The whole thing. It sounds like the valve is sticking. On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 10:04 AM, Howard Griffin <[email protected]> wrote:
> Just the solenoid? Or the valve too? > > On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 10:01 AM, herman dickens <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Sounds like you need to replace the solenoid. >> >> Herman >> >> On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 9:59 AM, Howard Griffin <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> I think I have made some progress. I examined the fill sensor and it >>> seemed clean so I left it alone. I then proceeded to test the fill valve >>> solenoid as outlined in Todd's WLL video (beginning at 18:08 here: >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIiLeRdVWAU). >>> >>> I disconnected the fill sensor and the pump and switched the power on >>> and off to see if the solenoid clicked the valve open and shut. >>> >>> I could not hear the solenoid clicking. >>> >>> I took the solenoid off the valve and measured the resistance across the >>> solenoid with an ohm meter, getting a reading of 369 (see photo). In his >>> video Todd got a reading of 400, and I don't know if my lower reading of >>> 369 indicates a problem. >>> >>> Before re-coupling the solenoid to the valve I rewired it and tested its >>> magnetism with a screwdriver, and it seemed to have plenty of magnetic >>> strength. >>> >>> I reattached the solenoid to the valve and, lo and behold, the valve >>> started clicking again when power was applied! Even though all I had done >>> was removed and reattached the solenoid to the valve. I put the machine >>> back together and it worked fine for the rest of the day. >>> >>> The next morning the problem was back: the pump would not stop running >>> after powering up the machine. I did manage to finally get the pump to stop >>> running after repeatedly turning the power on and off and raising and >>> lowering the brew lever between power cycles (about 15 times before the >>> pump went silent and the machine began to heat up). >>> >>> What does this suggest? To this noobie it seems like the fill valve may >>> be sticking. If it needs to be cleaned or replaced, how do I do that? I >>> can't find any instructional videos or guides for that. In his video, Todd >>> simply says that if, after verifying that the solenoid is good, you're not >>> getting water through the pump, then you have to take it apart and clean it >>> out or replace it. >>> >>> Thanks for your help. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Mon, May 15, 2017 at 10:49 AM, Ben McCafferty <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Yes, that's the ground. Usually you can just clean it but no harm in >>>> replacing. >>>> Best, >>>> bmc >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On May 15, 2017, at 07:46, Howard Griffin <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Yes that makes sense. Thank you for the thorough and thoughtful >>>> explanation. I am committed to figuring this out and fixing it myself. I >>>> assume that the "ground probe" is this part:<level probe.jpeg>. When I >>>> ordered the new vacuum valve I also ordered this part too, but didn't >>>> install it after the machine started working again. So I guess my next step >>>> is to install the new probe. I will let you know how that goes. >>>> >>>> On Mon, May 15, 2017 at 10:18 AM, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected] >>>> > wrote: >>>> >>>>> Sorry, one more thing. If all of that fails, and if I’m correct on the >>>>> solenoid being fired by relay, there is a chance the relay is the culprit, >>>>> which means replacing the giemme controller (this did happen on mine >>>>> also—both things failed eventually). I’d wait for someone else to chime in >>>>> with more knowledge than me (Todd, Ira, etc.) before purchasing the >>>>> giemme. >>>>> But, for reference, I think the giemme was about $75, the solenoid maybe >>>>> $100. So still very worthwhile repairs if the rest of the machine is doing >>>>> well. >>>>> best, >>>>> bmc >>>>> >>>>> On May 15, 2017, at 07:12, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hey Howard, >>>>> I think you’re mixing up a couple of causes/symptoms. Here’s what >>>>> happens (normally) when the machine comes on. >>>>> >>>>> --It senses whether the steam boiler is full via the ground probe that >>>>> sticks into the top of the boiler (and can be adjusted up or down, by the >>>>> way). >>>>> --If