Posted Tue Nov 2, 2010, 3:27am Subject: Re: Replacing Silvia's Group Head Gasket--What worked
No, don't touch it until it starts to cause problems, i.e. starts leaking, then remove it, clean the group head thoroughly and fit a new gasket.. . .
I go just the other way. I don't wait for drips and stuck gaskets. I change mine out once a year, though mine receives very light use. The cost is minimal, it takes about 10 minutes, and it avoids that adhered nightmare. Cheap preventative maintenance.
We must be discussing different machines, even old gaskets don't take much to remove and the clean up is no big deal, as you say it's only a 10 minute job.
Posted Tue Nov 2, 2010, 5:51am Subject: Re: Replacing Silvia's Group Head Gasket--What worked
santalum Said:
We must be discussing different machines, even old gaskets don't take much to remove and the clean up is no big deal, as you say it's only a 10 minute job.
rwielinga Senior Member Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Netherlands Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia Grinder: Solis Scala
Posted Fri Sep 9, 2011, 12:39am Subject: Re: Replacing Silvia's Group Head Gasket--What worked
I know, it's an old thread, but i think the topic is still relevant.
CMCM Said:
I had to use a short flat head screwdriver to press the gasket in....when you first put it in and press, it looks like it's in there far enough, but it isn't! I had to position the screwdriver head sideways across the width of the gasket, and then press very hard all around its diameter....and even after I thought it was well in there, I couldn't get the portafilter to go on yet. I ended up turning Silvia upside down, and going around the gasket again and again pressing very hard bit by bit around the diameter to seat it deep enough. It took several passes around the gasket before the portafilter would go on right.
My suggestion would be to use the portafilter without the basket. You have an extra few millimeters of space and can evenly put pressure on the gasket. Squeeze it in and do it again with the basket in the portafilter, it should fit nicely now.
Posted Tue Sep 27, 2011, 8:55am Subject: Re: Replacing Silvia's Group Head Gasket--What worked
Is there any point to lubricating the gasket with, for instance, some mineral oil? I was thinking of getting a Q-Tip and using some mineral oil on the gasket of my SB Barista. Not that the gasket is bad on mine but I thought that adding some oil may keep it pliable and less prone to failure. Any truth to this?
Posted Wed Nov 2, 2011, 6:47pm Subject: Re: Replacing Silvia's Group Head Gasket--What worked
I successfully did the screw trick enhanced by a power drill to cut out all the elbow strain and blood vessel popping:
I had removed the gasket two years ago using the screw trick, and it was damn near impossible to get those screws into the gasket using just a screw driver. I started off the same way today, and just couldn't get the screws in far enough. So, I decided to use a power drill. Of course a drill won't fit under the group head, but that led to my realization. One need not get the screw to go in perpendicular to the gasket. Just put the screw in at an angle to the gasket towards the front of the machine starting the drill slowly and speeding up a little. Worked like a charm. The screw went right in, and all I needed was that one screw as leverage to pull the gasket out.
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