Moisture on inside of quage

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LDT

Moisture on inside of quage

Post by LDT »

I got this machine in December and have had a few small issues. I noticed today while shinning a light near the portafilter that the guage had moisture on the inside. Is this a common problem? Anyone else experience this?

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chas
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Re: Moisture on inside of quage

Post by chas »

That's not right. You need to ask for a new gauge. Fortunately, it's a pretty simple swap out. Just two nuts on the back for the two pressure tubes, then a large bolt that holds the gauge to the chassis frame.
Chas
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LDT

Re: Moisture on inside of quage

Post by LDT »

Chris Coffee supplied a new pressure guage and told me it would be an easy install. Well, not really. :shock: Here's what happened. On the new machines the line to the group pressure side of the guage is a copper capillary tube which is easy to remove and reinstall. But on the steam pressure side the line pictured below was a bear to remove using a metric open end wrench. Actually the flats on both ends of the fitting were rounded off because as I learned, La Spaziale uses pipe thread compound on this fitting that sets up like glue. That would have worked fine if the guage was not defective.

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I ended up having to use vise grips to get the fitting off and taking one side and the back off the machine to have some working room. I am now much more familiar with how the machine is dis-assembled and re-assembled. I tried re-assembling of the line by wrapping approximately 6 rounds of teflon tape on the male fittings and could not get a leak-free connection. Chris Coffee supplied a copper capillary tube like the one on the group pressure side and then it was indeed easy to re-connect. Following are some photos prior to final re-assembly showing the new capillary tube installed. I just hope this guage lasts longer than the original one did.

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GDK
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Re: Moisture on inside of quage

Post by GDK »

Good stuff, you are back to normal now. I noticed one interesting thing on your last picture - the brew boiler on these latest models seems to be insulated with something orange - is that the case?

BTW, last time I opened the machine from the back, I insulated both boilers. Benefits are minor (unless machine is on 24/7), but it is so easy to do. Here is a picture.
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Endo

Re: Moisture on inside of quage

Post by Endo »

GDK wrote: I noticed one interesting thing on your last picture - the brew boiler on these latest models seems to be insulated with something orange - is that the case?
The new machines no longer have a nickel plated brew boiler. What you see is the natural copper colour.
LDT

Re: Moisture on inside of quage

Post by LDT »

Endo is correct. There is no insulation.
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