Hey all, wasn’t sure where to put this, but I recently ordered the S Works magnetic funnel in my never ending quest to find a good magnetic funnel for my Evo Leva. I ordered the 54mm version but it didn’t quite fit unfortunately, and after speaking to Sheldon, he said he will be willing to custom make this funnel in the size to fit the IMS/stock baskets for the Evo Leva/Vostok/LSM etc. He wants to gauge interest in this though before custom making a few, so he has added it to the listing linked below, for people to sign up for stock notification email, to show him rough idea of interest.

I have tried a lot of funnels for my Evo Leva, and the Bravo one is great and comes the closest but is not magnetic and it sits inside the basket. I think Sheldon’s will come closest to the Decent funnel I had been using before for 58mm that did everything very well

Sheldon’s instructions are pasted below for showing your interest, I also attached some pics of the incorrect size one I ordered

’Yeah, just need to put in the email address here when selecting the 55mm size. It will only be for the tall size and in black and silver. All the other options are for the 58mm size.

https://sworksdesign.com/Seamless-Magnetic-Funnel-p432524031'



    pipedreams86 have tried a lot of funnels for my Evo Leva, and the Bravo one is great and comes the closest but is not magnetic and it sits inside the basket.

    Is it really a problem the Bravo funnel sits inside the basket, given it’s only a few millimetres deep? Never seem one, in the flesh, but it doesn’t look very deep at all. Also worth noting that, the tamped coffee on those LSM baskets sit a lot deeper than in their 58mm E61 counterparts, so the portion which sits inside the basket has no impact in the tamped coffee at all.

    Even on a 58mm basket I doubt a few mm matters inside the basket. I have one which sits inside and one which sits outside. There’s no difference in the process or final results, in my experience at least.

      MediumRoastSteam The ring doesn’t bother me, I haven’t seen a difference for me in extraction but I know other people had an issue with it. For me it’s the not having magnets. Not sure if I’m just clumsy but when I’m grinding and preparing the portafilter the funnels without magnets tend to jump around and let grounds out etc. So the main thing I want is the magnetic funnel and to be taller for when I do a larger dose like 20g

      Steam arm leak is fixed

      Many thanks to ACS, Dave and Jake, the leak inside the steam-arm side is fixed. The steam boiler is running since morning for an 1.5 hours. I have done a few steams and appears holding up well.

      Hissing sound
      I have seen the steam boiler coming up for a few seconds at a regular pace (may be every few mins) for a period of time. This lasts may be for a second or two.

      I am not sure if I noticed any hissing before. I do hear this now, which I think is steady and hence the loss of pressure and, the boiler coming up.

      The fittings (two outlets are very tight). I am thinking is it my tinnitus or is there a hissing sound? Not sure where the issue is. I took a tissue around the fittings. Don’t think it helped.

      Many thanks!

        LMSC - wouldn’t say it’s normal. And there’s a hissing sound which increases as the temperature inside the boiler increases (heating element cycles). Some steam is escaping somewhere. Try to out a dental mirror near fittings. Could be the vacuum breaker or pressure release valve. Check those.

          MediumRoastSteam Thanks mate!

          IIRC, it’s been there for a long time with the boiler firing up frequently. I was always thinking where the issue is. Good to hear it’s not my tinnitus! 😂

          I don’t use the steam boiler often and hence they never ran like today!

          I will grab one from Amazon and check them. Will come back when I check them out.

            LMSC - no worries. I once had a La Pavoni, and the boiler o-stet was cycling rather frequently.

            After a lot of investigation, i figured out I had to tighten a nut which was joining the steam assembly to the boiler. It was virtually impossible to detect it, but one has to start going on about pragmatically about where the issue may be.

            Good luck!

            LMSC To clarify some information and also get missing information:

            • What temperature is the steam boiler set to?
            • is the hissing periodic, each time it heats or not related?
            • does the hissing always corresponding to an increase to the temperature you have set?
            • The temperature of the steam boiler should really vary by very much when idle?

            The above will help me be clearer on exactly what’s happening.

            • LMSC replied to this.

              DavecUK What temperature is the steam boiler set to?
              is the hissing periodic, each time it heats or not related?
              does the hissing always corresponding to an increase to the temperature you have set?
              The temperature of the steam boiler should really vary by very much when idle?

              Thx Dave!

              • 130C; dropped it to 125 now.
              • Hissing is regular or constant - faint to elevated when the boiler heats up. It does start heating the boiler a few seconds after hissing.
              • I think the temp drops as it hisses. The boiler kicks-in, the hissing sound increases with it
              • I have seen it dropping mostly by 1C before the boiler kicks in taking the temp above the set point by 1C often.

              Hope it helps!

              Does it do it now you have dropped the temperature/pressure? What pressure in bar is written on the top of your safety valve?

              • LMSC replied to this.

                DavecUK you have dropped the temperature/pressure?

                Not sure! I will check and report please.

                DavecUK What pressure in bar is written on the top of your safety valve?

                2.5!

                Thx Dave.

                DavecUK It does hiss and the boiler fires up for a second when it goes down to 124.6-124.8. Thx

                  LMSC - you could check with a metal spoon, tissue paper or something if steam is coming out of the safety valve…

                    MediumRoastSteam I took a tissue around to see if it oscillates or gets a bit of dampness. Nothing looks obvious. As you said, checking them carefully is the key. The safety valve isn’t ideally located. I will check one by one using a dental mirror. Thx mate.

                    MediumRoastSteam @DavecUK

                    I think we have a culprit here!

                    Steam escaping from the bottom of the bolt as cracking noise of the escaping steam is audible. If correct, what’s the correct course of action please?

                    Thx

                    Edit :

                    The spoon was slightly damp around edges. Hope, it not my imagination! 😁

                    Thx MRS!

                      LMSC - Yes! If my eyes are not failing me, and I am not alucinating, you can see it bubbling up between 15-17s.

                      I shall leave it for Dave to comment, but, the procedure should be the usual:

                      • Let machine cool down and unplug the machine;
                      • Remove the fitting;
                      • A 5 or so turns of PTFE tape around the fitting;
                      • gently put the fitting back, only hand tight;
                      • using a spanner, gently tighten the fitting further, but do not over tighten it;
                      • Fire up the steam boiler, check for leaks.

                      This is on the MaraX… Same principle:

                        MediumRoastSteam That bubble is well spotted. I will follow the guidelines. I am assuming that I can straightaway remove the bottom bolt of the level probe and the top part with the metal comes along with it? I have disconnected the wire connecting that probe.

                        Many thanks mate.

                          LMSC That’s correct…remember if there is thread locker, don’t muller it off….use a spanner and rap the other end sharply with a larger spanner a number of times to break any thread lock.

                          • LMSC replied to this.

                            DavecUK Knowing them, thread locker (permanent) is more likely. :-) I will keep you guys posted. Thanks