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cappuccino1
Visitor
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My Leaky Silvia - 2008/02/04 21:33
Not too long ago I posted about my Silvia leaking from my grouphead and dripping from in between the two spouts of my portafilter into my espresso ruining the shot. Colin mentioned to make sure that area around grouphead and gasket is clean and backflush and descale and the lack of necessity for tamping 30 pounds.
Wise words from a wise man.
Yesterday I decalcified my Silvia- ( haven't used Silvia since last post of leaky grouphead-sorry) and soaked all grouphead parts and portafilter and basket minus portafilter handle in Cafiza with a ratio of one teaspoon of Cafiza to one litre of water-in this case two litres of hot water so two teaspoons of Cafiza for 30 minutes.
Today used Silvia with Rocky Doser(first-time with Rocky). The grouphead leaked again on grind settings (10)ten,7(seven) and 9(nine). Nine was my preferred grind setting in the end. I did not overload ny portafilter basket nor did I tamp too much. Water still dripped from the grouphead to in between the water spouts of my portafilter ruining all my shots of espresso.
Backflushing is next strategy. Read, studied and copied all steps from link by Colin by Randy Glass on Backflushing an Espresso Machine. Still no mention in article by Randy Glass on when to first use water when backflushing and how. Does mention rinsing components a couple of times and the final rinse of the espresso machine but nowhere does it say when to put water in water tank and how to use water when backflushing. Not trying to reinvent the wheel guys, honest.
Any ideas about my leaky grouphead and portafilter and how to use water when backflushing?
I don't mean to drive you guys batty with this backflushing business. I am not giving up... still on the web..hoping...searching..looking...
Editor's insert: Actually, you are driving us batty with your sillier than usual situations and questions - so get it together Soldier!
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colin
Admin
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Re:My Leaky Silvia - 2008/02/05 08:58
Completely boiled down:
a.) You have a brew head. It has a metal base.
b.) A gasket sits in this base.
c.) A portafilter locks into this base.
So you have Metal - Rubber - Metal...
to facilitate the passage of high pressure water...
It is a junction. nothing more.
If it is leaking, it is because...
a.) The portafilter is not locked tightly
b.) There is some coffee on the gasket or portafilter when you are "locking and loading" the p.f.
Even if the PF was warped in some fashion (and I am 100% sure it isn't) or the Brewhead had a flaw... the flexibility of the gasket would more than make up or it.
So. APPLY more pressure when you are locking in the PF.
Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website |
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glenns
Visitor
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Re:My Leaky Silvia - 2008/02/07 14:19
Colin is 100% right - do not replace perfectly working parts unnecessarily.
It sounds like you have a leaky group gasket. Sometimes you can can spot a rivulet of water running down the side of your portafilter.
If you machine still leaks after cranking hard on the portafilter handle, you'll have to clean your group, remove the water spreader and group gasket and clean that gasket groove thoroughly.
If it still leaks, buy a new group gasket ( buy a spare too) and replace the old. DO NOT screw anything or drill into anything to get the old gasket out. If you can't get it out yourself, hire a pro.
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cappuccino1
Visitor
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Re:My Leaky Silvia - 2008/02/07 15:53
Thank you Glenns. Much obliged. Do you know the best way of removing the Group gasket and/or the best website links to do this?
Cheers,
Cappuccino1
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colin
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Re:My Leaky Silvia - 2008/02/07 17:02
Steve: You have told us that your Silvia is brand new.
Your exact words:
"Recently on the web I encountered some sources that say
that Cleancaf which is a descaler and cleaner is not safe to use on an espresso machine. I want to use it on my new month-old Rancilio Silvia."
You live in Toronto. Did you buy it from Green Beanery?
If it is new, it is under warranty. Why would you tackle this yourself if you have owned this for less than a month? 
Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website |
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