Vesuvius Pressure Profiling Machine - General Discussion

With mine when I do that routine I have steam boiler on, switch off when up to pressure then flush water out the hot water wand into a jug until the pressure is too low for any more. I like to purge the water in other words as it isn’t used as much as the brew boiler. Switch on for auto refill then repeat a couple more times.

When V is off to cool before cam greasing I take out the water tank for a 20 minute Milton clean. At the same time I have a tall espresso cup under the the steam wand and tip ie. They are sitting in diluted puly milk, when the V is fired up again I purge the wand and wipe it of course.

I also inspect underneath for water or stains and have the top off for the cleaning routine to visually inspect if anything is obviously amiss whilst it’s in operation, a tip from DaveC years ago.

the above tips are for any machine of course.

Greetings from California! When I turned on my V machine, the GFCI outlet was trigger and it turn off my machine. I opened the machine and there was a leak from from the brew boiler tube. I investigated where the water was coming from. It was spurting water from the PTFE hose when I turn on the switch. I need some advise on what to do:

1. Should I just tighten the nut?
2. Should I replace the PTFE tube, where and what size PTFE tube should I buy?

Here is the picture where the water was spurting out. Thank you.

Kape17 I think it’s 8mm OD and 6mm ID, but double check the OD in case it’s (6mm and 4mm). You need to get good quality PTFE tube for high temp and pressure. I am surprised it’s getting brittle, never heard of that happening before?

DavecUK It really sounds strange, PTFE should easily handle temperatures up to 350 deg C, let alone 105 from the brew boiler.

PTFE, however, can be used continuously at temperatures up to 260°C

DavecUK I have not checked it, sticking to the principle if ain’t broken don’t fix it. It is strange for PTFE to turn brittle.
I suspect it would also matter whether the machine has been on 24/7 routine, or like me used via smart plug for an hour a day.

caffeineus_impervious

A year after Caffeineus_Impervious had this issue, my Vesuvius is behaving similarly. Quoting CafImp:

The problem is as follows:

No water is coming out of the shower screen.
The pump works and is building pressure.
When the machine is cold (and powered on) no water is coming out of the shower screen.

The only way to get water out of the head is to open the top nut and relieve some of the pressure in the group head (risky, but I’m a gangster). This will allow me to pull one shot, then the problem returns.

A few things are different in terms of machine condition: built in 01/2015 ser # C00019, the top cam pin looks rather worn, AND WHEN it does dispense properly the cam lever will move outward toward water spigot about 2mm mid-shot pull. This cam lever movement usually means the flow will stop for the next shot so I have to loosen the top nut/bolt to get the flow to release.

Since CaffImp posted then ghosted this thread, it seems there was not a solution that worked other than the temporary adjusting of the cam extension on the top valve pin. When the machine cools down I will try this. It’s a bummer to not see the fix after DavecUK and many others tried to help… but CaffImp’s machine was new and mine is old, so I will fix it hopefully with guidance from y’all and Paolo.

My group guts were scaley so I disassembled, cleaned and reassembled thinking a clog of scale at a jet or somewhere was the culprit. No joy. Still have to release pressure at top nut/bolt to get flow at dispersion screen.

Will try Kanen Espresso in Berkeley for this top valve pin available pronto. I emailed Paolo and await response.

Want pics?

The square edge that touches the cam is not square but chamfered, is this worn out?

Sorry my iphone camera is dodgy and doesn’t want to focus.

Also, isn’t there supposed to be a small spring at bottom of group vent? Where’d that go?

ignazthecat top group valve is completely worn out should not be chamfered. It is the reason why you can’t get water out of the group properly and needs either the cam follower replaced, or preferably the entire valve., as it’s seal will probably be in need of replacement as well.

using the last photo, the middle valve is the preinfusion valve and should not have a spring on it…This I have highlighted in yellow in the photo

Lower valve is the vent valve and should have a spring..as in the photo..the spring you have on the preinfusion valve should be on the top valve and the spring on the top valve should be on the vent valve. It might be why the top valve wore so much

P.S. Preinfusion valve may have a worn cam follower as well. Contact AC S for a spares pack, see if they can send it as a small packet of some kind.

P.P.S. You need to lubricate the group after backflushing with cleaner and periodically.

http://coffeetime.wikidot.com/e61-lubrication

Thank you Dave. Installing the springs correctly makes a difference. Taking the pins to Kanen Espresso in Berkeley. With luck they may have top pin in stock (and maybe better ’shroom), otherwise they can order from Chris Coffee or ACS. Very grateful for you quick assistance.