Friday, April 12, 2013

Laranzato espresso machine - Parts


Karma had the parts to plumb in the machine and will order the critical parts for the espresso machine.

Issues:

  • Should I drain the boiler? - DEFERRED
  • Parts - OPEN
    • Karma was able to provide plumbing parts
    • Karma is ordering 
      • Steam wand
      • Group head O ring
      • 2 shot basket
      • 2 shot spout
      • back flush basket
  • Drips from three-way valve - MOSTLY SOLVED
  • Pressure gauge - DEFERRED
    I've decided to run the machine and see what happens.  Is 1 bar a reasonable pressure reading? Is it normal for the pressure to drop to 0 when drawing 0.5 liter of hot water? The system has a 4 liter tank!  Is it normal for the pressure to take 5 to 7 minutes to return to 1 bar? Is there normally some variation between 0.7 and 1.2 bar in the returning pressure? Is it normal for the safety valve to vent a bit of steam until boiler pressure returns? Is it normal for the antivacuum retaining clip to spin like a top until boiler pressure returns after dispensing 0.5 liter of hot water?  I may need to adjust the pressure stat. Since I'm new to this I didn't know what it was/looked like. Turns out this is it.
  • Pressurestat - DEFERRED

CURRENT PARTS LIST:

  • Steam wand - Looks like Espresso Parts has an after market wand at a reasonable price (<$40).  I'll talk to Dave today and see if he can help
  • Citric acid: I'm going to defer this for the moment.  
    • Amazon offers "Spicy World Citric Acid, 5-Pound"
    •  Are 1 or 2 tablespoons of citric acid per liter the correct concentration?
  • Portafilter - Espresso parts is a source or Dave may be able to help
    • Double basket
    • Double portafilter spout
    • Backflush disk
  • Group head gasket - Espresso Parts has part.  It is described as  RANCILIO GROUP HEAD PORTAFILTER GASKET - 74 X 57 X 8.2MM.  There is an aftermarket part as well described as "An economical alternative to the O.E.M. gasket. 73.5 x 57 x 8mm."
  • Water source - Freshwater Systems has John Guest parts.  Dave may be able to supply them.

CURRENT TODO LIST:

  • Continue cleaning, cleaning, cleaning - I've got the machine mostly clean but need to go over it with some solvent to remove grease.
  • Reassemble machine
  • Buy/acquire needed parts
  • Plumb in machine

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