Hi all, and thanks for having me! Glad to part of the community, hello from sunny Perth, Western Australia! :) I've just acquired a 2.5 year old ACS Vesuvius which I'm absolutely delighted about. My first proper dive into the rabbit hole, coming from a Nespresso machine and a Rocket Giotto! Could I trouble the gurus here for some advice on general maintenance and servicing on the Vesuvius? The manual mentions an "annual service" but doesn't go into much detail on what's actually needed? I'm quite confident in doing the basics myself; i.e. gasket change and general clean-up / once-over. Being a bit of an obscure unit particularly here in Western Australia, servicing could be a potential headache down the track but by all records, the machine is built like a tank. Thanks in advance for your help!

@"paiyan"#p7108 Welcome to the forum! We have a lot of members from down under. Am sure, they will connect with you. We also have a community of very happy Vesuvius users, who will happily help you with your queries, besides our own Dave. @"John_Yossarian"#63 is one very happy user.

> @"paiyan"#p7108 Could I trouble the gurus here for some advice on general maintenance and servicing on the Vesuvius? The manual mentions an “annual service” but doesn’t go into much detail on what’s actually needed? I’m quite confident in doing the basics myself; i.e. gasket change and general clean-up / once-over. The main thing to do with that, or any machine…. * Occasionally (every month) when cold feel under the machine, the metal above and visually look at the counter, is there any water or are your fingers wet * Repeat above when warmed up * every 6 months remove just the top panel, when cold, look inside (visual inspect..take a good quality photo and compare it with photo from 6 months ago etc..). Warm machine up, look and listen. * Annually, remove case, use torch, look everywhere, inspect everything, take 3 photos at various angles, inspect bottom plate for signs of leaking and all fittings. * After inspection clean interior gently, but thoroughly, it's easier to see faults on a clean machines That's all you have to do, any faults, post the photos, a description, get advice, replace components if required. If you catch a fault early, it's much cheaper and easier to fix. **Always use good water.** *If at any time you notice odd behaviour…don't ignore it*

Thanks DaveC for the sound advice. Duly noted and very practical! Will be following this to a tee for sure. Are there any parts / consumables that would be generally be replaced annually; i.e. seals / o-rings? I'll be swapping the gasket out for an 8mm silicone one shortly once it arrives in the post. Thanks again for the reply!

@"paiyan"#p7175 Really just the group gasket, everything else is on an as needed basis… Oh and don't forget to lubricate the E61 group and lever steam seals, every time you backflush with cleaner. There are links and videos of how to do that…in this way your group internals will last a very long time.

@"LMSC"#p7122 Welcome to the forum! There is no better place where to get help and advice than this forum. I have nothing to add after you have got the best information/advice from @"DavecUK"#1 but I will second @"LMSC"#16 that this is a great machine as you have already realised. Australia is a coffee heaven if I can use this and I do not think I exaggerate. Enjoy your coffee and share the joy 🙂

@"DavecUK"#p7198 Gotcha :) have already read your info and seen the video on how to do that as well. Time to go buy some Molykote 111! Cheers again!

@"John_Yossarian"#p7217 Thanks mate - looking forward to sharing updates on my journey with the machine! If it's not too much trouble, would you have any recommended profiles that you could share by any chance? Also, I'm struggling to wrap my head around Eco mode and what the differences are between the two steam boiler symbols in the Eco menu and what they do? I'm not planning on using Eco mode or the built in timer - have the machine running off a wifi plug. I'm hoping that powering the unit off directly from the plug won't cause any dramas; no shutdown procedure needed? Your advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks :)

@"paiyan"#p7298 I got a Vesuvius in November, done some playing with profiles but not scientifically enough to have arrived at any meaningful conclusions. I'm keeping it simple at the moment - long pre infusion of 12 secs at 2 bar then ramp straight to 9 bar. I'm currently using a large IMS basket - 20g in and pull about 50g in 37 seconds including the pre infusion time. I'm not saying this is the best way - been doing this for the last couple of weeks with Rwanda - Gitega 576 from Coffee & Canvas. It's been very enjoyable. The Eco modes can be difficult to get your head around and difficult to explain so I'm not going to try, but if you are like me you'll quickly figure it out when it's in front of you. I don't use the timers to turn the machine on but I do use the Eco steam function to reduce the steam boiler right down to 67 degrees 5 minutes after it's been used - it heats back up really quickly. And I have the whole machine turn off if not used for an hour - I find that if I want another coffee within an hour of it having turned itself off it is back up to temp in a few minutes. I had been going to use smart plugs but have decided against it for a few reasons - my erratic schedule, how quickly it heats up anyway and powering off at the wall will cause the back battery to run down more quickly. This is no big deal really - if you prefer having the machine being completely powered off between uses it will work just fine on the smart plug.

