ACS Vesuvius Evo Leva
Yeah that’s not an easy fix
Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -
Well damn. I hope it can be resolved quickly.
As already said to this customer probably the one way valve between the pump and sensor fails due of probably impurity inside or defective one way valve. The pressure drops basically at zero it means that the water go back in the pump and than in the tank. I don’t think that the problem could be another.
Just an update for you all, it was an easy fix thanks to Paolo. I just flushed about a gallon of water or so at 6bar until the pump stopped running.
Hi @everyone: what are your temp settings please for group and boiler?
Hi @Paolo_Cortese I’m having two problems with my Evo1: When I turn it on, sometimes the group does not heat. If I turn it off at the switch for a few hours it works again. I get the same problem with the pump. It stops working, but when I switch off at the side-switch and switch back on again it starts to work
Glad to hear that it was an easy fix for you!
I’m having the exact same issue with my 4 month old Evo. I had a call with Paolo over the weekend, it didn’t resolve with a flush so I have a new valve on the way. I have worked on machines before, but not this one. It will be interesting to open it up and replace the valve!
BillyG I have worked on machines before, but not this one. It will be interesting to open it up and replace the valve!
Fortunately you can get to it all by unbolting the access panel underneath.
Hey, @BillyG , please post some pics of your repair as you do it :-)
Please……. 🤪 empty the water tank prior to resting it on its right side panel for the surgery. 🙃😊
Ade Smith. ACS Evo Leva v2. Kafatek Flat max 2, ssw 2024. Mazzer Philos, Craig Lyn HG-1 prime., WW key mk1.
Hello everyone! I did the repair earlier today. It was probably the easiest job inside an espresso machine that I’ve had to do (coming from an R24). The quality of the parts and internal design is excellent.
Per Paolo, I removed the top 4 screws and the top panel, then removed the two top and two bottom screws to remove the back panel. All of these are T15. Then I removed the weight plate with a Phillips. I was able to easily remove and replace the valve, it’s right at the rear of the machine after removing the weight plate. I turned it on with air still open, checked for leaks, pulled a shot after it was at temp. Delicious shot and the machine has no more pump stutter. Checked for leaks again, let it cools down and closed it up. Back in business! I did take a few pictures.
Great to hear you are back in business.
Build quality and components are excellent, just a bit unfortunate you had the issue.
Couple of years back i stripped my 2 week old Synchronika and , as you, id guess, wasnt happy at the time but was pleased with the quality and the fault was also a faulty seal.
Quality of the ACS in my opinion is actually better than the ECM , having worked on my vesuvius and Evo 1. Haven’t actually done much on the Evo 2 yet!!
Would be interesting if you find out what it was, bit of debris or maybe a faulty seal??
Ade Smith. ACS Evo Leva v2. Kafatek Flat max 2, ssw 2024. Mazzer Philos, Craig Lyn HG-1 prime., WW key mk1.
Thank you, it is a relief! Yes, I think it’s just a matter of time with all machines, they need to be maintained and sometimes things malfunction. It’s much easier to deal with issues with a quality machine and friendly support!
After troubleshooting and running vinegar through the machine without remedy, Paolo though it was just a faulty valve. Upon inspection, there is no obvious scale or obstruction.
BillyG Paolo though it was just a faulty valve. Upon inspection, there is no obvious scale or obstruction.
I can happen…with any component.
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So, I got to thinking (yes honest!) after reading various updates about the safety sleeve I thought It was time to have a look at fitting it
After comments saying the overall pressure available to the system was lower with the safety system i wondered what would happen if i doubled the area available to the inlet. Thinking id gain more flow and slight increase in pressure at the expense of increased speed or the lever should the impossible (😀 ) happen.
im going from a 0.785 square mm inlet to the sleeve to 1.57 square mm inlet but halving the damping effect of the safety system
so im hoping to see nearer 11 bar start and LESS chance of puck drilling but to retain some lever damping should it ever be required.
So at the risk of Dave banning me for life and Maria never answering an email ever again here goes….
