Hi, For the past month or so my Vesuvius has been mis behaving! Generally the first shot of the day but is happening more often now. Profile is 8 secs at 2 bar and 9 bar for the rest of the shot. The pump starts, and begins to whine, the pressure doesn’t really increase but the pump starts to race,like it’s ramping straight up to its highest speed/pressure, however,the pressure doesn’t rise. It will stay like this then - no pressure but pump sounding like it’s at max speed/pressure. Sometimes ive stopped the shot, waited a couple of seconds and it works then, but more frequently I’ve had to power down the machine by turning off the main power switch and then it mostly works. As it’s happening more frequently now I thought I better do something. It generally shoots up to 14/15 bar after waiting a couple of seconds when I try the next shot. Machine dates 03/2022. Video attached, any ideas appreciated https://youtube.com/shorts/HHviYRuVmJA?feature=shared

@"JahLaza"#p72597 The pumps really aren't keen to prime when they dry out. If the one way valve is defective, or got crud under the o ring seat etc.. it can push water back down the feed tubes and back into the tank.. Check the pump feed tube and hold it up when the machine is on…is water being pushed back through it, it may take a while so be patient? **If you descaled and then it started, this can be the cause**…if not then disassembling the valve and checking inside would be advisable. This will show a damaged o ring or dirt preventing it closing. The O ring can be replaced…but go to ACS for the O ring dimensions…or eyeball/measure it.

@"DavecUK"#p72605 thanks for that, I will start the checks tmoro when I get back. I have never descaled the machine as I have used Osmio zero water from the beginning

@"DavecUK"#p72605 Do you have any pics of the valve in question or tips on disassembly/reassembly? I will be checking it out in the afternoon, so if you have any of the above it will guide me

It's actually within the "masello di carico", best to ask ACS as they can take a photo of one and send it to you with an indication of valve location within the massello di carico…I might call it a water distributor.

99\.9999% sure the issue comes from where DaveUK says. I’m no longer a Vesuvius owner but used to have one during six years or so, I used it a lot. Minimum 6 to 8 espressos everyday. This seems to be a common issue with this machine as other mates reported exactly the same. That one way valve seems to be very sensitive regardless the water you are using. I used to put soft water, no more than 6ºF and about 70ppm. A friend using osmotic water corrected with bicarbonate had the same issue. Both of us used to descale the machine every 12-18 months or so. You can test this in a very easy way, no need to look for the feed tube. When you make the last espresso of the day, mark with a pen or a sticker the water level on the deposit. Next day, when machine has been hot an iddle, check the level again. If the level remains the same, the machine will work normally. If the level has increased, you will noticed the behaviour shown in your video. Good news is that doesn’t seem to be dangerous for the heating element, probably it remains covered with water. I can’t be sure of this but my heating element didn’t suffer any damage and this happened in my machine for years. It was such a nuisance. Bad news: that one way valve is veeeery difficult to take apart. It’s probably the only part of the machine which is glued. Apart from this: I descaled and clean the machine at a workshop suggested by acs (machine was clean and scale free anyway) and the whole brass piece, that masello di carico, was replaced with an acs spare. Despite this, the water still returned oddly from the boiler to the deposit. Good luck!

@"JahLaza"#p72759 deposit = tank.

@"JahLaza"#p72759 On the water tank.

@"MediumRoastSteam"#p72760 that’s it!

Vesuvius behaving a little erratic

JahLaza

tocateclas hi, thanks for that. I have been in contact with Paolo, trying some things at the moment awaiting to hear back. I will update when I have some resolution

JahLaza

tocateclas water level on the deposit

Where exactly do you mean to check this level?

MediumRoastSteam

JahLaza

deposit = tank.

tocateclas

JahLaza On the water tank.

tocateclas

MediumRoastSteam that’s it!

JahLaza

tocateclas so, I marked the feed pipe to the pump where an air bubble was and also the level of the deposit. I marked them last night after the last shot and observed this morning after it heated up. Neither moved at all. Paolo suspects the issue is with the pump which we’re looking at next

tocateclas

JahLaza But, do you have this “misbehaviour” with water level being ok? In my Vesuvius this occurred randomly, it could happen everyday or once a week or even once a month… If water level was ok, my Vesuvius worked ok (in this respect).

JahLaza

tocateclas yes it worked as it should this morning

tocateclas

JahLaza Keep checking water level, I’m quite sure it’s the same issue our Vesuvius had. If water level is ok, it will work fine as you have seen this morning. If you find water level has increased you will see how water comes from the group (do not put the portafilter to check this) at the exact moment water arrives to the mark you made the day before.

tocateclas

Hi there, have you found out where the issue comes from?

JahLaza

tocateclas A little embarrassing actually but I’ll tell the truth in case it helps someone on here!! Paolo noticed in my video that the lever was starting from the middle position and questioned it. I had been leaving the lever in the middle position when idle/not in use lately. Since leaving the lever straight/fully down when not in use the problem has gone. It has also got rid of the lever feeling stiff when ending a shot which I posted about on here some time ago. Ok, time get a new username on here after such a mistake😂 thanks to all for your suggestions anyway

MediumRoastSteam

JahLaza I had been leaving the lever in the middle position

So that I understand: you pulled a shot, lowered the lever all the way so the group can depressurise and empty, and then moved the lever to the middle position afterwards?

Now I re-watched the video I can see it. Eagle-eyed Paolo!

John_Yossarian

JahLaza Isn’t it great when sometimes things have their simple (however embarrassing they might seem :)) explanations? I personally do not find it embarrassing at all. The things I have done…. The last one happened one week ago and I had to buy one more stand for my mitre saw as when I exchanged the defective mitre saw with a new one, I sent it back with the handles that came with the stand.
No one is immune, the most important thing is that you loyal Vesuvius will keep on churning the best coffee you deserve :).

tocateclas

Glad to know no one way valve issue! Very good news. Nobody is free of mistakes. Thanks for sharing.

JahLaza

MediumRoastSteam yip that’s what I had been doing. Kudos to Paolo he is very helpful I spoke with him a couple of times on the phone

Meldrew

@JahLaza glad you have an answer for this. None of us are perfect. If I had a pound for every error I have made I would be a rich man lol. I have been leaving the leaver in the central position so it’s been a learning curve for me also.