Thanks for the reply Dave. The video was even demonstrating this With a minima…. Learned a lesson to come here first.
Anything specific to be looking for inside the case? There was a bit of water under the machine.
The General ACS Minima Thread
Update. Vibe pump started to work after cycling it for 10 second intervals. Now the tripping problem has been diagnosed to a leak somewhere. I know the leak is causing the issue, becusss I can dry out the machine then when I flip the machine on the pump runs for 10 seconds the water begins to run out of the front of the machine. Narrow it down to somewhere around the pump, but don’t want to go farther than taking off the cover. Extremely frustrating. I will email ACS for help as well.
Gtbarringer Have you undertaken this process with the side covers off, watching to see if you can spot the leak as soon as it starts?
Gtbarringer The leak can be from a number of sources….and would indicate different problems…all solvable. It’s also extremely important you take the top off the machine 4 screws and take some good photos.
Here are a list of possible problems, some solved in seconds. I’ll highlight the most likely ones.
- Connector has fallen off autofill probe during transit
- Split tube feeding pump
- loose connection after pump
- expansion valve tube split
- Loose connection on boiler
Thanks for the gents. I took another stab at it this morning and narrowed down the leak to under the vibe pump. Had to take off the Gicar controller to access. Any suggestions now? Can you rebuilt a vibe pump or tight some fittings?
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Gtbarringer OK, well the connectors in black on the left are right in front of anything I would like to see, which is the connector on the high piressure side of the vibe pump.
I would still….really like to see a photo of the top of the machine and one pulled back a bit of the sides, and back…if you can.
P.S. A pool of water under the pump area, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s come from the pump!
High pressure side of vibe pump
Gtbarringer I can’t see evidence of water anywhere else? In the photo I see a screw, bottom right, hopefully it is the Gicar mounting screw, or perhaps an extra, in any case fish it out.
I have never known a pump case split or leak…but I am wondering if it could be coming from the white push on connector? My conclusion is because, you said it was tripping out, which in the case of a leak like that, I can’t see anything that would trip it…unless it was spraying out. If it was coming from above, then sure..but I checked the other photos and I can’t see anything obvious above.
Yiou are of course dismantled to the point where a vibration pump change is relatively easy and the way you have stripped it down shows you will easily be able to do that change…it’s just I’ve never heard of such a problem….so have a look at that white connector on the right and for any evidence of water coming from above.
I’m not saying it’s impossible for a pump not to leak from the case….just in over 18 years I’ve never seen it.
If it definitely is the pump case itself leaking, this might well be a suitable drop in replacement…if ACS want to reimburse you the cost so you can get it sorted rapidly. Assuming you purchased direct from ACS. I chose the model with Brass end.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153421417850?hash=item23b8a10d7a:g:1UsAAOSw6qdhRPQB
Hi Dave thanks so much for the help. Spare screw was me taking off the pump. Update, I let all the connections dry out and reassembled with the vibration pump connector above the water line. Turn the machine on and it works now. Boilers are filled and coming up to temp with no issues. However there is still a small drip leak from inlet of vibration pump. So I guess this is once in 18 year(just my luck)? Haha Will see how ACS wants to resolve the solution but I can manage a drip for now.
@DavecUK - unrelated to the problem - but is that pump you suggest quieter than the original one?
Gtbarringer If it’s from the inlet…I wonder if that white push on cup is split, or if it’s just loose…pleased to hear it’s not from the pump body…I didn’t think it would be.
MediumRoastSteam unrelated to the problem - but is that pump you suggest quieter than the original one?
Nah that’s an Ulka pump, the Lelit pump will be very quiet…I still have that project to do on my Minima.
It’s why I asked Lelit to send me a couple, some time ago…I forgot to ask them to pop a pump in the parcel coming with the revised MaraX software…ah well. I suppose it goes at a premium because it was specially developed for lelit.
Snooze I’m curious if the right angled fitting that comes with the Lelit pump needs to be used in order to get the reduced noise?
No it doesn’t, the pump itself is different.
Bigsav First post on this forum too… glad to have found it. I am having the same thoughts. First time into buying a proper espresso machine after playing with a Rok and getting some good shots, but mainly drinking V60s at home as never thought I could make shots that I would want to drink on a home machine. I am very picky about what cafes I go to.
However now budget and kitchen allows and I think I can convince the wife to let me have space for a machine. 2 months ago I was looking at Sylvias and their mods and realised that if I am going to do this, it needs to be right, so moved up to look at the Lelit MaraX and now seem to be considering the Minima!
I drink 2 possibly 3 shots a day, probably only 1-2 will be with milk, and rarely guests that want coffee. The HX is probably fine, but I like the idea of the stability of the Minima. I know I will also like the flow profiling, but that kit can obviously go on both.
One problem I have is I am likely to have to put it in a corner against a left hand wall. Steaming with the MaraX would be difficult, so the Minima looks much better there, but would I have an issue with the portafilter? It looks from Dave’s videos that the handle extends past the left hand edge when putting it in?
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simonc It looks from Dave’s videos that the handle extends past the left hand edge when putting it in?
It’s an interesting point, I went and checked, and I think the machine would have to be 10 cm from the left wall to have clearance to lock the portafilter in.
Of course portafilters and groups are standard, so the real estate taken up by any machine will be almost the same… if the portafilter is to miss the wall.
Welcome to the forum.
DavecUK cheers. Very good point that I hadn’t considered, coming from a Rok where it locks in the other way. I might then need to consider the Mara and have it against the right wall which will take some more negotiation!
Wow, I hadn’t realised how deep it is vs the MaraX. The wall is only 33cm deep, so I guessing the group might be far enough forward for the handle to clear the wall.
Interestingly in the Show us your setup thread there are some which do appear to be agains the wall, maybe there is a little gap.