@"Gagaryn"#p7306 Hey mate, thanks for the response! I'll probably have to give it a proper play around with to understand what's going on in Eco mode. The bit that's messing with my head is the "Steam boiler on/off" bit and the "Eco Steam mode" buttons. Does the "Steam boiler on/off" button only highlight itself when the boiler is on? Turning this option on/off doesn't do anything? Or does this in combination with "Eco Steam mode" enables Eco mode for just the steam boiler and leaves the brew boiler to its usual devices? I did have reservations powering it off at the wall (coming from a PC background) that lack of a power-down procedure is generally bad for electronics however maybe I'm overcomplicating things! I was also wondering if the back battery would be an issue over time. Unfortunately with my work schedule (6AM starts), I only tend to use the machine on weekends and at somewhat irregular times as well. The smart plug does let me change my intended start times on the fly off my phone which is convenient, hence the preference! Thanks again for the feedback mate, appreciated. I'll be giving your profile suggestion a shot as well (pardon the pun).

@"paiyan"#p7298 Initially I used one of the profiles the machine came with, 2nd or 3rd. Several seconds PI and then pretty much standard 9 bars till the end. After a while I started using the 1st profile that is mimicking the pressure variation and timings of a lever machine, 10 secs PI at 2 bars, then in a few second it gets to 11 bars, stays there for 6-7 seconds, then drops to 9 bars for another 5-6 second, and in a similar fashion goes to 2 bars in the end. For 18 g in the original basket I get around 40 mls in 40-ish seconds inclusive of PI. I do remember using this for the 1st time, my wife came back (we both have doubles in the morning) and asked me what I had done as the coffee had been very sweet. Then I knew something was good and I have never changed it since. With regard to powering the machine in the morning, I use a bit peculiar system. I have got the V set to start at 05:35 with the smartplug starting at 5:30 am, i.e. it stays on standby for 5 minutes. The same happens when I switch it off, the machine will go in standby mode at 6:25 am and the smart plug will switch it off at 6:30 am. For some reason I believe that this way the system is better protected against spikes upon switching the heating element on but this might be a fiction of mine. Anyhow, I hope you find your sweet spot in the process. Cheers!

ACS Vesuvius - Annual service / maintenance

DavecUK

JahLaza For the service boiler, you can use the hot tap, for the brew boiler loosen the heating element, remove a fitting, or check for a drain plug.

JahLaza

@DavecUK Thank you. It’s just arrived on this land at the local DHL.. Rather excited!!! Surprisingly early/quick too🎶

DavecUK

JahLaza Thank you. It’s just arrived on this land at the local DHL.. Rather excited!!! Surprisingly early/quick too🎶

Paolo does airship the stuff, so it’s usually fast and less prone to get damaged.

JahLaza

DavecUK what’s not to like!!

thewelshvet

Could anyone share the link to how to lube the steam levers and group lever when the machine first arrives.

thewelshvet

Just a follow up. Machine has arrived and I plan to lubricator the cam and valves with molykote. For the steam valves, is it just a case of using a wrench to remove the valve assembly and then lubing the metal parts? Thanks.

DavecUK

thewelshvet You only need to remove the very first long sleeve nut, and it shouldn’t be on very tight…then the assembly comes out.

prezes

I was wondering on differences in regular maintenance comparing to HX e61 machine. I assume I’d continue as I was with weekly cup drawn from steam boiler, back flushing etc.

I am intending to drain and refresh water in steam boiler every six weeks. Is it best to do the same with brew boiler and if so shall I just Lift the lever and draw 1 litre through the group in 200ml amounts pausing for 15 seconds each time?

DavecUK

prezes Just lift the lever and draw a bit extra through now and again….there is really no extra maintenance needs over other machines.

Kape17

Hello, Greetings from SoCal USA. Question: What water tank filter would you recommend for the V, that would fit the water tube feed to the pump? is it advisable to use to this type?

Thank you!

DavecUK

You can, but gear pumps are not always super keen at drawing against a resistance and if one of those little balls gets inside, it’s bad (and expensive) news. Treat the water before it goes in the tank, far better.

Kape17

DavecUK I have been using Pavlis water recipe, but is there a part or filter made specifically for the V? Or normally there is no water filter connected to the tube?

DavecUK

Kape17 Normally no filter is connected

MediumRoastSteam

Kape17 - I’m sssuming you are thinking of giving up Dr. Pavils’ recipe, hence why you ask about the filter?

Kape17

DavecUK Thank you! I think on the newer version of V was the water sensor float connected to the tube, I assume.

DavecUK

Kape17 Thank you! I think on the newer version of V was the water sensor float connected to the tube, I assume.

That’s correct…My early one has the capacitive sensor, works really well in mine, but some people had problems because they were very difficult for the factory to adjust correctly. If adjusted correctly they work well (and reliably), but the float sensor was much easier to ensure no errors during the build, or time consuming adjustment.

Kape17

MediumRoastSteam I am really happy with the pavlis water recipe. My BDB has filter cartridge. Just curious with V if it has a filter available. Thanks

Cuprajake

The Evo leva has a small mesh filter. Perhaps you could fit one of those just as security

Kape17

Hello Cuprajake Where can I get that mesh filter? Do you have the part number and name description? Thanks

MediumRoastSteam

Kape17 - ok. But you don’t need a filter with that recipe though. The water is already “clean”.

Kape17

MediumRoastSteam Cuprajake is right it is more of protection from foreign body

Cuprajake

I’m thinking more foreign body in the water.

I will see if I can find a pic

Kape17

Cuprajake thanks

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