That's what I was thinking. How do I replace the whole thing? I'm new to Brewtus repairing, but I have found Todd's videos very helpful. Unfortunately there's not one on how to replace the solenoid/fill valve.
On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 10:04 AM, herman dickens <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. > -- 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.