First off in all seriousness- this is not approved or endorsed by ACS. This is purely my experiment . And a warning: do not try drilling this type of material with standard DIY kit as it is not safe to do so
So basically the mod is a second hole in the sleeve. 1mm hole and 2.5mm csk on the outside of the sleeve, presumably to spread the stream as it enters. Im not sure exactly what version the sleeve I have is and how it compares to what is currently being shipped. it is not the current design. the second hole is slightly closer to the centre. both holes are within the blank area or the shower screen. i drilled out a m6 copper washer to m8 and used it as a thin wall spacer below the shower screen to stop the shape deforming as i tightened the centre bolt ensuring the outer edge of the shower screen had no gap.
Will upload and link to a video showing me literally release the lever and let go. No its not a smooth as the real safety system, but believe me it very slow compared to letting the lever go with the standard sleeve fitted. I did do this once on the evo one whilst talking and not concentrating. The whole machine did jump and my wife was lets say, not happy with me!
Im writing this shortly after doing the job this afternoon and have made 1 actual shot - video to be uploaded. Nothing unpleasant to report anyway.
Its basically doing what i expected and i need to decide if there’s any advantage to the slightly lower shot start.
Another video shows me holding the purge lever with no portafilter. this shows clearly the effect of the restricted inlet as it purges on and off, hitting the 2.5 bars pre infusion set point. this does not happen with the standard sleeve fitted
One very nice thing is the actual shower pattern seen here , never seen it so defined previously.
Lever piston assembly removed. I find it easier to remove the sleeve with the outer head warmed up. Works a treat!!
Second hole drilled. Both holes are 1.0mm diameter
Standard and alternative piston end
Showing how it will be fitted
Tool used to change the piston end, alternatively an angle grinder soanner can be used. This one is made by Norvin.
Ready to insert looking forward to a few Moly Lattes over the next few days 😎
Literally shove up the lever with no puck in…..
Shower pattern seen when holding purge lever with modified sleeve fitted. Pre infusion set 2.5 bars
First shot …
Ade Smith. ACS Evo Leva v2. Kafatek Flat max 2, ssw 2024. Mazzer Philos, Craig Lyn HG-1 prime., WW key mk1.
- Edited
Much like @SebH posted I also have had the constant hissing from the steam boiler but mine comes and goes. Some days its very faint and other days it more pronounced. I have just been dealing with it because its not that annoying but I do want to get things fixed.
I am assuming if I tap the vacuum breaker pin and it changes the hissing noise then that is enough diagnosis to then go ahead and order o-rings? I am in the US so i’ll have to find a suitable replacement the link that Dave posted isn’t available here.
- Edited
Hissing -Yep…from memory it should be a AS 006 or 007. Best to measure yours. For some reason amazon link won’t show up so here is the product - ZDBB 382 PCS SAE FKM Viton O Ring Assortment Kit 30 Sizes Fluorocarbon Oring for Aviation Car Engines Cylinders Hydraulic Plumbing Various Industrial Chemical High Temperature and Oil Resistance 75A
Or you can go to chris coffee and buy a breaker, measure thread diameter and clearance. I like the tall one. https://www.chriscoffee.com/search?type=product&q=vacuum
Is it not worth attempting to disassemble and clean it out before ordering the o-rings? Or would I just be inviting issues if I don’t have the replacement on hand? Fwiw, I have reached out to Paolo so I am also in touch with ACS. Sometimes getting the community opinion is also helpful so I don’t have to take up more of his time : )
This is an easy operation. For me opening it up and re-assembly would be very simple. Vacuum breaker seal refurb/replacment is a maintenance operation for all machines….
Google is your friend - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=espresso+vacuum+breaker+o+ring+repair
Unfortunately I still did not manage to clean the v-breaker.
It sits so tight that I’m not able to remove it with a spanner or socket (even if I try to hold the section below the V/breaker with another spanner). The T piece also moves left and right so might also be that the thread locker that Dave mentioned now broke…
Trying to understand what the best move forward is. Is there an easy way to remove the whole piece from the boiler so that I can take a look at the single parts on my bench…) Have PTFE and thread locker at home.