above. ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Jacobs" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Can you offer really remedia instructions on this? I just can't figure > out the first step to remove the gasket. But i know my screen is > gunky! --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
