I bought this little lever machine a few months ago. For a lever machine it's compact, steams amazingly well, and it's so quiet. It also has a low water level cut off, and a hot water tap which isn't usual for this type of small lever machine. For the price $1500, for a new machine it's great, but not without its build quailty faults. I knew this when I bought it, but hey, if the build quailty was top notch I would have paid much more.
Now I'm not overly worried about the faults, because I like to tinker. I'm working on a few mods too which is why I'm posting. Feel free to help me out. Any assistance is much appricated. I'm sure a few other PV Lusso owners will be interested in the results, even if they are successful or not.
Firstly I have to change the seals on the piston but I'm waiting on seals. Ponte Vecchio sent them to the wrong address so I won't get them until my supplier gets another batch posted over.

Still I got another set loaned to me from a fellow forum member at the Sunshine gathering and a neat little tool from Orphan Espresso for fitting the seals. There seems to be a few ways so far to change the seals.
1. A G clamp top and bottom to compress the spring to remove the top pin from the lever
2. Remove the groups and use a G clamp top and bottom to compress the spring to remove the top pin from the lever
3. Make a jig which sits on the frame where the drip try sits and pushes up into the group to compress the spring. This is my prefered method so far, but there is the nagging problem that it might damage the frame. Personally I doubt it much because the spring only has to be compressed enough to remove the retaining pin.
I then want to move the pressurestat up so that it can be accessed without taking the case off (which requires taking the hot water and steam valves off). Most folk seem to be happy with 1.1 bar, and I am at the moment, but one day I'm going to want to play!

Orphan Espresso have already done a mod like this, but it doesn't seem available from their website, and they haven't replied to my enquiry via email.
I also want to add an antivac valve so that as the machine warms it will be ready to be used straight away, rather than having to bleed off the false pressure. This mod is to make it more convenient and also to keep the wife happy so that she can make her chai lattes.
Then while I'm checking over the whole machine I also thought about putting a ball in the water level sight glass. It's down low and sometimes it's hard to see what level the water is at. It will also help my wife in checking that the water is at the right level.
While I've got the case off I will also be checking out the internal layout, making sure to check for any problems that could potentially cause rust. The supplier did say that the inside of the case could be varnished to protect it. I also wouldn't mind making the top cover hinge somehow.
Insulation for the boiler. Not sure on this one. There are products available but they don't cover the ends of the boiler! In my opinon that's a bit like doing a half job. I've got some insulbrite, but might need something a bit more industrial because the boiler it at 1.1bar. Might have to make some sexy oven gloves for the woodfired oven instead!!!
And last of all... custom handles hopefully for the groups and levers. AM has taken an interest so hopefully we can work something out.
As always I'll post up a few photos as I progress along. Yes you probably all think I'm mad doing this to a new machine, but I just want to improve it for my own needs, and make it my own little machine that stands out from the crowd.
PS. I have some basic drawings of the internal parts etc, and can upload the manual if anyone wants a looky.
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