Hey John, That’s a really good point about the PID, I noticed mine is slightly wonky with a bit of the LED light having burned out. I notice it gets very hot back there so it’s no wonder they need to be replaced after a period of time.
I’m actually located in Montreal (recent transplant from Toronto) and there seems to be a much stronger home espresso market in Montreal per capita compared to Ontario. I really notice the heavier Italian influence in Montreal. Lots of machines seem to be available if you keep an eye out. I found my B III on Kijiji and drove out to Quebec City to pick it up. The owner was asking $1300 but I asked a lot of questions, he took a liking to me, and was able to settle on $1100. You picked yours up including a grinder so $1800 doesn’t sound unfair assuming the grinder is pretty good. I was also lucky enough to find a Versalab M3 grinder locally- right after having dropped $1250 on a Rocket Fausto. The M3 is a 2014 model (it has none of the bugs of the earlier machines). I paid the full asking price of $1400 CAD (it came with original box, packing materials and manual- usually a sign of a great owner) and I felt like I overpaid at the time, but it was still a great value since a new M4 is $3200 USD. (I plan to do the M4 upgrade soon). Since then I’ve seen a few M3’s come up for sale and I don’t feel like I overpaid anymore. The M3 absolutely destroyed the Rocket Fausto I bought from Zcafe, and the zero retention is such a big plus because you never have day old grinds being pushed into your first shot of the day. It also makes it super easy to switch beans on the fly, which is a nice bonus. I ended up unloading the Rocket after a few months- it’s not a bad grinder but is nowhere near the Versalab in terms of grind quality. I was truly shocked at the difference the grinder made. Honestly I’m a Versalab fan partially because I’m also an audio geek, and the belt driven grinder design appeals to me partially because I also have a belt driven Rega turntable. 😂 On Mon, Mar 9, 2020 at 2:14 PM jt123 <[email protected]> wrote: > That was a pretty good deal IMO for the B-IV. and Tyrone's deal was > actually not bad either (unless machines go for a lot less in your city > compared to Montreal ;) > > I picked up a 2009 B-III for $1800CAD late last year, but it did come with > a pretty new grinder so it wasn't a *terrible* deal. Leading up to it > over the period of a month or two I was seeing used single boiler HX's with > a e61 listed for around $2000... once in a while you'd see a machine in > really bad shape for around 1k, but they go pretty fast. > > Of course this is also quite dependent on your specific location. It feels > like areas with larger espresso enthusiast communities in the US for > example tend to see better deals. > > Either way, for a used machine of uncertain condition that's around 5-10 > years old, it seems like a PID replacement (around $200ish) is almost > certain during this time - not sure if its due to the particular version of > the Gicar or something... its not a part that I expect to fail given what > it does but you see a lot of people are on their second one- (the one I got > had it replaced a few years prior). > > On Monday, 9 March 2020 13:43:17 UTC-4, Joseph Helminiak wrote: >> >> :( I wish I would have seen that >> >> -jjh >> >> Joseph (Joe) Helminiak >> (314) 556-4488 >> >> >> On Mon, Mar 9, 2020 at 12:03 PM tyrone edge <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hi Joseph, >>> >>> Looks like it sold recently, but it was hanging around unsold until very >>> recently. >>> >>> >>> https://www.home-barista.com/buysell/expobar-brewtus-iv-w-vibration-pump-t62062.html#p687927 >>> >>> It should at least give you an idea of going rate for a used Brewtus 4. >>> >>> Obviously you'd have to factor in a shipping fee if you're not local, >>> but at least it gives you a starting point. >>> >>> T >>> >>> On Mon, Mar 9, 2020 at 12:59 PM Joseph Helminiak <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >> T, >>>> I searched for (would you help) the used machine at >>>> https://www.home-barista.com/forums/search.php?keywords=Brewtus+&fid%5B0%5D=6 >>>> >>>> but could not find it. >>>> -jjh >>>> >>>> Joseph (Joe) Helminiak >>>> (314) 556-4488 >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Mar 9, 2020 at 11:48 AM tyrone edge <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>> For what it's worth, there's a 2012 Brewtus 4 that appears to have had >>>>> excellent maintenance that's going for $700 on H-B. >>>>> >>>>> A 2005 is a pretty old machine (unless you like working on them- in >>>>> which case that's different). Personally I wouldn't pay more than a few >>>>> hundred, but I am incredibly lazy and not mechanically inclined, so I'd >>>>> rather pay extra for a well maintained machine. >>>>> >>>>> I paid about $1100 CAD for my 2009 Brewtus 3 which has been really >>>>> well maintained. Maybe I overpaid slightly, but the owner was very >>>>> knowledgeable and took excellent care of the machine and I've had zero >>>>> problems except replacing the cheap Ulka pump. >>>>> >>>>> If the owner is not a knowledgeable coffee head, that can spell >>>>> trouble as someone already mentioned. I always feel it's better to overpay >>>>> slightly for a well maintained machine from someone who was careful with >>>>> their machine. >>>>> >>>>> Good luck and let us know how it turns out! >>>>> >>>>> T >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Mar 8, 2020 at 6:43 PM Joseph Helminiak <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>> Its a 2005 machine. I can fix about anything but at what point is it to >>>>>> much. >>>>>> >>>>>> I got a good deal on a machine in the past. "It barely used" well >>>>>> that turnned out to be "barely if EVER cleaned" Scaled and almost clogged >>>>>> grouphead >>>>>> >>>>>> Joseph (Joe) Helminiak >>>>>> (314) 556-4488 >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sun, Mar 