2016 Vesuvius

Horatiu

I am sorry that my acquaintance with a Vesuvius happens at the same time as Dave’s passing. I wish I would have known him and maybe shared a coffee or a story with him, travel easy Dave.

My Vesuvius seems to have made the rounds. I got it in New York from an artist with 2 Gicar 120 to 24 Transformers, a complete 120 Wiring loom and an extra Pump with the statement that the computer works but the Wiring is kaputt. I went ahead and directly rewired it after I opened it because there were some ripped wires on the inside, others were loose in the connectors so not really pretty. Yesterday night I got to the point at which I could fire it up and see what happens(spoiler…drumroll… Nothing). I have a green lit switch but absolutely nothing else. As I don’t have any proper tools in the US I ordered a Multimeter today to check continuity on the wires which I will probably do on the weekend evenings. I have a big ask from this forum now, I need some pictures of an open Vesuvius that is working, do they exist?

Thank you!

Horatiu

I got it started!!! The Multimeter arrived It showed me what I did wrong. Now to the issues: it started, it has some 11000 shots, leaking vacuum breaker, no good pump, bad temp sensor on the steam boiler.

Pump diagnosing, please help. I got another pump with the machine that is a different model and older than the one I have so no luck there. Should I buy magnet or an ebay pump? When it first started it filled the boiler, made pressure even flushed the group, second start I just hear an electric hum from the pump and get that “Filling timeout” message. Please suggest the best place to order parts in the US. Appreciate any help!

Thanks

Adrianmsmith

Horatiu

You need ro get a quote from ACS in Italy

They ship world wide.

I’m in the UK and have no issue receiving shipments from italy but we don’t have the trump factor you guys asked for!! (Brexit is bad enough)

Email Maria at

sales@mevsrl.net

…… Who are the manufacturers and distributors. I’m obviously not sure if anyone in the US keeps any stock.

Horatiu

Hey Adrian,

Thanks for the response. Happy New Year! As to the political factors I don’t even want to say anything after last week….

Over the last weeks I got the thing going and it pulled the first shot today!

I changed the steam boiler temp sensor, pump magnet and the vacuum breaker valve to the same I have in my Linea.

I see on the screen that I have max of 2.3 bar whatever I set in the profile.

To everyone: Any ideas? I have found some other posts but none with an answer.

Thank you

Adrianmsmith

Horatiu

Yes, sorry, i should leave politics to other forums, even in jest!!

Do you mean the most pressure you can achieve is 2.3 bars?

Any chance of a video?

The magnets were genuine for the pump?

Horatiu

I will jump to the funny part. I got an extra pump with the machine. What I didn’t realize in the beginning is that the pump in the machine was the replacement. After I wrote my messages to you I Googled the pump partnr…rest assured the wrong pump was inside the machine. Now, after another tare down and swapping pumps(incl new magnet) I get 6.8 bar.

I will take a video in the morning. To your question, yes, the magnet was genuine or so I assume (sold by Chris Coffee over here for about 100$)

John_Yossarian

Horatiu I have recently changed the magnet of my V (production of Feb 2020). It was gradually going down and I got the original magnet from ACS in Italy (I am in the UK as Adrian).
It is quite a hassle to replace the magnet especially the way I did it, not taking out the boiler. I had scars for a couple of weeks afterwards.

Is 6.8 bar the highest the pump can muster? I used to use the “lever” profile that would initially (after approx. 10 seconds pre-infusion at 2 bars) shoot to 11 bars. This was the benchmark for the new magnet.

The thermal probe of the service boiler, the old version was based on brass, that ACS have replaced with stainless steel ones. I had to replace mine as well, got it from ACS.

Welcome to the Forum, this is what you would have got had Dave had not passed away.

Adrianmsmith

John_Yossarian . I had scars for a couple of weeks afterwards.

Hahaha

Im sure we have all been there. 😁

Adrianmsmith

John_Yossarian Is 6.8 bar the highest the pump can muster? I used to use the “lever” profile that would initially (after approx. 10 seconds pre-infusion at 2 bars) shoot to 11 bars. This was the benchmark for the new magnet

Just for the record, I never had any issue with mine and the pump was more than capable of operating the opv!! Just saying to clarify, it’s definitely not a design fault

Horatiu

I went the different route because I had to rewire the machine I had it all apart one time already. What I did was to take all the panels down aside from the tank door, undo the brace/support for the transformer and then wiggle out the plate holding the Gicar “brain”. This gave me only 2 scars and plenty of room to wiggle out the pump.

I will try the method you mentioned John, I hope it works to some extent, on the other hand my Linea is set to 7 bar constantly and it works perfectly for the coffee that I use. I will also upload some video of it. I have tried to do the factory reset without success, no clue what I am doing wrong…

I am sad not to have met Dave but thank you for receiving me so warmly to the forum, I trust this is what the spirit of this place is all about. And…coffee.

John_Yossarian

Horatiu it is funny you mentioned 7 bars as in the last several months I have been brewing my coffees at 7.5 bars. I found a sweet spot and very much enjoy it.

Horatiu

I did a rotary swap on a Vibiemme Domobar once and since then, initially out of a mistake, always set my machines between 7-8 Bar. I just want to get the pump to work properly and be able to use the complete range to satisfy my inner technician but as it stands now the machine makes coffee and I am happy about that.

PS: Grinder still set up for the Marzocco hence the awkward shot, metall polish and E61 rebuild kit on the way!

Adrianmsmith

Horatiu

With that hugh flow it seems you need to grind finer.

You wont get pressure with very course grind setting and high flow.

Grind finer, which will slow down the flow and give pressure

This is not the old grind finer joke either!!

What pressure do you get with the blind basket

Horatiu

The 6.8 is with a blind basket. This was just the first shot as pulled with the grind settings I use with the Marzocco. Also, borrowed the Marzocco potrafilter and 20g basket

prezes

Can you double check what is the profile 2 you’re using set to? I know it sounds silly but worth checking if this is not the cause for not exceeding? (Sorry if has been covered already)

Horatiu

Hey prezes,

Thanks for the hint, checked with a bunch of settings now. What it teaches me is that I need a new grinder :))