No video that I know of. If memory serves, I found it easier to remove the back right (steam) boiler, and proceed from there. It’s pretty much a “remove and replace” type of part, nothing too mysterious. Obviously disconnect power and water first, drain boilers, and be sure to support all tubing with a wrench when loosening, i.e. use two wrenches on each connection, or you’ll twist the copper and ruin it. To drain steam, have the machine near a sink, hang the back right foot into the sink, and crack loose the pipe on the bottom that goes to hot water wand. To drain brew boiler, take off the mushroom (giant nut on the group) and turn the machine upside down, and open the lever. Then remove the rest of the connections to the steam boiler and get it out of the way, etc. before proceeding with the solenoid.
Have a look, it’s not as bad as you’d think, but do take photos first and label what you can. It’s a good chance to look at the removed tubing as well and clean out sludge with a pipe cleaner if possible. Replace any blocked tubing. If any connections are hard to loosen, that’s just the sealant on the threads. Give it a sharp whack with your hand and it should come loose. During reassembly, be sure to seal any non-compression fittings with the sealant from WLL or teflon tape. I have used both successfully; I prefer the liquid but you have to work fast—it sets up in seconds. OK, take care and you can do it! bmc > On May 17, 2017, at 07:42, Howard Griffin <[email protected]> wrote: > > Thank you. Can you give me any advice on how to replace the whole assembly? > Is there a video? > > Sent from my iPhone > > On May 17, 2017, at 10:39, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > >> +1. When I originally said, “Replace the solenoid”, I meant the assembly—the >> magnet and the valve/piston come as a unit. Your disassembly and reassembly >> bought you a day, but I will still bet dollars to doughnuts that the >> solenoid is sticking and just found its old position after a day of use. >> Hard to explain what I’m trying to say, but it’s worn in a certain way and >> will probably work its way back to that and keep sticking, as you’ve seen. >> >> It would be normal/expected for the magnet to still work; it’s not the >> moving part. >> >> Best of luck. >> bmc >> >> >>> On May 17, 2017, at 07:01, herman dickens <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[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] >>> <mailto:[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 >>> <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] >>> <mailto:[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] >>> <mailto:[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] >>>> <mailto:[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] >>>>> <mailto:[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] >>>>>> <mailto:[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] >>>>>> <mailto:[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] >>>>>>> rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRR >>>>>>> [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] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus>. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>>>>> <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] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email 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and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus >>>> <https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus>. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>>> <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] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus >>> <https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus>. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. >>> >>> >>> -- 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<https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus>. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>> <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] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus >> <https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus>. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >> <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] > <mailto:[email protected]>. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > 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