bethellan Senior Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Saudi Arabia Expertise: Just starting
Posted Fri May 9, 2008, 10:18pm Subject: Elektra - Slow-to-no flow from Group Head
I just last week received my new Elektra Semiautomatica. It's beautiful! Little time to play yet as I've been working hard, and the wife is about to give birth. But several times late at night I've manged to sneak out of bed and downstairs to pull off some of the world's worst ever expresso's.... But still, more satisfying than any the boys at the local Starbucks have pulled off for me ;-) Practise! Practise! Practise!
This morning I have a problem: I turned the machine on, let the pressure rise then pressed GO. Not a lot happened, only a few air bubbles and then a slight trickle of water came out from the group head. Then nothing.
I watched for a while, turned the flow off then on again without any change: the pump can be heart whirring away but the water flow is less than spectacular - my poor machine is having prostate problems . I started fretting, so hurridly opened the valve to test the steamer. In my rush, I forgot to place a cup under the spout so the jet of steam splashed all over that shiny new base. Almost as upsetting as the lack of flow! But at least I know the steam-wand is working... I can't make an expersso, but at least I can steam milk....
As I said - I've had little time to play as yet. The (bottled) water I first filled the top reservoir with is still in the boiler - the level was just under 3/4 when I powered up.
I've done a quick search on the net for similar sounding problems, and have come across suggestions that back-flushing without rinsing adequately or scale build up could be the cause. One week of ownership - I've not yet back-flushed and doubt scale from one bottle of water could be enough to congest the machine this soon.
The only thing I did different lately is adjust my grind to a finer one. In case it's a symptom of something - after that adjustment, the grounds were stuck to the group head and not sat inside the portafilter as they usually do.
Any suggestions people?
I've not yet told the wife that the machine I blew a great wad of cash on is playing up on me after only one week of ownership - so let's keep this between us for now, huh ;-)
Cheers,
Andrew
Hmm... it's been a while, and I just turned the machine on again, in the hope that the problem has gone away - but it hasn't. Tried pushing the water supply button to empty more water tank contents into the boiler - There is a whirring of the motor, but nothing drained from the top tank. I pressed the water supply and brew button both at the same time and got a flow of water through the group head. Still, with the brew button alone being depressed, there is no action.
Posted Sat May 10, 2008, 2:12am Subject: Re: Slow-to-no flow from Group Head
I couldn't say for sure but I might look at the OPV. Sounds like pressure is being blocked or diverted away from your brew line and that might be from a stuck open or improperly adjusted valve. Or maybe something is stuck in the brew path line and restricting the flow.
Posted Sat May 10, 2008, 5:58am Subject: Re: Elektra - Slow-to-no flow from Group Head
bethellan Said:
I've done a quick search on the net for similar sounding problems, and have come across suggestions that back-flushing without rinsing adequately or scale build up could be the cause. One week of ownership - I've not yet back-flushed and doubt scale from one bottle of water could be enough to congest the machine this soon.
Does the pump sound like it is laboring when you press the right button (brew)? Without assiduous attention to cleaning, the holes in the Elektra Semiautomatica's diffusion block will clog with coffee grounds. Remove the dispersion screen and diffusion block for cleaning; you may need to use a sewing needle / paper clip to remove the blockage.
bethellan Said:
Hmm... it's been a while, and I just turned the machine on again, in the hope that the problem has gone away - but it hasn't. Tried pushing the water supply button to empty more water tank contents into the boiler - There is a whirring of the motor, but nothing drained from the top tank.
Sorry, missed this comment on my first quick read... sounds like an inlet obstruction or pump failure. It's a new espresso machine, I recommend taking it back to the vendor for diagnosis / repair.
mrgnomer Said:
I couldn't say for sure but I might look at the OPV.
RobertKWFL Senior Member Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 30 Location: Key West, Florida Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Elektra Semiautomatica Grinder: Mazzer Major & Super Jolly Vac Pot: Cona
Posted Sat May 10, 2008, 10:06am Subject: Re: Elektra - Slow-to-no flow from Group Head
Have you refilled the water reservoir? If the water runs out completely so air is being drawn into the intake pipe, it can take quite a while after a refill to get the pump primed again so water flows normally. I guess it can take 30-60 seconds on my machine--that's running water through the group without the portafilter.
bethellan Senior Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Saudi Arabia Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun May 11, 2008, 1:37am Subject: Re: Elektra - Slow-to-no flow from Group Head
Thanks all for you help, but I think I just cried wolf....
I had assumed the water in the boiler was what feed the portafilter and so became distressed when nothing came through. It turns out the top reservoir is the water source and only needed topping up in order to get things flowing again.... hahah... pie in my face, but at least I can have a coffee before I leave for work this afternoon!!
It's good to know there are people out there willing to give useful feedback...
Posted Sun May 11, 2008, 5:08am Subject: Re: Elektra - Slow-to-no flow from Group Head
bethellan Said:
I had assumed the water in the boiler was what feed the portafilter and so became distressed when nothing came through. It turns out the top reservoir is the water source and only needed topping up in order to get things flowing again...
Yes, the Elektra Semiautomatica is a heat exchanger; brew water is flash heated on its way to the grouphead.
Since we're on the subject... the Semiautomatica's steam boiler will concentrate minerals over time, which is why some owners use distilled water for the boiler. Since I don't make many cappuccinos, I only need to fill it a couple times a month. Normally I wouldn't worry because our local water is quite soft, but there are reports of pressurestat failures among Semiautomatica owners and minute scale buildup has been blamed.
BTW, Mark Prince wrote an excellent detailed review and Jim Schulman wrote an excellent buyer's guide on the Elektra Semiautomatica. These writeups and a month of hands on use are what convinced me to get one (it was supposed to be a loaner, but you see how that went <g>).
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