Quick Mill Achille 0996

BLrdFX · November 2012

on 1351483670:

The drip tray has a nut in it, and a hose attaches to a black plastic cup underneath.

Do you have any idea of what diameter that hose that is connected to that black plastic cup for a drain hose is??

Lacehim · November 2012

on 1353696427:

Do you have any idea of what diameter that hose that is connected to that black plastic cup for a drain hose is??

16/17mm (depends on where you measure it, it has a thread on the end. Take the nut out the tray and it goes into the cup and discharges.

BLrdFX · November 2012

Thank you!

Lacehim · November 2012

They look pretty standard by the way. There was one below my old San Marino CK's drip try.

BLrdFX · November 2012

At least it is much larger than those wimpy Rocket drip tray tubes! The drip tray tube on my GS/3 looks to be the same size as on the Achille. Thanks again.

Lacehim · December 2012

I just received a Coffee Parts nakid from Paolo. It fits perfectly and locks around to 6oclock without any modification, so the OE one is off to ebay because it doesn't fit right. Had an okay shot from the nakid so far and just goes to show that I need more practice and a more refined technique.

Lacehim · March 2013

It's been a while. Still pulling shots, and getting a good brew now, and more consistency, which was more down to me relearning to tamp with 58mm baskets than anything. I've got the EP HQ baskets, and the double is in my nakid, and the triple in my 2 spout. Anyway, a few weeks ago I got a little parcel in the mail from Paolo. Thanks mate! It was 2 end caps for the element. They are bare metal nuts and close ish to the frame, so to be on the safe side I thought I better get on to it. I took the cover off and took some photos of its innards. It seems very well built, but I had a look around regarding the pump noise, and there is a fair amount of vibration carried through that braided hose from the pump solenoid. It's all bypassed when you plumb it. Anyone see anything strange that would be causing vibration? Are there better braided hoses on the market that don't transfer vibration? Here's the photos. Here's the safety valve which touches the top of the cover.

View of the pump form the tank side

Electrics (stored under the water tank)

You can see the water tank frame in place here on the left

Close up of the pump

And from the tank side again

The pump is a fluidotech rotary. Things are quite tight in there with the tank reinstalled, and I noticed a few plastic connectors for the low water tank switch (which is a magnet float I think) had turned brown

The wiring isn't too untidy but some of it is in close proximity to the boiler. I don't have anything fancy lying around, but I did have some insulbrite which is rated high enough for boiler temps, so I loosly lagged the boiler and make sure as much of the wiring in insulated from direct heat. Hopefully this will help things out a little.

Overall it's a great machine and fun to use still. The pump noise is rather annoying so I hope Quick Mill can address this issue on future production runs, and maybe give us some feedback regarding the issue so that we can quieten them down. Otherwise they would be better off with a vibe pump out back.

Koffee_Kosmo · March 2013

There are special high pressure hoses that have been manufactured to limit or stop vibration They are mainly used in automotive applications Also I have a hunk of silicone here at my place that was dropped off by Derrilex for you So next time you come to Brisbane PM me so I can pass it on to you Attachment not found.

Paolo5 · March 2013

Hi Lacehim, Glad that the silicone caps arrived there safely and are now performing their intended role. Have you installed the QM supplied self-adhesive rubberised tape (thanks Jack) between the frame and the cabinet in an attempt to isolate vibration? I have done this but must have upset the balance of harmonics with something else that I did. My Achille now sounds more like a chainsaw than a rotary pump espresso machine. Hi KK, Do you have any clues on where to search for the hoses that you mentioned?

Koffee_Kosmo · March 2013

You can try Enzed but you must specify the high temp / high pressure stiff rubber type with the right thread type KK

Paolo5 · March 2013

Thanks KK, The rubber hoses here would have more flex than the stainless ones:- http://www.coffeeparts.com.au/misc/hoses It just seems like such a backward step.

Koffee_Kosmo · March 2013

on 1364514203:

Thanks KK, The rubber hoses here would have more flex than the stainless ones:- http://www.coffeeparts.com.au/misc/hoses It just seems like such a backward step.

What you want to do is eliminate the sonic resonance as well as any vibration My gut feeling is that its mostly the pulsing action generated from the pump I suppose you could also use solid copper pipe encased in rubber wherever its appropriate KK

C-man · March 2013

on 1364469262:

It's been a while. Still pulling shots, and getting a good brew now, and more consistency, which was more down to me relearning to tamp with 58mm baskets than anything. I've got the EP HQ baskets, and the double is in my nakid, and the triple in my 2 spout. Anyway, a few weeks ago I got a little parcel in the mail from Paolo. Thanks mate! It was 2 end caps for the element. They are bare metal nuts and close ish to the frame, so to be on the safe side I thought I better get on to it. I took the cover off and took some photos of its innards. It seems very well built, but I had a look around regarding the pump noise, and there is a fair amount of vibration carried through that braided hose from the pump solenoid. It's all bypassed when you plumb it. Anyone see anything strange that would be causing vibration? Are there better braided hoses on the market that don't transfer vibration? Here's the photos. Here's the safety valve which touches the top of the cover. View of the pump form the tank side Electrics (stored under the water tank) You can see the water tank frame in place here on the left Close up of the pump And from the tank side again The pump is a fluidotech rotary. Things are quite tight in there with the tank reinstalled, and I noticed a few plastic connectors for the low water tank switch (which is a magnet float I think) had turned brown The wiring isn't too untidy but some of it is in close proximity to the boiler. I don't have anything fancy lying around, but I did have some insulbrite which is rated high enough for boiler temps, so I loosly lagged the boiler and make sure as much of the wiring in insulated from direct heat. Hopefully this will help things out a little. Overall it's a great machine and fun to use still. The pump noise is rather annoying so I hope Quick Mill can address this issue on future production runs, and maybe give us some feedback regarding the issue so that we can quieten them down. Otherwise they would be better off with a vibe pump out back.

yeah, the hard copper pipe touching the boiler looks sus to me. when the pump comes on, can you tell if the noise is at the top or bottom by feel?

dpiette · March 2013

Michael, Did you see an obvious way to bypass the pump in there? I have not opened mine up in a while. But I plumbed it in, and it still uses the pump to charge the boiler as opposed to line pressure. Not having the pump come on at all (even though I don't seem to have your sound issues) would be great. Best, d

Lacehim · March 2013

Hi Dan, Did you flick the switch from tank to pump? Check out your instruction booklet for any warnings. I hope it doesn't use the pump when plumbed! Anyway, if you look behind the drip tray to the left, looking at the machine, you'll see a little s/steel cover. Two thumb screws take that off, and inside is a switch. It will be set to tank I assume, so flick it the otherway to by pass the pump. Let us know how you go.

How's your machine going? What baskets are you using? I'm still getting nice pours out of mine... which reminds me, I have to roast!!

dpiette · March 2013

Yes, the switch is flipped. That only changes where the water comes from, it doesn't stop the pump. I wrote to the Chris Coffee folks and they said the pump still charges the boiler. (interestingly, there is always a little water in the tank from overflow as the boiler heats) I am using the EP baskets, and am very happy (still) with the machine and the espresso it makes. If only I could bypass the pump...

Lacehim · April 2013

I'm not too happy now! I've been under the impression that this machine bypassed the pump when it's plumbed in!

dpiette · April 2013

So was I! But it is still more convenient. Just not as quiet as I had hoped.

Lacehim · April 2013

You could bypass the pump and disconnect the pumps power, but there might be some electronic that stops us doing that. The flick switch must just bypass the float valve in the water tank for mains power. Anyway I've emailed jack about it to see if Quick Mill have a solution.

Paolo5 · April 2013

Hi Lacehim and Dan, How are things? How is that Achille of yours going? In an effort to rectify the erratic sightglass behaviour in mine, I had a bit of fun with mine today and disconnected the pipes from the bottom of the boiler to the sightglass and from the top of the sightglass to the top to the boiler. I blew the pipes threw and couldn't find any swarf/grit etc but when I started the old boy up again, found that the water level didn't rise like it has since I bought it. Great success?? I hope so. Only time will tell with this one. When at operating temp. the water level DOES bounce up and down a bit. About a centimetre each bounce. Does your machine do that? All the best, Paolo

Lacehim · April 2013

Hey Paolo, My water level doesn't move at all from what I can see, but it's purely cosmetic, because it has auto fil anyway. I think you might have had an airlock or something, and hopefully it's fixed mate!

Mine is going okay, but I just saw a nakid shot of Dan's on G+ and my shots need a heap of work compared to his! Put me to shame big style. I tend to get coffee seeping through around the outside of the basket, and dead spots if it's tight, and explosive coffee if it's not. I've had a couple of good ones, but not consistant. Any tips? I'm using the EP baskets, double around 15-16gm, and triple about 20-21 depending on the beans. The double is a gusher even with a fine grind, and the same grind chokes the triple. Fair enough I suppose it's got more coffee packed in there. Still playing and having fun though. I might have to buy a HG One to pair it with.

Paolo5 · April 2013

Hi Lacehim, Kinda disappointed to hear that the bouncing water column isn't normal...oh well... I use an EP basket (double) exclusively with my Achille. It is SO much better for this machine for the way that I prepare a basket than the one that came with the machine. I use between 18.5 and 19 gms of ground coffee in mine and it seems to be spot-on at that dosage. Agree that Dan is the man...saw a still photo on HB the other day. Wow! Cheers, Paolo

dpiette · April 2013

Hi Guys, Thanks for the kind words. I am still very happy with the machine, and have been getting very good and consistent shots. My sight glass doesn't bounce either, but that is a big step up from having it always show you over filling. I like the sight glass, especially now that I am plumbed in. I would like to be able to manually add water when needed (flipping a fill switch, or some such) so that you don't lose temperature when you are pulling some shots or steaming. The fact that it has such a narrow dead band (should it really refill after one shot? I think not) frustrates me a bit. I talked to the guys at Chris Coffee, where I bought the machine, about bypassing the pump. They said they don't know how to do it, and don't recommend it. They implied there was some logic built into the controls there. Probably that narrow dead band. I sound like I am complaining, but I am not. My shots taste as good as they look. I generally dose a little lighter than y'all do (closer to 15g) and use a pretty fine grind. I have a Malkoening ProM (which has its own issues) and it had been pretty good to me. I now use a little rubber blower (A Giottos Rocket) that folks usually use to clean camera lenses to clear out the grounds chute after each shot. I get about 0.7g out each time. I take movies all the time, but don't post many. They all look pretty similar... Cheers!

Paolo5 · April 2013

Just turned my Achille on this morning for some coffees, hoping to see the dance (or even a still column of water in the sightglass) again....and it's back to the old behaviour of rising way too high. At least I have eliminated from the equation the theory that foreign matter might be embedded in the tube above the glass. I guess it is a bit of uniqueness and "character" that my machine has. Thanks for your input, Lacehim and Dan. P.S. Dan...do you use the 15gm in the OE basket...or is it an EP double basket (or other)? Cheers, Paolo

dpiette · April 2013

I have been using 15 g in all my baskets. I have taken to using the ridgeless EP basket with my single spout and my chopped, and the ridged basket with my dual spout. No particular reason, as far as I can tell. Sorry to hear that the glass is back to its old tricks.

Lacehim · April 2013

Today I used 17gm in the double EP, with a really fine grind (as fine as my vario will go without burrs touching ??? ) and I finally got a pour without it starting off with a ring around the outside of the basket. The coffee was average though so still needs works, the pour looked nice at the start though. That seems to be the norm with my nakid pours, during prefusion I can get about 4-5 secs then drops appear around the edges of the basket. I'm wondering if my dose/tamp/distribution needs work. It's been a slog getting my skills back up to scratch after being so lazy after my lusso days. Initially I thought it was my Vario but having used the nakid a bit I think the water is finding an easy route down the sides.

I thought ridgeless baskets might help, but no. Any tips?

dpiette · April 2013

When I first started using the chopped portafilter I discovered that the curved Reg Barber tamper works MUCH better than the flat one. They are both nice fits in all my tampers, so I don't need to do a NSEW type of tamp. I have seen the coffee coming through a couple of times before I released the spring, but that was usually because of a too coarse grind. I will go back and look at some of my early videos to see if I can discern anything that might help. There are not too many variables you can play with, so if you could get a different grinder for a test, I would do that. Good luck!

C-man · May 2013

I have the same exact basket and it works fine with the nakid, beautiful pours, I dose 19.5 gr in it though. different machine and different grinder so I guess that does not help any. I do like the basket though......

IMAWriter · June 2013

Dan, I can't remember if this was covered in this thread (I started back a few weeks ago), but does the pump come on during EVERY every shot, or only sporadically, as in when it is topping off the boiler? BTW, nice folks here. I've enjoyed several threads. This is my first non "introduce myself" posting.

dpiette · June 2013

on 1371275592:

Dan, I can't remember if this was covered in this thread (I started back a few weeks ago), but does the pump come on during EVERY every shot, or only sporadically, as in when it is topping off the boiler? BTW, nice folks here. I've enjoyed several threads. This is my first non "introduce myself" posting.

Hi Rob, Only occasionally. And my pump is quiet, as opposed to some of the ones described here. d

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