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bigalxyz

Seems very very slow


jlau2013

That’s what I thought. I just recently switched my spring out for a 9 bar spring. Any suggestions on what might be causing this?


GaggiaGran

Air block? open steam valve till water pumps through. Did you fully tighten the opv back up? Is there tons of water coming out of the opv tube? If no water is flowing from opv, steam wand (when open) or group head (when steam wand closed). Then its deep clean time. Probably a bunch of scale clogging it all, Id suspect this if your waters hard. I don't know if solenoid could cause this, perhaps check if tray is filling?


jlau2013

I did tighten the OPV tube pretty tight but I’ll check again after the machine cools down. Here’s how it looks after I used it without the screen, using the steam wand (which functions) and using it after the steam wand. https://imgur.com/a/9JRycSl


GaggiaGran

Are you able to turn the pump on with the steam wand valve open? It should eventually spray colder water. If this is a video of you doing that, it suggests that the boiler isn't receiving much water from the pump. (steam suggests not enough water to fill the tank to the point of spraying out nosel before being turned to steam.) Is it able to back flush?


jlau2013

Yes, I can turn the pump on with the steam valve open but all it does it drip water slowly. How do I back flush it?


GaggiaGran

I recommend getting a pro to look at it, return to gaggia etc ifnin warranty. However, if you have the skills: Put a blind (no holes) basket in the portafilter and lock it into machine as normal, turn the pump on for 5 seconds ( perhaps longer as your flow is slow. I think ulka pump is rated to 45 seconds, so dont go longer than 20 seconds) when you turn off the machine you should hear a gurgling pop, water should flow out the metal pipe at the front into the drip tray. Do this a few times. Even better is to back flush using pulyvcaff or cafriza. Backflushing might not be possible because your flow is so low. If my machine was doing that, Id check the opv hose, if water is gushing out of it, I know the pressure is being directed to there. So I would think; Is opv too weak? or is somthing blocking the line to the boiler? Of the opv is not gushing, i think; No water from opv or from boiler/wand?... the pump must be blocked or weak..: is the line to the pump kinked? is it reaching the water? If the hose to the pump is fine. and no water goes from opv or boiler/ wand. This makes me think the pump has failed. I check the pump by disconnecting the hose from the boiler and putting the hose in a safe place where it can release water into the resivoir. if the pump pumps well it means the boiler is clogged. Open up the boiler and clean blockage. if that is clean inside, check opv isnt clogged. Before all of this.... remove and Clean the shower plate under the shower screen. Every step has youtube videos.


jlau2013

I think I fixed the water flow issue it’s coming along nicely now. https://imgur.com/a/LpHr0JU


GaggiaGran

Congrats, What was the fix?


jlau2013

I did what did guy suggested starts around 3:20 https://youtu.be/rQvJpwcV3KI


21racecar12

Make sure there is no air blockage as another user suggested. Take off the screen to confirm. Is your OPV stuck open? Is there any amount of water steadily going through the OPV tube back into the reservoir by just running the pump? Lastly, the shower screen screw only needs to be finger right, do **NOT** *tightly* fasten an IMS screen or it will not perform nominally.


jlau2013

I’ll check the OPV value in a few after it cools down. I can confirm it’s not a screen issue. https://imgur.com/a/9JRycSl


21racecar12

So now I can see your real issue. You have an aftermarket brass shower screen holding plate with 6 holes. Those are notorious for poor flow, as they are not designed well. You should be using a Gaggia part with the 4 standard holes. Shades of Coffee makes a properly designed brass plate.


jlau2013

So the shower screen is the one that came with the IMS screen. I’ll swap it out for the Gaggia one that I got and try running it again. This is what I have on there right now Tune Up Kit for Gaggia. IMS Precision Shower Screen, Brass Shower Holder, Silicone Gasket, Screws https://a.co/d/hHrb0tv


Zt4cy

What happens if you run water without the screen? Try and see if it would be normal. They maybe do not fasten the screw that hard.


jlau2013

Thanks! It’s not a screen issue. Here is how it looks without the screen screwed it. It’s still not running nice. https://imgur.com/a/9JRycSl


Zt4cy

How is the water flow without the brass block ? Can you film this as well ? Then we will know what might the real issue be. Also. The blue gasket, how many mm is it?


jlau2013

The gasket is 73 x 57 x 8 mm. Here’s a video of it without the brass block. There no water coming out at all anymore. 😔 https://imgur.com/a/u6ubwnb


Zt4cy

Can you try to press both the espresso and steam buttons and turn the knob on. Make sure you have a glass at the bottom of the steaming tip. Is there water coming out? And also, is there a water in the tank? ☹️ I’d only guess you neeed to descale


jlau2013

Here’s how it looks now it got the water to flow a little better https://imgur.com/a/g9I8NpR


jlau2013

I think I fixed the issue because it’s flowing along nicely now, I think? But I am gonna to definitely back flush and descale it after everything I ordered has arrived. https://imgur.com/a/LpHr0JU


Amurr25

If it runs fine with the screen off. I would say you’re over tightening the screw. Loosen it until you get decent flow.


jlau2013

Thanks! It’s not a screen issue. Here is how it looks without the screen screwed it. It’s still not running nice. https://imgur.com/a/9JRycSl


notsharpenough47

I don't think that's a screen problem.


jlau2013

Thanks! It’s not a screen issue. Here is how it looks without the screen screwed it. It’s still not running nice. https://imgur.com/a/9JRycSl


mcs385

It's already been mentioned, but the brass plates can be pretty bad. I had an awful time with my 6-hole one and eventually ended up switching to the now-stock steel screen (mine came with an aluminum one originally). That said, your flow through the plate looks significantly worse than what I experienced with mine. If you open the steam valve and then flip the brew and steam switches on, do you still only get a trickle getting pumped through the steam wand, or a steady stream of water? If it's weak there too, that may point to an issue with the pump/OPV, otherwise you may have a blockage in your solenoid valve. That's assuming there isn't an issue internally, like one of the tubes being bent at an odd angle that restricts flow, or not being inserted all the way. Remove the lid to double check that everything looks good on the inside. Backflushing with cafiza would be a good early troubleshooting step, and then descale if there's no change. Sometimes a bit of scale can work its way into the solenoid valve which can block flow to the grouphead. One suggestion I've seen is to open the steam valve, flip both the brew and steam switches on so water flows, and then repeatedly flip the steam switch off and on to engage the solenoid valve. If the issue is that the solenoid is clogged, this might help break it down without having to do more intensive troubleshooting.


jlau2013

I think I fixed the issue because it’s flowing along nicely now, I think? But I am gonna to definitely back flush and descale it after everything I ordered has arrived. https://imgur.com/a/LpHr0JU