Hi, I just signed up. I would need a couple answers/suggestions for my Vesuvius.
Background:
I bought the machine in 2018 new. On this machine, I do about 300 Espressos Capuccinos per year. I generally don’t do Service aside from the occasional filter screen and gasket replacement. I also don’t generally backflush. The machine only gets soft spring water. Never had seen anything else.

Problem 1:
Why I messed with the machine and did a E61 rebuild today is that the drain pipe in the drip tray takes a long time to close for the last month or so. To be precise it takes 2.5 minutes from the time the first steam evaporates to the time it closes. As a side effect the front of the machine is very wet and I do loose a lot of water. This is new. The vac valve used to close much faster. I wrote the vendor where I bought it and asked if I should get a replacement valve. He recommend starting with descaling. I descaled the machine last week with what I read on some forum answered by Dave a solution of 60g citric acid on 1 l of water. Let it sit 10min and tried to get it out a.s.a.o. I didn’t help with the valve closing faster.

QQ: I think I just buy and replace the combination overpressure / vacuum relieve valve and replace it. I looked into the machine. Does somebody know which wrenches I need. It looked like a 15 and a 24mm. Is there anything else I should know before replacing?

Problem 2: I think the descaling did some harm. I have another espresso machine that one 12 years old. Also never saw any tap water. No scale watsoever. But hey. I listened to the vendor tech. The machine is now pink inside in several places. Especially where the mushrooms sits. I am attaching a photo. I assume the acid reacted with the material or is this normal? Probably not. Anything I should do/respect?

Problem 3: There is one less lower spring in the bottom compared to my other machine. The middle spring. Back when I got the machine I think this was mentioned as desired because there is no need to have a preinfusion chamber. Just checking. I don’t think anything flew away. Just asking.