oddbean The limescale does look like it’s on the upper nut. The bigger concern is what appears to be a crack in one of the elements. I had a knackered element on a machine I bought and it was cracked like this. The switch looks like it has been changed, combined with the element, I suspect someone let it run dry which usually breaks the element and can also short the switch. One of the elements could still work but the machine won’t heat up properly with one element so you will need to change it.

The machine looks nice but £300 seems a lot if you’ll end up spending another £100+ to get it working

The wiring also looks brand new.

      Sham Not really, but the original idea was to have a machine I could use only in the event of either wanting a play or in case my main machine breaks down. The initial purchase price was fine but the bill to repair ran nearly twice the expected. I would rather someone who wants a machine to use daily had the benefit of a machine that has been serviced and had virtually every moving part replaced, than it just sat in a cupboard!

      https://www.suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2024/02/thank-goodness-for-madeira-cake/

        nopapercup

        Thank you so much again for your reply. The guy says he has only used it 50 times over the years. And agreed to descale it. Can you please have another look? One of them seems to have the copper layer ripped.

        Lelit Elizabeth, La Pavoni, Niche Duo, Gene Cafe roaster

        • Sham replied to this.

            Could just be a remaining bit of limescale. Cn’t see any burn or blow marks.

            Contact me

            Why does it look like the outer copper layer has peeled off in places?

            oddbean If you can knock off an extra £40 or more (for your time to install) off you can replace the element if needed (a lot of places sell it).

                Sham that’s what I am thinking too. Even though @nopapercup said it might be around 100 to replace that.

                Lelit Elizabeth, La Pavoni, Niche Duo, Gene Cafe roaster

                    oddbean no you’ll be in £100+ to change the element, replace all the gaskets which will more than likely need doing and get a steam wand. It will be more or less if you do the work yourself.

                    That element could well still work but if the copper is pealing off it may be nearing the end. As suggested above maybe try and knock some money off and you’re better of descaling it yourself. The owner my stick some harsh chemicals in there to descale it.

                        @Sham thanks for encouraging me to buy it
                        nopapercup thank you for the really on point advice. Thing is that he already descaled it, following a recipe I found on a forum with 25% vinegar , 75% water at high temperature for an hour.

                        So I went yesterday to pick it up thinking I will haggle the price to 250 for the damaged element. But when I got there, I just bought it as is. I’ve seen tens of them online, but first one in real life. It looked so nice, I couldn’t haggle a penny, and took it straight away.

                        Drove home to make an espresso, and electricity dropped the moment I pushed the ON button. Same for both positions. So I write the seller and he tells me he broke the element while descaling for an hour. Because he left the machine with no water and offered to pay half of the element(£30). He says he was gifted the machine 10 years ago and never used it.

                        I guess I’ll never know if it had worked before or not, but certainly I need to replace the heating element. And my question is, should I just order a new one or try to have this fixed by Gabor in Hungary(as mentioned by @nopapercup earlier).

                        Lelit Elizabeth, La Pavoni, Niche Duo, Gene Cafe roaster

                            oddbean Half the element price is a bit less… Should be the full price at least. And it wasn’t very good of him to deceive you… Try fixing it yourself, it isn’t that hard and there’s a lot of guides online and probably some on the La Pavoni Facebook group. Getting it fixed will cost too much.

                              oddbean Buy a new element, it’s only worth getting Gabor to fix the older pre 80s elements as these can no longer be purchased.

                              The seller is full of it, the new electrical wiring and switch are a clear indication he knackered the element previously and hoped changing the switch and wires would resolve the problem.

                              If you’re confident with the electrics, you can swap it yourself otherwise there are a few servicing centres in the UK that will swap it for you and probably won’t charge much to do it. I’ve used Frank at Ferrari espresso in South Wales who’s great, The espresso Shop in Glasgow also do it and I’m sure there are a few more.

                                Great, I’ve looked at it and it seems pretty straight forward. I’ll order the element today and the steam wand today. Thank you

                                Lelit Elizabeth, La Pavoni, Niche Duo, Gene Cafe roaster

                                @nopapercup could I ask you one last question. Should I order some gaskets/seals too? Espresso shop have a service kit(which includes the heating element seal, that i suppose needs changing) and a group head kit.

                                Lelit Elizabeth, La Pavoni, Niche Duo, Gene Cafe roaster

                                  Wow another nice genuine seller there, £250 is quite expensive for something that blows your home electrics.

                                  Fingers crossed its an easy fix.

                                  Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

                                    oddbean Yes definitely change all the gaskets, you’re taking it apart anyways and then you’ll be good to go. Don’t worry about the questions, I was once a new secondhand Pavoni owner so if I can I’m happy to help.

                                      Cuprajake The seller is a shit but doesn’t make this a bad deal. For £350ish oddbean will have what looks to be a mint machine with a brand new element. Good luck finding one as nice for that price.

                                          suppose it depends, ive been burnt so many times buying used, id rather stick the extra to a new one, but thats just me

                                          Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -