My GS Project

TheLightRoom

Ronin - Defiantly shaping up mate! I can only imagine the amount of grime and gunk on the cloths from cleaning! Cheers, TLR

Ronin

Decided not to risk the brew element with the dodgy thread under pressure. Going to get it fixed or a new one if can't be. The company is on hols to next Monday tho :doh: Will be there first thing Monday morning. Had an issue with the PID probe too, seems it sticks out too far and the front panel won't go on with it in. The Element place also does PID stuff, so I'll be looking into that next Monday also. Got some thermal cut out fuses and will be wiring them into the machine too. Good advice there I think. Put the water inlet valve back together, was difficult so pulled it apart again. Not aligned and damaged the washer and spring. :tearhair: Been slow progress past few weeks. Was hoping for more to be done, but need some things and everything manufacturing closes over Christmas, guess that's why I'm on holidays. Just not convenient

Ronin

Ok for the forth time typing this we'll see if it works. New brew element picked up and installed. Water inlet valve fixed and installed. Pressure switch bracket made and switch installed. Vacuum breaker and OPV sorted and installed. Wiring well under way and on the down hill run. Groups installed except for lever and group caps. Stainless panels brushed look cleaned up (except front panel) and looking better, might spend some more time on these yet. Just need to sort out the PID thermocouple as the one I have is too long and fouls on the front panel. Can't up load photos still as yet, will when I can

Ronin

Thermal cut out fuse on the steam boiler aka Paul Pratt style, also one on eht brew boiler

Ronin

Vacuum breaker valve on left with 90deg elbow and OPV on the right

Ronin

So far so good. This was before I installed the water inlet valve, if you look where the drain tray will go (next to the hammer 😃)

borat123

Ronin wrote:

Thermal cut out fuse on the steam boiler aka Paul Pratt style, also one on eht brew boiler

Interesting thermal cutout. How does it work; is it measuring the actual temp of the skin of the boiler? I remember on the Cimbali two group I had, there was a probe mounted through the element base plate, protruding into the boiler. It fed the temp via coiled up wire into the thermal cutout switch that had a plate that warped when hot and broke the circuit.

Ronin

Thats right, measuring the boiler surface and has a trip switch that trips at?, hum can't remember what temp (120deg C, I think, must check). Just like the one on your house, easily reset. I had to use a thin wire to tie it on to the boilers as there is no other way to do it easily, recommended to me by my go to guy.

borat123

Ronin wrote:

Thats right, measuring the boiler surface and has a trip switch that trips at?, hum can't remember what temp (120deg C, I think, must check). Just like the one on your house, easily reset. I had to use a thin wire to tie it on to the boilers as there is no other way to do it easily, recommended to me by my go to guy.

Maybe try gluing it on(?) I found some new 'special' glue in the adhesives section of Bunnings the other day, that secures plastic to all types of metal, and is flexible, and heat resistant to a high temp. Comes in a small tube and was less than ten bucks 🙂 (the blue one) I used it to stick a transformer onto the inside of the Urania case, and it seemed to work pretty well.

Ronin

Interesting idea gluing it on. It's brass on the bottom, and not sure if the glue would disrupt the heat transfer. Prob wouldn't do that much. I was being a good apprentice and following the masters advice http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_pratt/3746043752/in/photostream Look closely and you can see the thin wire holding it on. Paul Pratt really does do fantastic work IMOP. I hope to do the machine justice

Ronin

Anger Management wrote:

Dropped over today and Trust I did not make too much extra work for the man. Nothing that didn't need done anyway mate 1: Always be aware re rental places and their compliance with the relevant electrical act. RCD apparently does not work and from what I could quickly assess; Some very dodgy brothers work re wiring and lack of earth and under rated power cables. Spoke to landlord and showed him some more problems, lets just say we're moving soon. That being said, some great work on the coffee machine... Thanks I will let the man in question post as I don't want to steal any thunder, but lets just say we discovered a few things other than just wiring and he does have a bit to tidy up... But once he does, it will last a life time.

Wiring was always going to be my downfall, hence the visit with AM. I want to do it myself but AM gave me some great tips and techniques to do the job better (read 'correct' ;D) A few upgraded components needed and better connections that are soldered for a better and legal job (and earthed properly) Need to set the OPV valves also, I assumed they would come set, but.............. Going to ask about that one as they're brand new. Thanks for your time yesterday AM, I hope you weren't in trouble when you got home. Time really slips away when playing with shinny toys.

TheLightRoom

Hey Ronin, Any further progress on your GS beasty? I've been following with a LOT of interest! Cheers.

Ronin

Hi TLR and thanks for the prompt, been a bit slack re this thread. Mostly finished now, Installed PID fixed wiring problems and just need to mount the PID controller (think I have a suitable place now) and finish the cosmetics. Stalled a bit too, I'd love to plug it in, but landlord is reluctant to fix wiring problems and I'm not about to risk my machine on dodgy house wiring. Anyway here are some bad pics from the phone camera. You'll get the idea

Ronin

Wow they are really bad photos, worse than I thought. Sorry bout that

Brett_H

Bloody hell. That Can't be the same machine surely. It looks amazing. Congratulations mate! :thumb:

TheLightRoom

That GS is looking awesome. So pleased it's turning out so well. Not too 70s at all mate!! Can't wait to hear about it being switched on in your new place for the first time!

Koffee_Kosmo

TheLightRoom wrote:

That GS is looking awesome. So pleased it's turning out so well. Not too 70s at all mate!! Can't wait to hear about it being switched on in your new place for the first time!

I personally like the industrial look Thanks for the update KK

TheLightRoom

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

I personally like the industrial look Thanks for the update KK

Yup I love the look of it too... as I think I implied by saying it "is looking awesome". :thumb:

Ronin

Made some timber paddles and used shellac to finish them. I used Rosewood, has a nice grain and is used in outdoor furniture so prob has the best chance of staying stable with the heat. Looking at the group caps too but will need a slight redesign as the 4mm average thickness will have no strength to it. 2mm in one place. That's probably why there isn't any timber group caps in use that I could find. Will need to glue it up in segments for strenght too, hopefully it'll look ok when done. Pics

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