not, it opens the solenoid (via relay in the giemme controller, I >>>>> believe) and starts the pump, until the water in steam boiler reaches the >>>>> ground probe. >>>>> --It then stops the pump and the solenoid closes. >>>>> --The pump is now available to push pressure on demand through the >>>>> brew boiler, which only happens when the lever is lifted to its top >>>>> position. >>>>> --The steam boiler heats first, and when it’s close to pressure, the >>>>> vacuum breaker you cleaned closes and makes a seal to let pressure build. >>>>> --The brew boiler heats second, to a preset temperature. >>>>> >>>>> Now then, if you think about it, the vacuum breaker has nothing to do >>>>> with startup (it is not engaged until well after the problem you’re >>>>> having). So here’s what you check: >>>>> —Is the ground probe in the steam boiler connected and clean? >>>>> —If so, you would look to either a stuck solenoid or a failing/failed >>>>> pump. >>>>> —Since you are developing 10bar of pressure, and the pump won’t quit, >>>>> to me that says two things: >>>>> —First, your pump is working, i.e. developing pressure in the brew >>>>> boiler >>>>> —Second, the pump is trying to fill the steam boiler, and can’t >>>>> —Because of these two things, I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that the >>>>> solenoid is stuck, and so no water is reaching the >>>>> steam boiler, and so the solenoid never closes and shuts off the pump. >>>>> >>>>> Make sense? >>>>> >>>>> So, check the easy thing first (ground probe and wire, both ends), and >>>>> then move on to ordering a new solenoid and replacing it. >>>>> >>>>> Others may have additional thoughts, but I’ve been down this road and >>>>> it wasn’t this clear cut. The 10bar in the brew boiler is a dead giveaway, >>>>> in my opinion. >>>>> >>>>> Best of luck and keep us posted! >>>>> Ben/bmc >>>>> >>>>> On May 15, 2017, at 06:48, [email protected] wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I thought I had this problem solved after I took apart and cleaned the >>>>> vacuum relief valve. It worked fine for the past two week but now the >>>>> issue >>>>> has recurred. When I turned the machine on yesterday morning the pump >>>>> began >>>>> to run and the pressure went up to 10 bar. The pump would not stop running >>>>> and the pressure remained at 10 bar. I turned it off and tried starting it >>>>> again several times thoughout the day but the behavior was always the >>>>> same: >>>>> constantly buzzing pump and pressure at 10 bar. Eventually a high pitched >>>>> squeal developed along with the pump noise and I haven't turned it on >>>>> again >>>>> for fear of burning out the pump or causing other damage. >>>>> >>>>> Any ideas? I have a brand new vacuum relief valve that I will install >>>>> tonight. If that doesn't help I'm stuck. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> >>>>> Howard >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my iPad >>>>> >>>>> On Apr 26, 2017, at 14:59, Howard Griffin <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I have had my Brewtus III-V (vibration pump) for almost seven years. >>>>> Its usual behavior upon startup has been to buzz for a few seconds (5-10 >>>>> seconds) and then start to heat up. The buzzing usually terminates with a >>>>> very brief uptick in volume before stopping. A typographical >>>>> representation >>>>> might look like this: [click on] rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRR [noise stops machine >>>>> begins to heat up]. Sometimes there would be no buzzing at all upon >>>>> turning >>>>> it on and it would begin to heat up right away. This was its normal >>>>> behavior until recently. >>>>> >>>>> Now, when I turn it on the buzzing frequently goes on for a very long >>>>> time—up to three or four minutes before resolving in an uptick in volume, >>>>> like this: >>>>> >>>>> [click on] rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr >>>>> rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr >>>>> rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRR [noise stops machine begins >>>>> to heat up]. Sometimes it still starts up with no noise and begins to heat >>>>> up right away. >>>>> >>>>> Is something about to fail on the machine? What should I check? Any >>>>> advice would be appreciated. >>>>> >>>>> Howard >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Brewtus" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Brewtus" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
