Vesuvius Pressure Profiling Machine - General Discussion

Tal

Maria did reply to my direct email when I put her name in the first line, it was same day response.

John_Yossarian

Tal Maria was very responsive when I was getting thermal probes directly from ACS. She might have been away on vacation but otherwise she is very prompt.

DavecUK

SEP297 In addition they don’t seem to have reconnected the water tank door stay properly - is there any additional parts required to this or is it just a matter of a keeper screw on the back of the machine.

There is a slot with a larger hole and the head of a thumb screw bolt fits in there…they may have not connected it or it may have popped out, it can usually be fiddled back in.

SEP297

Thanks Dave it looks like it has just jumped off

Tal

Ok may have an issue.

I pulled the lever to flush some water through the group as I’d changed pid temp and noticed that this time the pressure built up on the display (not the group pressure gauge, that stayed at zero)? Eventually building up to around 9bar, this while using daveCs program of 18s 2bar PI then 10bar. Bear in mind this was without a portafilter in position.

My memory is a little unclear, but I don’t think this happened in the past?

I still get flow through the group, can pull espresso fine etc. I pulled the top nut and upper assembly from the group and all is clear. I activated the pump with the top assembly out and water filled the chamber.

I don’t recall pressure building up previously? Shouldn’t this be reading system pressure, so without a PF there shouldn’t be any? Or is this reading directly off the pump? If this is normal I am unsure how I never spotted it before.

If this is not normal, where is my blockage likely to be? Blockage after the pressure sensor but before the group?

DavecUK

Tal Or is this reading directly off the pump? If this is normal I am unsure how I never spotted it before.

If this is not normal, where is my blockage likely to be? Blockage at the pressure sensor?

The group pressure gauge is after the gicleur and on an open group, I wouldn’t expect a reading…put a blind filter in.

Tal

DavecUK

Cheers for the reply mate.

Just to be clear, it is the pressure reading on the screen that I’m concerned about. Should there be a pressure reading there without a PF fitted and running a profile?

Tal

Flat 9bar profile, strange noise accompanying it when PF removed. Need to remove the top and see what’s happening in there

DavecUK

Tal Just to be clear, it is the pressure reading on the screen that I’m concerned about. Should there be a pressure reading there without a PF fitted and running a profile?

Yes, because it’s taken before the Gicleur and there is resistance.

Tal

Ok thank you, though I cannot picture how the system is configured for it to behave this way. What causes the resistance in order that there is pressure being measured without a PF/coffee?

On a separate note, my vac breaker valve arrived from Espresso solutions today, and the threads are different to the original one.

Mine is as per the advert, full length threads https://espresso-solutions.co.uk/boiler-vacuum-valve/

However this one that arrived has a section without thread, like the advertised La Marzocco version, which uses a copper crush washer.

My question is, is this version usable if I packed it out with ptfe tape? otherwise I’ll have to return it and go back to ACS and pay the 75 euros!

DavecUK

It should be fine, just use PTFE and don’t tighten it fully, you want maximum thread engagement but don’t want it tightened down. Alternatively, you can use a FKM/Viton thick o ring. Which again only needs nipping up. I have no idea why LM went for the copper crush washer.

Tal

DavecUK

Supplier went back to Fluid O Tech after realising the entire batch was the same. They received their next batch early this week and they informed that they are the same. Fluid O tech informed the supplier that these are the only versions available now….unsure if ACS can get a different version.

With that in mind I measured up and ordered some FKM (Viton) O rings, BS111 size and they came today.

Perfect snug fit around the base, 6 turns of PTFE on the thread, fitted it in and nipped it up, looks like we are back in business.

John_Yossarian

Hello All,

After seamless operation for more than five years (bought my V new in Feb 2020), with a minor glitch, a thermal probe needed replacement, my V. decided to show its character.

During this period I have been mainly using, for the last four years at least, Profile 1, that is factory set and mimics a lever machine profile. It goes up to 11 bars for five second before gradually going down.

