Ponte Vecchio Lusso Mods

ash

Lacehim, how is this mod going? I'm still not sure of the benefits of this mod as I don't find bleeding my machine each morning too much of a chore. However, the insulbrite thing is something that I've still got to get around to doing.

Lacehim

Ash, it's been fantastic. I know it doesn't bother most folk but I'm the sort of person that turns something on, then get distracted. I was always coming back later for a coffee only to find it's just full of false pressure! Also the WAF has vastly improved. She's must happier turning it on, and has even filled it up and turned it on for me while I'm having a shower! ??? All I want to do now is have the pressurestat pointing up, insulate the boiler & fix the groups up. Jack has a new one coming to replace my faulty left group which should be here in a few months. The right is also playing up, and probably needs another new set of seals 🙁 The coffee is still excellent, and I love it paired with the Vario. How's your going?

ash

Mines going great, although I think I may have a scratch inside the right group. I may try just to smooth it out with some autosol first though. Every now and then I'll get a shot on the right group that dosen't produce anything as it seems as thought the water goes back into the boiler. Almost like it's bypassing the coffee altogether. I'm going to ask Jack to send up the piston removal tool to pull out the piston and have a look inside and clean it up before putting in a new set of seals. What I really like about it compared to almost all oher domestic lever machines is that I can turn it on in the morning and leave it on, with out having to premeditate when I want a coffee. The only form of upgradeitis for me is if I go to something like an Izzo Popmpeii, but I'm cautious about buying a plumbed in machine due to moving house every few years because of work. If I could find a machine in that class that was a simple boiler like the Lusso I may be interested, but this little machine is perfect for me so I really don't see the need to get a new machine yet. Grinders on the other hand.... For anyone else who has a Lusso and wants to replace the seals, ask to borrow the piston removal tool from Jack at Sorrentina Coffee. It makes life so much easier than trying to use a G-Clamp!! And seeing as I have a couple of spare group handles lying around I really should see if someone can knock up another piston removal tool...

ash

I should mention that you check out all the spade connectors going to the 'brain'. My machine wouldn't switch on one day, so off came the case to check out the electric's, thinking that is was going to end up being brain dead. Found the main power supply spade connector wasn't fitted correctly and had melted the spade cover to bits, leaving the connector not connecting! Connected everything back that way it was supposed to and things were back to normal. I may have a photo of it, but that'll have to wait until I get home as I'm over in Perth visiting the folks for another week or so.

Koffee_Kosmo

ash wrote:

The only form of upgradeitis for me is if I go to something like an Izzo Popmpeii, but I'm cautious about buying a plumbed in machine due to moving house every few years because of work. If I could find a machine in that class that was a simple boiler like the Lusso I may be interested, but this little machine is perfect for me so I really don't see the need to get a new machine yet. Grinders on the other hand....

I have opted for the Bezzera Strega Yes I know it has a pump that runs for 5 or so seconds But this lever is a hell of as machine KK

Brett_H

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

I have opted for the Bezzera Strega Yes I know it has a pump that runs for 5 or so seconds But this lever is a hell of as machine KK

Yes it is! It's built like a tank, steams like a train and pulls very sweet consistent shots!

Lacehim

That looks really interesting AM. Seems to be a success. I'm soooo tempted to buy one and give it ago. Another 8 weeks for a new group according to Jack. The antivac mod is going well, and I've modified the plastic electrical cover to keep the electrics safe. I'm not sure I can get it back out though! :🙂 I'm going to give it the works when I get back on my feet, and insulate the boiler, make the case fit better, and put something behind the water lever indicator to improve the water level. Also make a better cover for the electrics too I think. Any idea what materials I can use? I needs to be heat tollerant, and non conductive because it touches the boiler, and is in proximity to electrical stuff.

Lacehim

Well on a positive note Jack sent me a group from his own machine because the single group can't be modified for the 2 group. While swapping over the groups I noticed a few things, and I'm not really happy with it, at all. The cover that goes over the electrical area has melted, and is all bent. Yes I took out a part of it to fit my antivac, but on further investigation I looked down at the box that houses the low water level circuit board. Have a look for yourself. It's melting too, and the finish on the valve stems (welded the boiler) have gone from chrome looking to sparkly, and scratched looking. 🙁 I'll have to fix that box up somehow, and might make a new cover with some timber. At least it wont melt.

derrilex

Upgrade time :rofl: 8)

Brett_H

Lacheim, you've been such a champion of this machine and Jack seems to have gone out of his way to help. I don't know... all the good will in the world and clever little mods won't make this machine into something it isn't. Yes the manufacturing could be better and the materials could be refined but then it would be in a different price bracket. Dont get me wrong, i share your frustration and you have my sympathy; but I think DX has a point 😉

derrilex wrote:

Upgrade time :rofl: 8)

Lacehim

BH and D, I agree it is what it is. Not a bad machine for $1500. Time to move on I think, but to what? Maybe there are some EOY sales on. ;D

derrilex

Hey Lacehim, if you went for a slightly smaller solar system you could have got a strega too :rofl:

derrilex

Are you hell bent on keeping the lever theme going if you upgrade ?

Brett_H

derrilex wrote:

Are you hell bent on keeping the lever theme going if you upgrade ?

The diadema DB PID would be a great buy EOY!!! Attilio is only a pm away. >😃

UNM

if replacing casing over electrical components in a hot and damp environment, go with metal. Earthed (grounded) of course.

Lacehim

UNM wrote:

if replacing casing over electrical components in a hot and damp environment, go with metal. Earthed (grounded) of course.

Would the likes of Jaycar have anything like that? Had the machine on for a few hours now, and no leaks from the new group! 🙂 Was very simple go change over too. Not sure about an upgrade... I'm too fussy, and I do love the simplicity of the lever machine.

UNM

Lacehim wrote:

Would the likes of Jaycar have anything like that?

Metal project boxes? Various sizes, not sure what exactly you need but they may well have something to fit. Plastic is the go if you do not have reliable grounding, but I prefer metal in that sort of environment - with a metal boiler coupled to group heads by metal pipe, there is nothing to be gained by going plastic - as long as circuit board doesn't touch the casing.

Lacehim

UNM wrote:

as long as circuit board doesn't touch the casing.

I was thinking I could just put the whole part into a suitably sided metal box. That way it's protected from water etc. There seems to be enough room in that area without touching the boiler. I'll have a look around. 🙂

Lacehim

Well on a positive note for my little machine, it now has a working LH group thanks to Jack and I replaced the seals on the RH group too and it's now much smoother. That PV tool does make changing seals a dream. Also for any lusso owners, slick with DOW111, the inox high temp grease (food grade) that I used got all gluggy and caught up in the seals. 🙁 Lucky Jack put a little sachet of DOW111 in the bag for me! 🙂 I've got a bit of work to do to make a cover for the electrical bits, but apart from that it's as good as new (well better because it has an antivac mod!). A few coffees and I'm sure I'll be back in love with it again! 🙂

ash

I still love mine, inspite of all it's little niggles! :angel: Mind you it's getting to the point whereit's going to need a descale and thorough clean out and seal replacement. I've emailed Jack, so hopefully it'll happen soon.

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