La Pav Europiccola

Cuir Beluga

I have a little Europiccola that needs some attention.

I know the seals need doing, hubby was prepared to have a crack at it, but I can't remember if water was supposed to come from the group when the lever is in the raised position and no portafiler in.

Can someone refresh my memory? It's been a while.

Thanks.

Brett H

That’s exactly how the La Pavoni works so I assume so!

Cuir Beluga

I feel like a bit of a dick but it has been so long since I have fired it up. I had a play earlier and even poured a shot, there's definitely a couple of leaks there. I contacted Complete Cafe Services here in Adelaide and they quoted roughly $200 for seals and a going over so I am going to drop it to them on Saturday morning. The plan is to then pick it up the following Saturday and drop the Unico in for a service at the same time.

Brett H

on 1562670519:

I feel like a bit of a dick but it has been so long since I have fired it up. I had a play earlier and even poured a shot, there's definitely a couple of leaks there. I contacted Complete Cafe Services here in Adelaide and they quoted roughly $200 for seals and a going over so I am going to drop it to them on Saturday morning. The plan is to then pick it up the following Saturday and drop the Unico in for a service at the same time.

I reckon that’s a pretty good price! Lucky you for having a good local service agent! I have one and he’s the very best but the minute he retires I’m stuffed! :D

Cuir Beluga

I'm hoping they are good, I haven't been there but they seem to be the main one so fingers crossed. I may even get lucky and get there today. The hot water heater isn't working so hubby went to work to sort out any urgent stuff and then he will be back. Speak of the devil, he just walked in.......

Cuir Beluga

We've had a bit of a turn of events. Hubby took the lever off the La Pav as it needed replacing, was wonky- hubby said the piston was seized and the lever had been forced breaking the lever, and once he started taking bits of it led to more bits being taken off and then more bits came off. It was also filthy. I used it maybe 1/2 a dozen times and it was an ebay purchase. There was also a tiny, dead insect in the steam tip lol. In the end I looked at him and said now it is apart you may as well fix it yourself. So, all the gaskets, lever and lever pins are ordered and I think he is secretly looking forward to getting stuck in. Will post a pic of the piston in a bit.

Brett H

I found them to bea very user-serviceable machine. Good luck!

Cuir Beluga

Thanks. I think I would even be prepared to give it a go, under supervision anyway  :laugh: We're just waiting on all the bits and then will get stuck in. I am really excited about having it up and running.

askthecoffeeguy

be nice to see some pics of your progress and of the finished product - best of luck! pat

Cuir Beluga

Will do, though we had a bit of a lost opportunity to see some of the gunge as hubby tends to clean as he goes. Hopefully we can make a start next weekend.

Cuir Beluga

We've made a start but have hit a hiccup. The group sleeve is going to have to come out and be replaced due to corrosion and scoring. Part has been ordered.

Brett H

I had an issue with the c-clip in the bottom of the group... easy replace! Pictures look great!

Cuir Beluga

Hopefully all the clips are fine, I did ask hubby before I put it the order for the sleeve and sleeve gasket. Unfortunately I don't think she has been looked after. She is a September 2010 model. The piston was seized, the lever pins were rusted in, there is scoring in the sleeve from the piston. The rust under the base I was not expecting. Add to that all the crap that came out of the group when we pulled the shower screen out, not to mention the dead insect in the steam wand lol. I bought it around three years ago so it would have only been around six years old, of that. I only managed around 6 shots out of it before it started leaking. After seeing the condition of it I am quite grateful for that lol.

askthecoffeeguy

oh looking good nice progress!

Cuir Beluga

Thanks . We're happy considering it is something we have never done. Hubby is doing most of the work and it isn't exactly in his line of expertise but I think he is doing well. The electrics is more his thing.

Brett H

Lucky you.... the electrics are the bit that is the game-over for most of us who then seek outside help. You’ll be running a repair business in no-time

Cuir Beluga

He already does communication equipment in his spare time but I think coffee machines would be more interesting. The new piston sleeve and gasket arrived yesterday so back to it on the weekend.

Cuir Beluga

We're still plodding along with it. The main hold up has been discovering we need new parts for it as we go along and then waiting for them. Hopefully we have replaced all that we need to and the rest will be smooth sailing. That said, the work part of it has been easy.

askthecoffeeguy

just added custom pesado handles, baskets, seals, and shower screens to my Ducale - loving the look and the feel of the wooden handles !

Brett H

Wow.... that looks amazing!

Cuir Beluga

It looks fantastic. I have considered wooden handles from time to time but I'm not sure what I want, so for now things can stay as they are. Europiccola is finished, hubby just has to give it a final check for leaks and put the bottom back on. Aside from waiting for parts I have to say I think it went very smoothly. Now I need to concentrate on getting a decent amount of espresso out of her  :coffee2:

askthecoffeeguy

on 1564877511:

It looks fantastic. I have considered wooden handles from time to time but I'm not sure what I want, so for now things can stay as they are. Europiccola is finished, hubby just has to give it a final check for leaks and put the bottom back on. Aside from waiting for parts I have to say I think it went very smoothly. Now I need to concentrate on getting a decent amount of espresso out of her  :coffee2:

oh great how about some more recent photos then !

Cuir Beluga

on 1564992860:

oh great how about some more recent photos then !

Will do. The "coffee corner" is pretty tragic at the moment, I have two machines and two grinders squished into approximately 1 metre of space, if that. Hubby is sorting me out some power on the other bench this weekend so it should look a bit tidier and then I'll take some pics.