Tampy Senior Member Joined: 8 Sep 2006 Posts: 14 Location: California Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: GS3 Grinder: Mazzer Mini P Vac Pot: N/A Roaster: N/A
Posted Mon May 12, 2008, 9:02am Subject: Re: New GS/3 owners thread
My offset was factory set at + 5.4 f. FRANKE recommended a +1.5 f. With a Scace, my offset is right on at a -3.4 f. The negative number makes more sense to me and is accurate with my machine.
Does anyone have an understanding of the function of the PID controller? Also, what settings do you have? Mine came set at 20.2 f. The manual recommends a 9.1 f. FRANKE told me to set it at 5.2 f. However, know one seems to understand what it does.
SkyRyders90 Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 83 Location: Dallas, TX Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: LM GS/3 Grinder: Versalab
Posted Thu May 15, 2008, 3:33pm Subject: Re: New GS/3 owners thread
My GS/3 arrived today. Interestingly enough, there appeared to be a fix for the vibration problem in place - not the white plastic one, but a rubber gasket-looking thing. I've attached a picture. This machine was shipped directly from Franke - it didn't even pass through my dealer.
Does anyone else have this there?
(Click for larger image)
-- Steve
All of life’s big problems include the words ‘indictment’ or ‘inoperable’ - everything else is small stuff. -- AB
Teme Moderator Joined: 7 Jan 2005 Posts: 1,179 Location: Finland Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Marzocco GS3 Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario
Posted Thu May 15, 2008, 8:50pm Subject: Re: New GS/3 owners thread
SkyRyders90 Said:
Interestingly enough, there appeared to be a fix for the vibration problem in place - not the white plastic one, but a rubber gasket-looking thing. I've attached a picture. This machine was shipped directly from Franke - it didn't even pass through my dealer.
Franke implied that use of the pump support could lead to other unspecified problems. It seems odd to me that some dealers are installing the pump support and folks report great improvement while my dealer is told that Franke will not supply this part.
I cannot imagine how using the support could lead to problems? I've also discussed this with others, including LM themselves and I've only heard positives.
the_deal_maker Said:
According to some rumours, Marzocco will address this issue by replacing the flexible silicone pipe and inset a solid one. No idea when this will happen.
Wednesday this week I had the pleasure of trying a prototype of the new version of the steam system. I was impressed and I am happy to say that it eliminates the wet steam "issue" (and brings the steam performance onto the same level with other LMs). The new system will be retrofittable to existing machines. Availability and cost unknown, but it could be around July-August. You will lose the cool touch wand, but gain metal (stainless steel) wand joints.
JimWright Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 183 Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Espresso: LM GS/3, Estro Profi Grinder: Macap M7KR Vac Pot: Yama Drip: Other: Eva Solo, Press Pot
Posted Fri May 16, 2008, 7:18am Subject: Re: New GS/3 owners thread
It looks like my machine is going back to Franke for either replacement or repair/replacement of various parts.
Truthfully, I hope they'll replace the machine at this point, as the stress required to do the damage that occurred might have done other things as well that don't show up until later, but I'll accept their judgment either way I guess. Of course, I don't want to do without it for long either!
In the meantime, I'm on vacation right now and actually thinking about just driving it up there myself and doing a west coast coffee tour on the way.
In any case, I've got a couple more questions for the other new (and not so new anymore) owners. First of all, I've noticed that the volumetric brew buttons on my unit are programmed to give a particular dose of water that works great without coffee but not to brew an espresso, I guess because they don't really seem to account for water debit - I can't get more than a small volume single out of any of them. Just me? (Yes, I know, I just need to reprogram it, but seems odd and wondering if everyone else had to reprogram their buttons for volume, if you're even using them.)
Secondly, on the same note, when I use the manual dose, I notice that it cuts itself off sometimes after a while - this morning, on a very good shot, it cut itself off at 2 oz. in the cup, but sometimes it cuts itself off sooner, esp. if I use too much coffee and nearly choke it - a couple of times I've managed to get the flowmeter alarm to indicate for a second or three but then it pulls through, and sometimes it completes those shots, other times cutting off after 1/2 - 3/4 of an ounce. Has anyone else seen this? What triggers the self-cutoff?
Lastly, is it just me, or do the LM double baskets really require a 57mm tamper and not 58? I've noticed that if I tamp it with a 58 to just below the ring in the side, the dispersion screw still makes contact with the puck, but I can't go any lower with my tamper. Have other folks noticed the same? Thanks all for any advice/input!
