dose Senior Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 53 Location: Sydney - Down South! Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Mar 30, 2009, 2:53am Subject: la marzocco steam valves... gRrRRRRrR!
Like WTF!!!
Previously i have worked on 3 group lineas for 5 years and never had issues with valves clogging due to milk getting sucked back up...
admittedly, where i work now we are doing 3 to 4 times the amount of coffee i have done when i worked on these machines before, and there just may lie the problem...
i have spoken to the machine supplier about this as the linea is one month old, they asked me if i was purging the wand every time because they say that this should not happen if you purge every time (before and after) IMHO this response is BS, i have another mate who since opening his shop has replaced his valve 4 times in two months, this is UNACCEPTABLE, his practises are exactly as mine and we both purge religiously before and after...
what is one to do...
i heard that someone in the states is supplying a after market linea steam valve that doesnt suck back, if anyone has those details i would be greatly in your debt for it...
alternatively if you have similar experience on lineas id love to hear your remedies...
wushoes Senior Member Joined: 9 Feb 2006 Posts: 318 Location: Melbourne, Australia Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: La Marzocco Mistral and FB80 Grinder: Compak K10 WBC, Robur Vac Pot: Hario and Yama Roaster: Donnie Lee
Posted Mon Mar 30, 2009, 5:51pm Subject: Re: la marzocco steam valves... gRrRRRRrR!
I've had the opportunity to pump some volume out at various cafes using La Mas ranging from GB5s and FB80s through to Lineas and Mistrals.
Yes, LM steam wands suck...literally. I'm not exactly sure why the LM steam boiler causes a sucking action after turning off the steam wand. Anecdotal evidence after having to rebuild steam wands shows that the milk never makes it to the boiler, but just collects as nasty ass crud in the steam tap assembly itself. Far cheaper than having to have your steam boiler cleaned out because of milk contamination. I agree, for their price, this shouldn't happen, but there is an aftermarket steam wand. If you want you can even retrofit your own anti-vacuum valve on top of the steam tap yourself.
The link for the wand is above, as posted for Andreas.
corey Senior Member Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Posts: 1,147 Location: Perth, Australia Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Synesso, Marzocco Grinder: Mazzer Robur
Posted Mon Mar 30, 2009, 8:38pm Subject: Re: la marzocco steam valves... gRrRRRRrR!
Yeah LM's do suck. After fighting this for three or four years I found the solution. Just purge after, never before and keep the purge before and after for the Synesso. Since doing this my LM has never built up milk.
Paul_Pratt Senior Member Joined: 2 Sep 2002 Posts: 301 Location: Hong Kong Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Marzocco SMAL + GS Grinder: Vulcano Drip: Pourover cone works best for... Roaster: Probat
Posted Tue Mar 31, 2009, 2:10am Subject: Re: la marzocco steam valves... gRrRRRRrR!
Corey that is an interesting one.
Those valves with the vacuum breaker attachment now come direct from the factory. I think it may be standard on all GB5 & 80 from now onwards. Not sure about being fitted to standard Lineas but obviously you can buy the kit and retrofit in just a few minutes.
well i have sourced this steam wand and have an espresso parts one on the way also, which do you guys think will do a better job, has anyone had any experience with the one in my photo versus the espresso parts anti siphon job...
i think this one works with the milk that gets sucked back up to the valve, then follows the pipe back to the drip tray, only thing is that i think the pipe will be exposed, which sux...
sjames Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 464 Location: Melbourne, Australia Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Expobar eb-61 Office Leva Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Unibuy Syphon Drip: Are you talking to me????? Roaster: Genovese Coffee
Posted Sat Apr 4, 2009, 8:59am Subject: Re: la marzocco steam valves... gRrRRRRrR!
After many steam tap "Services" on an FB70 that I used to use, I found that activating the anti-vac valve daily, increased the "Servicing" interval. The theory is that the anti-vac valve is supposed to be "Dry", but it is usually lubed. Dry valves react quicker, therefore reducing the chance of a vacuum forming. Lubed valves react slower, so vacuums form and suck that moo juice and turn it into cheese in the tap assembly.
I went from tap service every 3 weeks, to 3 - 6 months by pressing the pin on the anti-vac valve every day (after the tech originally cleaned the lube from it). Our machine was left on 24/7, so the pin in the valve never had a chance to completely drop. If you turn your machine off every night, the pin will drop anyway.
This is a well known problem with the Linea/FB70 and FB80.
psaigh Said:
Corey, when did you get a LMZ? Three Synesso's wasn't enough?!
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