Sunbeam E3600 Leaking Group Handle

System

We have EM3600 (small cheap sunbeam) which is about 8 monts old (yet not under warranty now cuz we opened it very late!).  The group handle kept blowing off the collar, so we replaced the seal, then the guy said the collar was cracked so we replace that, now water is pouring up over the top of the group handle and out the sides of the group handle?  any ideas??

askthecoffeeguy

buy a new machine! Anything which causes so many problems will only continue to do so! but first try back washing the group head with a blind filter to remove any build up, and try inserting the empty handle in the machine and running some hot water through it while jiggling it back and forth, just prior to making your coffee - and immediately after making each coffee - to make sure that the group head is nice and clean but make sure that the handle and basket is clean and dry before filling with coffee, otherwise you will get an uneven extraction hope this helps ACg

Lovey

I would suggest that you don't try and do a 'blind filter back wash', as these machines don't have a three way valve. I can only imagine the results if you tried to do it  :o. When you have water flowing over the top of the group handle, there are most likely 2 possible causes, barring any mechanical fault with the group head of course. 1st. You haven't tightened the group handle into the group properly. This can be caused by being 'limp wristed' with the group handle, or you have overloaded the basket which could make it hard to insert properly. To test this, insert the group handle (with basket inserted) into the group head. Take a note of where the handle is pointed (a reference to a clock is good, ie 6 o'clock, 5.30, etc.). Then prepare your coffee as normal and lock the group handle in using your normal action, and take a note of where the group handle is pointing now. If there is a marked difference between the two positions, you're either overloading the basket (down dose a little) or you need to exert a little more force when putting in the group handle. 2nd. You have a dirty group seal, which is usually caused by excess coffee grounds getting stuck in the seal. Get hold of a group brush or a wet tea towell and run it around against the seal a few times. If any coffee comes out, there's your problem. Let us know how you go with it. Steve.