MBdoc this seems strange, in all honesty. Is the gasket (seal) properly seated? try removing it, give it a good clean on the group and the seal, and see if that helps.

MBdoc On my other Elizabeth I have a similar VST basket and

To eliminate culprits, you could swap the brass dispersion plates (If I read correctly you have two Elizabeths?) and see if the problem gores away snd manifests itself on the other one.

      A good idea. Unfortunately they are in two different countries!

      Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum

      If only the IMS cart is stuck and not others, the problem is in the cart. I had the same problem with the IMS The Single h.19.5 basket, but I think it was because it was too low. So I just don’t use it…

      You might be right. I can’t remember if it happened with the VST basket or not.

      However if loosening the screw fixes the problem I won’t need to change anything else. Time will tell.

      Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum

      It your machine originally used ridged baskets it’s unlikely to hold a ridgeless well. An easy answer to getting ridged out if that was a problem is an extraction tool. Amazon,. few quid and 1st class post included

      An empty basket sticking, strange, I had some odd problems with an OE rubber seal on one machine but the problem wasn’t yours. Replaced with a part made by a company with the name of CafeLat or something like - carefully selected grade of silicone rubber.

      Coin test, IMS basket, I’ve found it’s not a good idea to assume that the capacity IMS state will be correct on all machines. To be pretty sure the basket isn’t overloaded I’d suggest no impression from a 5p coin but some would suggest a 1p.

      Thanks for the ideas.

      I changed to the ridgeless basket because with my favoured 19-20g load the puck was sticking badly as the tapered basket wouldn’t cope with this load. The ridgeless baskets have straight sides so hold the higher load easily with only a light impression of the strainer on the puck after the shot.

      The problem with sticking is only with basket empty never after a shot.

      I suppose it could be sticking onto the rubber gasket but I assumed it was the brass plate as there is a definite score mark on the inside of the basket at about the bottom of the brass disc level.

      I do clean the gasket after each shot with a ring brush so it shouldn’t get dirty enough to stick but next time I clean the portafilter, screen etc with detergent I will give the ring a good scrub with the so,Union as well.

      I will see how it goes with the centre screw just snug.

      Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum

      19 days later

      A short update.

      I am now back in France and using the VST 18G ridgeless basket. This one doesn’t stick and no mark on the inside of the basket has appeared. Maybe the IMS basket is very slightly smaller in ID so that it just binds on the brass disc. I might take the VST basket back with me and try it on the UK machine to check.

      Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum

      4 months later

      A, hopefully, final update on my experience with sticking baskets.
      An earlier idea was that the sticking was caused by the thick brass disc being slightly off centre and thus binding on one side of the basket. My solution was to leave the securing screw only just tight enough to snug the brass disc against the rubber O ring. This did seem to work initially but latterly I have been getting sticking again with my VST 18g basket.
      New thoughts are that maybe by leaving the brass disc looser it is sitting lower down and thus engages deeper into the basket and sticks as the basket narrows slightly towards the bottom.
      I have now tightened the centre screw much more so the O ring is compressed and hence the brass disc closer to the portafilter mount.
      So far it has worked.

      Lelit Elizabeth (2) , Eureka Oro Mignon Single Dose, Mignon Mk2 (converted to single dose), Aerolatte Mini grinders(2), cafetières, Bodum K1218 Vacuum