In the last month or so, I noticed an added noise whenever the pump was gearing up, to bring the pressure to 11 bars and do the brewing. What I did not pay attention to during this period was to look at the pressure readings on the display, nor did I look at the manometer on the E61 group head.

The coffee somehow lost its sweetness, to which I got accustomed, but I was explaining this with the type of coffee beans I have been playing with.

This morning however, I noticed that the pressure did not go above 8 bars. The coffee was OK-ish, good crema, body, and the rest bar the sweetness.

I took the blind filter and checked the pressure. It never went above 8 bars and the noise was still there.

Tomorrow I will open the machine and will pull a few shots with the cover taken out and will record some videos/sound.

Could it be the notorious pump magnet has run its course and would need a replacement?

I hope this is the case, but will gladly take your advice should you have other ideas.

Thank you in advance!
Cheers,
John

Adrianmsmith

John_Yossarian

If it turns out to be the magnets some photos would be great during the rebuild. Good luck with it .

DavecUK

John_Yossarian Could it be the notorious pump magnet has run its course and would need a replacement?

They don’t actually wear out…it was the faulty potting on some early magnets that allowed air in, which in turn corroded the cobalt samarium and weakened the magnet. So I suspect it’s something else, perhps ait getting in as you say it’s accompanied by noise…not a feature of the pump magnet issues of the past.

John_Yossarian

This morning I removed to top cover and recorded a video, more to get the sound change, as nothing visible happened. I will try to upload the video on youtube and share the link here later, some googling/reading to do.
So far I cannot see anything, but tomorrow morning I will remove the pump and will have a closer look. Thank you for your advices so far.

Adrianmsmith

John_Yossarian . I will try to upload the video on youtube and share the link here later, some googling/reading to do.

Its quite easy even (unfortunately for you lot!) i can do it.

Make the video on your phone.

Whilst its playing (im assuming android, i know nothing of apple complexity) click share

Scroll down to youtube (assume here you have already joined youtube and have a free or paid account and are logged in ) i only have a free account , not restricted, just gets a bit annoying waiting for skip to appear on adverts!!

Follow the prompts, give it a title and if its not a short give it a description .

choose unlisted (thanks Dave) if you dont want it to appear in youtube video searches for someone without a link to watch it

Choose not for kids to allow comments etc and assuming no swearing in the video 🙈

Add a location just because you can

Wait a few minutes, dont touch anything whilst it uploads and processes.

When it says done, watch it and click share to copy the link to paste in here….

Can do an actual step by step if required … good kuck

John_Yossarian

Is the below order of removing the pump something to follow or is there a better way to do it?

To remove the gear pump from a Vesuvius coffee machine, you’ll need to first drain the water boilers and then disconnect the pump from the machine’s electrical wiring and water lines. Next, carefully detach the pump from the frame, ensuring you don’t damage any surrounding components.
Detailed Steps:

Drain the Boilers:
Open the drain valves (usually located on the side of the machine) to release any remaining water in the boilers. Be careful as the water may be hot.
Disconnect Electrical Wiring:
Locate the electrical wiring connected to the pump and disconnect it carefully.
Disconnect Water Lines:
Disconnect the water inlet and outlet pipes from the pump.
Remove the Pump:
Carefully detach the pump from its mounting point on the machine’s frame. Be mindful of any surrounding components and avoid damaging them.

DavecUK

John_Yossarian I think before removing the pump, get the video/sound uploaded first.

John_Yossarian

Adrianmsmith thank you so much! I followed your advice and with iPhone steps are exactly the same :).
Initially I followed what the “smart” AI suggested, to download the YouTube app on my iphone and tap Create (which btw is nowhere to be seen). Anyway, long story short here is the link:

The noise (higher frequency one, rather distinctive) reproducibly occurs whenever the pressure reaches 7.9 bars when with the coffee ground in place, or 6.9 if without the PF.
If I am to run a profile at 7.5 bars the noise would not occur at all.

Very strange, but after five and a half years something was meant to happen.
With your help I am hopeful I would resolve it.

EDIT: Apologies for the background extra noise, it is the tumble dryer doing its job

DavecUK

Choose unlisted, not private.

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