8, 2020 at 5:36 PM Eric Christoffersen <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>> If you are methodical and have some 6 point wrenches the machines are >>>>>>> pretty easy to strip down. Take the boilers out and to a garage that >>>>>>> actually fixes things, maybe a suspension ship - bring some beer for >>>>>>> their >>>>>>> inconvenience. Wrap each boiler in a towel and clamp softly in a vice, >>>>>>> then >>>>>>> go at that hex fitting on the bottom with a big air tool and a tight >>>>>>> fitting impact socket. Mine were impossibly stuck and it took about 45 >>>>>>> seconds to get the elements free, and that included some dramatic smoke >>>>>>> as >>>>>>> they started to move. The removal took me about 30 minutes round trip >>>>>>> from >>>>>>> my house - it is super easy if you can get access to a big air wrench, >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> hammer motion is magic. Don't try to remove element using a giant >>>>>>> breaker >>>>>>> bar, that would be too much torque. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 2:37:50 PM UTC-7, Joseph Helminiak wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The Seller is going to ask "Joe Kolb" what she should sell it for. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> IMO from texting with her It will need a heating element and I >>>>>>>> would replace both of them as long as I was tearing it apart >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I really don't want to spend too much, if so I would just get a DE >>>>>>>> Machine. The backorder is 7 weeks on those now, SMH >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -jjh >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 2:51:12 PM UTC-5, Ira wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hello Joseph, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Sunday, March 8, 2020, 11:42:14 AM, you wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> > What is a fair price for a Brewtus? 2005 model, big orange power >>>>>>>>> > switch. Will trip a GFI breaker every time you plug it in. Will >>>>>>>>> not >>>>>>>>> > trip the circuit breaker if it's not on a GFI circuit. I'm >>>>>>>>> thinking >>>>>>>>> > one or more heating elements need to be replaced. However that >>>>>>>>> > requires almost a complete disassembly of the machine to take >>>>>>>>> out the whole boilers. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Depends if you can repair it yourself. I've not done it, but the >>>>>>>>> Brewtus is >>>>>>>>> pretty easy to work on and there is plenty of documentation about >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> pieces and how it works. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> In that case, I'd say $100-$300. I'd certainly pay that and repair >>>>>>>>> it >>>>>>>>> for amusement. But make sure it works first. if you need the >>>>>>>>> controller or thermostat, that changes things. If need be, plug it >>>>>>>>> into a non GFI outlet and test that it gets hot, makes steam, the >>>>>>>>> pump >>>>>>>>> pumps and refills the boiler. If it does all that, then it's worth >>>>>>>>> it. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> If it doesn't work or you need to take it to a repair shop, >>>>>>>>> probably >>>>>>>>> worth nothing unless you have a connection to a repair tech you >>>>>>>>> trust >>>>>>>>> to do it correctly at a fair price. The tech has probably never >>>>>>>>> seen a >>>>>>>>> Brewtus before so they need to be competent, in my experience, not >>>>>>>>> that easy to find. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- Ira >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in >>>>>>> the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/brewtus/Sy2LM4-Wp40/unsubscribe. >>>>>>> >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/f5f33d21-93fe-4169-af79-b7e8e593c00d%40googlegroups.com >>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/f5f33d21-93fe-4169-af79-b7e8e593c00d%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>> . >>>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> 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 view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/CAGs_PrPHyf4-N_1RA8L5HrD-Oyf65chPTNVE6SjiTF_e5QCEvw%40mail.gmail.com >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/CAGs_PrPHyf4-N_1RA8L5HrD-Oyf65chPTNVE6SjiTF_e5QCEvw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>>> Google Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/brewtus/Sy2LM4-Wp40/unsubscribe. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>> [email protected]. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/CAMg0VkHyK%3DqxVttoS2ipVZX%2BL1Q02MoXLEOvj%2BCQ8yyfKZrNxw%40mail.gmail.com >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/CAMg0VkHyK%3DqxVttoS2ipVZX%2BL1Q02MoXLEOvj%2BCQ8yyfKZrNxw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> 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 view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/CAGs_PrM5pmT1hsiHE2pzHq%2Bfz0yH3LtYgPvWk99gVQ2cSD%2B_5w%40mail.gmail.com >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/CAGs_PrM5pmT1hsiHE2pzHq%2Bfz0yH3LtYgPvWk99gVQ2cSD%2B_5w%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >>> 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 view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/CAMg0VkFKSruFuXecNGM2fGYdsGPzMkqeUKgzqwT84XM%3DyuCJGg%40mail.gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/CAMg0VkFKSruFuXecNGM2fGYdsGPzMkqeUKgzqwT84XM%3DyuCJGg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- > 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 view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/37a1e0a3-0cd6-4b25-acd7-0dc09dbda732%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/37a1e0a3-0cd6-4b25-acd7-0dc09dbda732%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. 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