GRC123 Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Santa Barbara Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Nov 14, 2012, 9:05pm Subject: No Brew Pressure with my Anita
My Anita is 2 years old and I just had it apart to re-insulated the boiler. Once back together, I ran it up to temp and gave it a test shot with the blind filter and only got 4 bar. I tried adjusting the brew pressure and it just gets worse. I thought I was possibly turning the nut in the wrong direction, but I verified I have turned it correctly (to the right). It just gets worse. Now, my blind shots get 1 - 2 bar. I also rechecked for any wires that may have come loose (none). I did notice that one of the pump mounts was not screwed down so I fixed that. Do I have a bad pump?
GRC123 Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Santa Barbara Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Fri Nov 16, 2012, 8:02am Subject: Re: No Brew Pressure with my Anita
Nope, no leaks. I did however talk to Roger at Chris's Coffee (the man is a genius and very helpful) and he walked me through the symptoms. Conclusion is that I either have a bad pump or a bad expansion valve seat. I ordered them both and I'm hopeful I'll be back in great espresso.
GRC123 Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Santa Barbara Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 9:54pm Subject: Re: No Brew Pressure with my Anita
Things went from bad to worse.
I replaced the pump and the expansion valve seat. Now, I get adequate brew pressure, but the pressure does not completely drop after lowering the brew handle. It will drop from 9 bar to 4, then slowly climb back up to 9. If I rock the lever between the down position and 45 degrees, the excess water will flow out the pressure relief valve in front and reduce the pressure. As a result of all this excess pressure, my expansion valve in the back now leaks.
SStones Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2012 Posts: 207 Location: Canada Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Giga 5, ECM Giotto, Rocket... Grinder: Anfim Milano-Best Vac Pot: No :( Drip: Some $30 thing from Walmart Roaster: I buy pre-roasted.
Posted Sun Nov 25, 2012, 6:47pm Subject: Re: No Brew Pressure with my Anita
Wow. New problem is cool... Is the pump still running when the handle is lowered to 45 deg? And when the handle is all the way down? All the way down opens the drain valve, the part below the brewhead. This allows pressure in the brew head to escape to the tray so you don't get a facefull when you pull off the portafilter. At 45 deg, your drain valve should be closed but the pump should not come on. Above 45 deg, your brew valve should open first before the pump is activated further above 45 deg for brewing at 90 deg (up). If the pump is running, even after the upper valve in the brewhead is closing, then you need to move the pump-switch further back into the machine, a little further off of the cam on your control-lever. Is the control lever loose and able to move around, forward and back rather than just rotating?
If your pump is not running while your brew pressure is climbing to 9 BAR, is it plumbed in? And is your waterline pressure overcoming your pump and pressurizing your system?
We can probably figure this out with enough questions and answers... Or probably Chris can, he is damn good at this.
GRC123 Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Santa Barbara Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sun Nov 25, 2012, 10:38pm Subject: Re: No Brew Pressure with my Anita
Sorry, I may not have communicated well. The pump doesn't continue running. The pump shuts off when the lever is at the 6 o'clock position as well as the 45 degree position, as normal. It is the brew pressure that climbs back up. I did talk to Jason at Chris's Coffee and he told me that as long as the pressure in the head group has been relieved (which is indeed the case) then the residual pressure indicated on the gauge is inconsequential. He also sent me a new o-ring for my expansion valve which I'll replace when I get the energy to tear it open again. I put teflon tape to seal up the leaky valve but I should get back in there and replace the o-ring.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 