Pressure drop quite quickly

AndyBev

LNE Cuadra pressure issues

Hi folks

My LNE cuadra (E61) has started to play up admittedly I have not used it for quite a while. The issue is when machine is up to temperature 1 bar the pressure drops back to .8bar and the pressure switch makes and pressure is restored so all is good but the machine cycles twice a minute now if I recall correctly this happens about once every 5 minutes on idle.

I have checked for leaks, anti vac valve okay, OPV okay all okay I cannot see any issues is it time for a E61 overhaul or am I missing something.

Thanks in advance

Andy

MediumRoastSteam

AndyBev - either there’s a leak or is losing heat. I had a La Pavoni where pstat cycled every 30 seconds or so. After speaking to others their pstats did not cycle that often.

are you sure it was every 5 minutes? Seems too infrequent if you ask me.

Edit> I just googled pstat cycle and look what I found…

https://www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/help-understanding-boiler-pressure-cycle-t25144.html#p294018

Maybe standard behaviour?

DavecUK

as @MediumRoastSteam says, probably a couple of times a minute or every 45 seconds is about right. If you are concerned, remove the case and check out the vacuum breaker and safety valve on the top of the boiler and have a quick look around the fittings…you will have to do this with the machine on and hot, so be careful….obviously, unplug it while removing the case.

AndyBev

DavecUK Hi tbh the drop is too fast and from memory never happened before like this ( but tbh my brain does leak) in comparison my 2 Fracinos I work with are very stable with a very low cycle rate when just idling.

As Mediumroaststeam suggested a small mirror is a very good idea for finding micro steam leaks

Time to play again I will let you know the result

Thanks for the reply everyone

MediumRoastSteam

Also, the tiniest of micro leaks not visible to the eye will contribute to a higher frequency on the pstat cycle. On one of my Pavonis, I was convinced the pstst cycle was too often. Found out steam was escaping from a joint, the only way to find was by putting a mirror near the area and then check for condensation. Very difficult to find. Check obvious places and good luck. But if you can’t find any culprits, I wouldn’t worry too much about it either.