ACS Vesuvius Evo Leva

Admin

Adrianmsmith I hope it works out as the 18-11 is thicker, takes 3 hours to cure and I think a day or two to fully cure, more importantly it's low strength, which IMO keeps it more flexible.

Elcarajillo

Adrianmsmith Is it there to permit the spring to twist as it is compressed, without squeaking ? or is it to keep the piston centered ?

Admin

Elcarajillo Is it there to permit the spring to twist as it is compressed, without squeaking ? or is it to keep the piston centered ?

The flats machines into the spring is what prevents twisting under tension, and they LSM did it as part of the basic design. I presume the thin Teflon washer is there simply because as an engineer you want to prevent metal to metal contact and possibly take up any slight twisting motion to ensure no spring buckling.

You notice on the cheaper groups (bosco clones) e.g. the Londinium, the springs have no machined flats, so they do twist under compression, then untwist again. They, in the groups I have seen have no thin Teflon washer between the spring and the piston assembly, so any spring buckling caused by twisting is increased.

MacPhisto

Paolo and I have been discussing the issues. The thin flat teflon gasket is to prevent noise when the spring rotates on compression. It is not a critical element of the piston.

He suggested attempting to hand tighten the sensor. I was not able to tighten further though it's a pretty awkward reach. After I removed the gasket and reinstalled the piston, the same issues (leak, low pressure and "jerky" movement of handle persist.

Here is a new video of the leak which pretty clearly comes from under the sensor body.

https://youtube.com/shorts/tJ5Bcba2zt0

This pull is with a blind basket. Top pressure is just over 9 bars at this point.

Admin

MacPhisto get a mirror on a stick and see if it's coming from where the sensor screws into the fitting, or from the red body where it joins the main part.

MacPhisto

Admin

Thanks Dave. Already ordered a lighted inspection mirror a few days back. Should be here later today and I'll update.

Admin

MacPhisto Thanks Dave. Already ordered a lighted inspection mirror a few days back. Should be here later today and I’ll update.

One step ahead of me then. I realise ACS told you to tighten it, but I think evidencing to them/you where the leak is from is better. I can understand their commend about tightening it, because they use n o ring, so hand tightening is all that's required. They are Swiss sensors and very robust/reliable with a 30 bar burst pressure rating, I 've never heard of one failing before and they are very expensive….roughly 6 or 7 times the price of the MA-TER pressure sensors.

Adrianmsmith

Admin

From what i read on the spec sheet the initial and overall cure is pretty much the same time. Its still a thread seal product with slightly higher break torque , not a thread locker .

Happy to report the in place method of dismantling and rebuilding the valve without cosmetic damage was a success and does not involve any pressure on any chrome body parts.

Theres just enough foom with the 3/8 socket bar to complete the valve rotation without catching any chrome.

Thread cleaning took the longest time

Fingers crossed for s good seal 🤞🏼

rusty-pie

Hi, I need help from the brain trust again. Shortly after sorting out all my boiler leaks, one day my leva tripped the RCD as soon as the pump kicked in after start up. I've turned on the machine again with the side panels off and realised that there was a noticeable leak from the body (not the threads) of the valve which regulates the preinfusion pressure. The water was falling in proximity of the valve which controls the mains water supply (my machine it is not plumbed in). Is there any way to isolate the pressure regulator valve to check if the short is actually there or I need to replace the inlet valve as well? In other words, is there a way to bypass the valve so I can turn on the machine to see if the rcd still trips or not?

Also, is the pressure regulator valve a standard part which I can easily source in Australia or can I only get from ACS?

I'll try to attach photos

rusty-pie

MacPhisto

Admin

With an inspection mirror aimed under the sensor, it looks to me like water is only coming from the junction of the T where it attaches to the connection under the sensor. Certainly let me know if someone sees something different.

Apologies in advance for the shaky video. It will first focus on the image in the inspection mirror, then pan over to the sensor body for orientation, back to the mirror and last the analog pressure gauge.

https://youtube.com/shorts/YqCWnRWt5yo

The sensor is up against the polished panel so there is a double reflection at times.

Adrianmsmith

rusty-pie Also, is the pressure regulator valve a standard part which I can easily source in Australia or can I only get from ACS?

I’ll try to attach photos

If you scroll up to approx nov 2023 its mentioned a few times.

#103473

#103506

#103743

The difference in this part is a thread adaptor shown was required.

#103806

Was easy to source in uk but i have no dealings in aus . Send tom a pm via his yoytube he most likely would know who to use and is generally helpful.

Acs are generally quick to ship though.

Adrianmsmith

rusty-pie The water was falling in proximity of the valve which c

The water falls on to the back of the iec lead (mains in) which is what actually trips the rcd 🤭😎

rusty-pie

Adrianmsmith

The ac connector was dry. I think the short is somewhere else, and I would like to find out where before starting to buy parts randomly. Hence the question on how to turn the machine on bypassing the pressure valve

Cuprajake

@rusty-pie when i needed a pressure stat they were slightly different looking at the numbers, so i got one from acs in the end,

rusty-pie

Just to clarify, I mean how to electrically bypass the valve, physically I’ll plug the pipe.

Admin

rusty-pie It's a standard part, you can use either CEME, or MA-TER, just make sure the specs are the same or very similar and if u decide mater, ensure you wire it correctly.

Admin

rusty-pie you can't really.

rusty-pie

Admin

Let me clarify further. I don’t need to be able to brew, just to turn the machine on without connecting the valve.

The rcd trips as soon as the pump kicks in to fill the boilers as water leaks from the pressure valve, so if doesn’t happen when the valve is electrically disconnected and its pipe is plugged it will tell me there is no short anywhere else.

What happens if I plug the valve pipe and turn the machine on without re-connecting the valve wires? Will it give me a fault or will the machine not realise it’s disconnected if I don’t pull the lever?

Adrianmsmith

@rusty-pie

Original reply Deleted

as reading the comment below theres no point diagnosing further until the stat is changed as its known to be faulty. its a cheap quick job .

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