Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,371 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Thu Apr 19, 2012, 1:33pm Subject: Oscar group head steaming and pulsing water
My machine just started the strange flash steam and pulsing water from the group head. (see video link below) So I want to open my Sirai up and look at it. The silver screw just spins and spins and nothing is happening. I tried prying a bit from the sides but that did not get the black part off. I have tried to tighten and loosen the screw and nothing seems to affect it, it just spins freely.
Pstat - my contacts seem fine but I put a file on them anyway just to be sure. The top was a pain to remove and no idea why the screw was stuck like that.
The NS tech told me to check the valve on the left side the one labeled 07300370. It has a small plastic part # 01000090 (check valve replacement is $6.40 from NS or espressoparts.com) that is on the inside of it and it has a cap on the inside of it with feet. I believe those feet would normally be together and stay inside the spring and the hole inside the other part. When I opened the valve they were at strange angles sticking out of the spring. I believe that to be wrong and it would not allow the seal to be right with the feet in the way like that. I am getting another plastic part while I have the machine open just to be safe. And I am clearing the brass bits in acid. The NS phone tech confirmed that the one I had was broken when I described it.
On the phone the NS tech suggested I clean the water level probe and mine doesn't have a high water limit reset switch (he said it was like a fuse) So he would probably get another one to keep on hand. At 33 dollars I will have to think about that as money is tight at this moment.
Update 2:
The part came really fast (over night) and I got it installed. It heats up been on almost an hour, pours and no pulsing and steams and I think it is fixed! No leaks. YEAH!!!!!!!! Thank you www.espressoparts.com.
Report: 8 hours later it is still on and not doing the weird steam pulsing thing. Will leave it on over night to check but I believe it is fixed. I will attach a photo of the part so that people can see what I saw.
Update 3: Seems to be working like a champ after being on overnight, I am declaring it fixed.
(Click for larger image)
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
IIRC, the sirai has a screw that keeps the adjustment set and an inset adjustment screw. Looseing the screw will allow you to move the inset adjustment screw. Which one are you referring to? Regardless, both screws shouldn't just spin freely.
But more importantly why do you feel this has anything to do with steam coming from the group?
So how do you get the black part off to check the contacts?
Because of this:
This is the most probable fix if your espresso machine has any of the following symptoms: • Looses pressure randomly throughout the day • Does not stop heating or machine over pressures by spraying out the top • Has a large swing from low operating pressure to high
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Ok, so is steam spraying out the top of the machine or from the group? The pstat controls the pressure in the boiler wich does go through the brewing line.
Group head water is over heated and steaming, the machine seems fine on the inside. It looks like the video posted the other day with water pulsing out of the group head and Germantownrob said it was the pstat.
My apologies. I miss understood what you were sayimg. Doing a cooling flush steam will come Tom the group but it will subside. if you are getting as much as in that video, that seems excessive to me. rephresh my memory, the oscar does not have a gauge correct?
Sounds like you've done some research on this. But when you say the screw spins freely you mean no resistance? Here's a pic of mine. Are you referring to the left or right screw? Click Here (i1072.photobucket.com)
That is correct, that screw holds the black casing on. Guessing its stripped? Have you tried pulling on the black casing? You can also try pulling on the casing while trying to unscrew the screw. Its either stripped or its not screwed in. Either way that will likely get the screw out.
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