DonSt Senior Member Joined: 1 Nov 2007 Posts: 62 Location: Sacramento, CA
Espresso: La Marzocco GS/3 Grinder: Super Jolly, Rocky Roaster: Pacific Bay Roasters, Blue...
Posted Fri May 16, 2008, 8:43am Subject: Re: New GS/3 owners thread
Tampy Said:
Does anyone have an understanding of the function of the PID controller? Also, what settings do you have? Mine came set at 20.2 f. The manual recommends a 9.1 f. FRANKE told me to set it at 5.2 f. However, know one seems to understand what it does.
What I read in the manual is that: " This parameter sets a range in which the PID algorithm is active".
I'll go ahead and stick my neck out and say that I think this means that the PID does not do it's thing until (using a setting 20.2f) it reaches 20.2f from the setpoint of the coffee or steam boiler. This is probably because it just applies full power anyway until it gets close to the setpoint; the PID then needs to calculate any overshoot past the setpoint and make adjustments accordingly. If anyone else has a better explanation, I'm all ears....
By the way, does it say in the manual that the settings shown in the drawings are "recomended settings"? I know in some cases they are the same as what has been pre-programmed, but I didn't think that they were recomended.
JacobS Senior Member Joined: 5 May 2006 Posts: 133 Location: Copenhagen Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: GS/3 Grinder: Robur Roaster: Probat '73 RE 1 Sample...
Posted Fri May 16, 2008, 9:17am Subject: Re: New GS/3 owners thread
JimWright Said:
Secondly, on the same note, when I use the manual dose, I notice that it cuts itself off sometimes after a while - this morning, on a very good shot, it cut itself off at 2 oz. in the cup, but sometimes it cuts itself off sooner, esp. if I use too much coffee and nearly choke it - a couple of times I've managed to get the flowmeter alarm to indicate for a second or three but then it pulls through, and sometimes it completes those shots, other times cutting off after 1/2 - 3/4 of an ounce. Has anyone else seen this? What triggers the self-cutoff?
It doesn't sound like you are using the chrono function (a super nice feature btw.). The shots are cut off at 40 seconds plus any pre brewing time (to protect the motor I guess)?
EspressoObsessed Senior Member Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 84 Location: Prairie Village, KS Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: GS/3 Grinder: CMH; VL M3 Drip: TV, KMB, Eva Solo, AP Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Fri May 16, 2008, 9:40am Subject: Re: New GS/3 owners thread
I think Franke is finding these problems a PITA. No more Mr. Nice Guy sending a new one out when your current one has issues. I've had a bad vibe problem that is absent when the drip tray and cup warmer grill are removed. Franke insists that everyone of the units they test is absolutely free of problems when shipped and that these issues somehow develop during shipping. Mine will be picked up for "repair" by a local guy who will do various things under the guidance of the Franke people. I specifically asked about the silastic or rubber pads under the pump and this is NOT a Franke authorized repair anymore, although they did do this to about 40 earlier units. Various tweeks of a vague nature will be performed on my GS/3 which were not clearly laid out.
Teme Said:
Wednesday this week I had the pleasure of trying a prototype of the new version of the steam system. I was impressed and I am happy to say that it eliminates the wet steam "issue" (and brings the steam performance onto the same level with other LMs). The new system will be retrofittable to existing machines. Availability and cost unknown, but it could be around July-August. You will lose the cool touch wand, but gain metal (stainless steel) wand joints.
I am absolutely outraged that there is now a "fix" of the wet steam issue which will not be an upgrade but an option that I will have to pay for. I was getting great microfoam from Silvia which I cannot even approach on the GS/3. I've had no problem with foaming on other LMs I've tried. Curse my impatience. Lord, let me stop being an early adopter.
In the good news department, CMH grinder is shipping next week. No word from Versalab about the M3 that is 4 months post order...
JimWright Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 183 Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Espresso: LM GS/3, Estro Profi Grinder: Macap M7KR Vac Pot: Yama Drip: Other: Eva Solo, Press Pot
Posted Fri May 16, 2008, 10:33am Subject: Re: New GS/3 owners thread
JacobS Said:
It doesn't sound like you are using the chrono function (a super nice feature btw.). The shots are cut off at 40 seconds plus any pre brewing time (to protect the motor I guess)?
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