Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Wed Sep 26, 2012, 10:42pm Subject: Re: The Oscar Saga Continues: Backflush Explosion
Honestly, I'm praying it still works when we put it back together tomorrow. Seeing the machine go pop when water got splashed on the board was pretty disconcerting. But this guy has a Synesso on one side of my Oscar and a Faema 3 group to the other side so I know I'm dealing with a pro who's passionate.
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 Sep 27, 2012, 10:24am Subject: Re: The Oscar Saga Continues: Backflush Explosion
Well, I was hoping you would say that you felt like you could do it now that you have seen someone else do it. I am sure everything will work out. I don't have access to any one that works on Oscars in my area. Stefano is not to far to go but he doesn't work on Oscar. He has been help when I needed a question answered and I now know I can get a lot of the general parts like the pump from him.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Fri Sep 28, 2012, 3:09am Subject: Re: The Oscar Saga Continues: Backflush Explosion
So I spent a few hours at the shop with the tech while we went through Oscar. We dampened the teflon tube that runs from the pump to the solenoid with some electrical tape because it was wearing against the plastic housing. He rinsed out the boiler and it's squeaky clean now. We put the thing back together and it has much stronger flow.
On your collective advice, I dialed my grinder one macro setting back and started experimenting with dosing 19.5 grams in my standard NS Double Basket. At setting 2J I pulled a perfect shot--60ml in 27 seconds with a mottled layer of crema on top (see below, beans aren't super fresh and the crema had sit for almost a minute). After that, each shot has been close to that and I think I might be situated now. My friend managed to get the Silvia tip to sit flush on the steam wand, so no more rubber O-ring to worry about getting milk under.
My only worry at this point is I asked the tech if I could bum a new group gasket off him because I assumed the old one needed to be replaced. He said sure and threw in a gasket that was MUCH thinner than the one that was in mine! Now, keep in mind mine was set up for pods when I got it, but I was never able to get the PF past the 7:30 o clock position. Now, depending on my basket, I can crank it almost to 5 o clock and it was leaking at first! Is this normal with new gaskets? Do they need to break in?
I've learned a LOT about my machine and feel better about working on it myself, but would like to think I'll be situated for quite a while and I can just focus on making coffee and enjoying it. Aside from the gasket thing, I think I'm almost there.
Posted Fri Sep 28, 2012, 5:56am Subject: Re: The Oscar Saga Continues: Backflush Explosion
NS makes a couple of portafilter gaskets and I believe that, like my Ellimatic, Oscar takes the 4.5mm thick one, rather than the 7.5mm that most of their other machines do. I have to use a gasket shim (available from Espresso Parts, as well as other sources) if I want my pf to lock at the 6 o'clock position.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,371 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Fri Sep 28, 2012, 2:36pm Subject: Re: The Oscar Saga Continues: Backflush Explosion
Glad to hear you are feeling better about working on your machine. That is a really good thing.
From espressoparts where I got my last one:
NUOVA SIMONELLI APPIA/MAC/PROGRAM/PREMIER/OPTIMA/OSCAR FLAT GROUP HEAD GASKET SKU: S_2
72 x 58 x 7mm. Yes, they've switched back to the flat style. Fits all commercial models (except the Aurelia which uses S_418), as well as the Oscar model. For the home units, such as the Ellimatic or "Elli" use S_1
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
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