Gasket every six is overkill, but the screen is a good idea. Once a year or 18 months is fine. You'll find it's still a bit pliable even then, and easy to remove. enjoy, b On Nov 8, 2010, at 9:39 AM, Chris Bailey wrote:
> Ok, cool, good tips. Ya, I've scheduled my calendar/todo list to replace > both the gasket and screen every 6 months now. Seems like an easy, > relatively cheap, bit of maintenance to keep things working great. > > On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 9:06 AM, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> wrote: > Glad it worked out. Your mileage may vary, but I find it significantly > easier to remove/replace with a hot machine than with a cold one. It may > have to do with pliability of the gasket, or perhaps the group expands and > loosens things up, not sure. Either way, if you do it regularly (twice a > year or so) it is a piece of cake. > > Regarding the new gasket--also significantly easier if you soak the gasket in > really hot water for a while, to soften it up a bit. Then, as you said, use > the PF to press it into place. > > best, > bmc > > > On Nov 7, 2010, at 7:50 PM, Chris Bailey wrote: > >> Thanks again everyone. Got the parts, popped the old gasket and shower >> screen out, put the new one in, and voila, leak fixed, and all good! And >> yes, the espresso is better now too with nice clean parts :) As it turned >> out, it was pretty easy to get the old gasket out. I did it with the >> machine off and cold, and it came out easily (I suspect it's actually harder >> with a hot machine since all those materials will expand with heat). >> >> This is probably obvious, but for the next person doing this the first >> time... putting the new gasket back in was a bit harder, until I realize >> you just have to get it in most of the way, then just use the PF to push it >> in the rest of the way. Easy. >> >> On Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 5:09 PM, Chris Bailey <[email protected]> wrote: >> Thank you to everyone who responded! Clearly I've been too lax on this >> stuff, hadn't realized I needed to change those parts (at all) :( I've had >> my machine close to 3 years now, so I'm obviously way overdue! I'll replace >> all that stuff. Thanks again for all the good advice, can't wait to fix it >> up! >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 1:56 PM, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> Hey Chris, >> I'd guess your gasket is bad. I change mine about once a year, and the >> shower screen twice a year. The gasket can be a bear to remove, especially >> an old/hard one. If you have the machine hot, it will be a little easier. >> I'd suggest you write off the shower screen, because then you can be more >> aggressive using the shower screen as a tool to remove the group gasket. A >> small screwdriver against the edge/lip of the screen makes a good pry point, >> and you gently pry downwards at lots of points around the screen, wiggling >> the screen back and forth until it and (hopefully) the gasket fall out. >> Another alternative is to use the corner of the screwdriver to dent into the >> side of the screen's cylinder as you pry, and get it out that way. Note the >> orientation of the gasket--it has a beveled edge that points upwards when >> properly installed. >> >> Cleaning the shower screen is nearly impossible. Getting the holes clean is >> easy, but there is a residual layer of oil/grind that gets trapped between >> the housing and the screen. Have a look at some old photos of mine that I >> posted about a while back. The best you can do is regularly backflush and >> soak in Cafiza, and toss it after a while. It costs less than a half a >> pound of coffee, and makes a big difference in taste. Here's a picture of a >> one-year-old screen that had been soaked in a strong Cafiza solution for an >> hour, and scrubbed vigorously on both sides: >> >> http://tinyurl.com/246thzp >> >> Here is a link to the gasket: >> >> http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/isomacparts/e61groupgasket >> >> Note that it comes in three thicknesses--8, 8.5, and 9mm. I think the stock >> one was 8.5, and if you use the Rancilio bottomless PF you use the 8. >> >> Here is the screen: >> >> http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/isomacparts/faemae61groupscreen >> >> Be sure to specify "e61" in the "color: select brand" drop down box. >> >> Hope some of that helps. >> >> tx, >> bmc >> >> On Oct 28, 2010, at 12:29 PM, Chris Bailey wrote: >> >>> Recently I've been getting a fair bit of water coming out the side/outside >>> of my PF. I have not changed my coffee, methods, etc. I suspect either I >>> need to do some intense cleaning, or maybe my PF is worn or something and >>> not getting a proper seal? To illustrate what I'm talking about, see the >>> annotated photo: >>> >>> http://skitch.com/chrisrbailey/d7axc/bii-leak >>> >>> Those red arrows are pointing to the water that's leaking out the side. >>> I've got the PF in there tight, so I don't think that's the issue (and >>> again, I haven't changed my methods, and this is a new thing that's >>> happening). The leak has gotten progressively worse. Initially it was >>> just a few drops of water, but in this photo it's quite extreme where it's >>> a full on stream. >>> >>> What would folks suggest? I've done the usual cleaning with the cleaning >>> powder and backflushing, and I've scrubbed around in the area where the PF >>> locks in (although I still seem some dirt/coffee sort of ground on there - >>> I need to figure out how to get in there with a tool and maybe cleaner >>> (recommendations?) so I can get that truly clean). So, before I got into >>> intense cleaning mode, figured I'd post and see if anyone else has >>> experienced this and what you did to solve it. Thanks. >>> >>> -- >>> Chris Bailey >>> [email protected] >>> @chrisrbailey >>> >>> -- >>> 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. >> >> >> -- >> 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. >> >> >> >> -- >> Chris Bailey >> [email protected] >> @chrisrbailey >> >> >> >> -- >> Chris Bailey >> [email protected] >> @chrisrbailey >> >> -- >> 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. > > > -- > 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. > > > > -- > Chris Bailey > [email protected] > @chrisrbailey > > -- > 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. -- 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.
