CMI Senior Member Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 3 Location: home Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Oct 26, 2009, 3:51am Subject: Micro La Casa Leaks
My Micro La Casa has recently started doing strange things.
First, it does not heat up properly until I let off some steam. EVen after heating for about ten minutes. This quickly brings the steam pressure down to near "zero" level and causes water to leak out of the pressure escape valve at the top.
Second, when I draw my first few shots water pours out of the small hole at the backside of the grouphead. This goes away after my third or fourth shot, ot after about half an hour.
I recently replace the screw cap and all these developments coincided.
Seb Junior Member Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Montreal, Qc Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Elektra Micro casa Grinder: Solis Maestro Vac Pot: Vintage Hellem Drip: Crappy Oyster...
Posted Tue Oct 27, 2009, 9:14am Subject: Re: Micro La Casa Leaks
Hello CMI,
as I mention here, I would suggest to first descale your machine. I've successfully used Orphan Espresso descaling crystals for that purpose and it completely removed the leak from the back of my group head. I believe that salt deposit between the piston seals and the piston chamber were causing the leaks. After descaling, I notice that the piston movement was a bit more rough (like if it stuck to the walls) but this went away pretty fast probably through lubrication with coffee oil. Next time I pull out the piston, I will add some proper lubing.
A nice video showing how to descale: Click Here (www.youtube.com) I'm not sure the white suit is needed... kinda makes the procedure looks scary!!!
Concerning the machine not heating up properly, if you hear a small hiss coming from the hex nut behind the boiler cap, it is probably just a matter of lubing the small pin in the middle of this nut so this small valve can shut off properly and allow pressure to build up. I've used olive oil in the past but it leaves some unsightly residues... but it works fine!
As a side question, anyone knows what this hex valve is for? It is open when the machine is cold and closes when it heats up. Is it to eliminate any negative pressure when shutting down the machine?
orphanespresso Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 174 Location: Troy Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Cremina Faemina Microcimbali... Grinder: Hand Grinders
Posted Thu Oct 29, 2009, 1:09am Subject: Re: Micro La Casa Leaks
Sebastien, you are correct that this hex nut thing is called a vacuum breaker or vacuum release valve and it allows the machine to bleed off vacuum when cooling down, and also it allows the machine to heat up without being shut off prematurely by 'false pressure', which is what is happening with Chris' machine. The way it works is this....there is a small rod in the valve and a little o-ring and as the machine heats up steam will escape from this valve until "pffffffft" the small rod and o-ring will move upward and seal the opening . Chris, it sounds like your vac valve is plugged or is otherwise not working properly. You may be able to clean it with descaler by just dribbling some in the top hole when the machine is cold, or take the valve apart and clean it and also check to see if the 0-ring is still soft and well formed. What you are experiencing is false pressure which occurs in machines with no vacuum breaker valve. Also, if you valve is plugged this can cause your pressure gauge to become inaccurate or the pstat to become inaccurate as well, so it is importatnt to maintain it properly. Water from the back hole means that your top piston seal is not sealing properly or needs lubrication to extend its life....perhaps the group needs to be lubricated and cleaned which on the Elektra is easy to do by removing the two top hex bolts and pulling out the piston to examine and lubricate with dow 111. the vacuum valve needs no lubrication, just occaisional cleaning and inspection. And by the way, the white suit is my pajamas!!!!
CMI Senior Member Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 3 Location: home Expertise: Just starting
Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009, 1:40pm Subject: Re: Micro La Casa Leaks
Thanks. The machine seems to have repaired itsefl (it has a habit of doing that). But, the de-scaling supplies and lubricant have arrived so I will use them anyway.
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