HI, I bought a Mara X V3, makes great coffee but my machine makes a horrible "Squeaking" noise. it can happen at any time the pump kicks in but doesn't happen every time the pump kicks in, if you see what I mean. The squeaking is sometimes short, other times it squeaks for a whole shot. I have contacted the shop I bought it from and they basically told me that the machine needs to be run-in (Not their words but that's what they mean). Could anybody here help me diagnose this fault, please? I have video of the noise. Thanks

@"trendoid"#p33481 If you put the video on youtube as unlisted and just paste the link here, we can all see and listen to it. It's most likely "reeding" of the expansion valve…It may self resolve, if not sometimes a change in brew pressure of even + or - 1/4 of a bar can stop it. It's an adjustment that takes only a few minutes to do and can be done by a home user…the top simply needs to be removed to make the adjustment.

Hi Dave and thanks here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4v2HYpOqsI

that is annoying to say the least, hope you get it sorted, I have not had that problem with my Mara X

I was prepared for a high pitched noise but it sounds to me as some kind of vibrations, the machine can be getting in resonance at some point that might generate the noise. I personally would not call it squeaky. Have you opened the top cover to have a look whether something near the vibratory pump might be loose?

> @"trendoid"#p33481 Mara X V3 Do you mean V2?

I watched the video, if you could make one from the front it would be good. I specifically hoped to see the pressure gauge (brew pressure) with the noise when you made a shot. This is because I noticed it didn't make the noise until probably the brew pressure peaked, and then stopped making the noise before the shot was finished, when I assume the brew pressure started to drop due to the increased permeability of the coffee puck. I'm pretty sure it's noise from the expansion valve as I mentioned previously.

Hi Doram, You are right, it's V2. I'm new to this so thanks. I'm in Australia so I have a lot of cooking to do before the family arrives tomorrow. I'll get back to posting the day after your boxing day. Thanks again

@"DavecUK"#p33498 Hi Dave, I'll get that vid for you after Christmas. I'm in Australia, I've got a lot to do before tomorrow so I'll post again the day after your boxing day…..Thanks

@"John_Yossarian"#p33490 Hi John, thanks for your comment. My machine is only a six weeks old so I don't want to do anything to it that could void the warranty. Thanks though

Mara X V3

Rob666

gordy53 It’s a synonym for the ‘C’ word… hence not allowed.

DavecUK

I just loaded a premade bad word list, which is a PITA to edit, as you have to scroll through it to edit it and twat is near the end!

trendoid

MediumRoastSteam

Exactly, I feel that I’m just getting the “Runaround” from this this place. Being a complete novice I had to believe what they are saying. But no more. Thanks

trendoid

DavecUK

Hi Dave, Thanks for your reply. As I said, I’m in Australia, the place I bought it is “Alternative Brewing” in Brisbane Queensland. Now I know for sure I won’t void my warranty, I’ll do the adjustment. Thanks

trendoid

CoyoteOldMan

Hi Coyote, That’s how I’ve felt the whole time but not really knowing what I’m talking about I had to grin and bare it. Thanks

DavecUK

trendoid I think the retailer is being over cautious..perhaps they have dealt with someone before who hashed something simple up.

trendoid

DavecUK

G’day Dave, From ’89 to ’01 I built our house from the ground up. Concrete, frame, roofing, plumbing, gas fitting, in fact you name it I did it (Except the electrics, didn’t have a license for that one) . We have been hit by two cyclones and the remnants of cyclone Yahtze. Yahtze was the same strength as Tracy that leveled Darwin in ’74. Our house is still standing. I am now in my 70’s but I’m sure i can still turn a nut or two. Thanks for your help.

trendoid

DavecUK

Hi Dave, I’m sorry, I made a typo. I started building in ’89 and then finished in ’91, not ’01. I do have one other problem, if you don’t mind. I need to show you a couple of pictures. I see the “Add an image” button but what do I do next please? Just as a by the by. The reason I came to this site is because it was your video of the inside of the Mara that made me buy it….Thanks

trendoid

DavecUK

I hope when I post this you are able to see my pictures. The Lelit basket that came with my machine is removing the plating from the portafilter.

It means that I get stale coffee in my second and subsequent shots. Do you think I should ask to swap the portafilter, please? Thanks.

trendoid

DavecUK Hi, thanks for your advice about the noise I was getting. I reduced the pressure (9.0) no noise and a better taste and feel to my coffee. I just don’t understand why the shop didn’t tell me about it, or, actually do it for me, the machine has been in use for only 7-8 weeks. I have been so worried about it. They just said it will get better by itself, when actually, it did nothing but increase from 10% of the time to 95% of the time. I asked them how much is my machine now worth, with all the noise it’s making. They didn’t answer. That just increased my stress. I have a son, he is low function autistic non-verbal with life-threatening Epilepsy. He has a mental age of between 2-10 and can’t be left alone. I was his 24-7 carer for over 20 years. I was on a carers pension and the government don’t pay into Super. I’m on an old age pension now, I get $1027 (Au) a fortnight and I have no other income. It took me ages to save for this machine. Anyway mate, thanks. Just one last thing, the lever is making a metal-on-metal sound. It need greasing, how do I do that, please? Is there a clip? Fully understand if you’ve had enough of me tho’

Amberale

If you are in Brisvegas I hope you have your water sorted out.

trendoid

Amberale

All sorted, we haven’t been inundated, this year, like last. Down south and the far north is copping it this summer.

Amberale

trendoid
That’s good but I am referring to the water you are feeding your machine.
I spent 20 years living on Highgate Hill and the Brisbane water is barely a step better than Adelaide’s.
I presume you are doing something to protect your new machines innards.

John_Yossarian

You could not find a better place to share your issues (I would say not only for coffee, but coffee in particular).

Ironically, when I was refurbishing my first machine I was regular at Coffeesnobs.com.au and received tonnes of help with a machine that was very popular there.

Dave is the person who consult(ed?) Lelit on several of their machines, all turned out to be market success and if he says something, I never doubt it.

With your experience and resilience you will be fully capable of sorting it out on your own with all the help from this place.

Good luck!

PS My wife and I we love Australia, it is just a bit far and coming down under takes a bit of preparation and planning.😀

trendoid

Amberale

Oh, OK, yes I have that sorted too. The Mara comes with a filter that is good for 30 tanks but I have always used the Brita "Expert’. It’s good for limescale ect. Australia is a beaut place. I spent the 60’s in pomey land and what a great time and place that was. Thanks for your advice and your support

CoyoteOldMan

By far the easiest way to add an image to a post is to copy it to the browser clipboard and then paste it directly into the post.

If you click the “add image” button you then need to paste/write the URL of the image file between the brackets.

trendoid

CoyoteOldMan

Thanks for that. I’ll give it a go

John_Yossarian

trendoid As already said, this is something that is normal. I do not know how long between the shots you keep the porta filter but it should not matter if for a few minutes. If longer, I would flush the porta filter with water, problem solved. Best option (one that many of forum members practise) is to have naked aka bottomless porta filter and then this will never concerns you.

Doram

trendoid Do you think I should ask to swap the portafilter, please?

What size basket is it, and how much coffee do you dose in it?

Like others who replied, I use a bottomless PF. However, I did use the spouted PF for a while at the beginning; mine looks new because the basket didn’t go anywhere near touching the PF. I assume it’s quite a deep basket you are using, and wonder if you wouldn’t be better off using a slightly smaller one.

That said, mine is another vote for bottomless.

MediumRoastSteam

trendoid The Lelit basket that came with my machine is removing the plating from the portafilter.

Are you sure it’s the basket touching the bottom of the PF, rather than coffee eating the chrome away?

gordy53

mine looks like that as well it is 8 months old but I have not really bothered about it, is it normal?

DavecUK

gordy53 it’s all normal and why I generally use a bottomless….much cleaner.

trendoid

gordy53 Thanks for that, I feel reassured

trendoid

John_Yossarian I can understand BTless PF into a cup but I drink short black in a shot glass. I don’t know how that would work. I’ve looked on youtube and can’t find a clip of it. Thank for the advice

trendoid

Doram

It’s the Lelit basket 18-20g (I use 19.5) that came with the machine so I figured it would be OK. I am not sure about a BTless PF. I drink double-shot short black. I have this vision of coffee going everywhere. I’m probably wrong tho’

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