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Date: 16 Jun 2007 09:22:51
From:
Subject: HELP Gaggia Evolution - low steam pressure for milk frothing!
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Hello,
to any Gaggia Evolution owners - my machine is 4 years old but I
maintain it regularly. Recently the steam pressure from the wand has
become insufficient for good milk frothing - the pressure is low and
the milk just gets hot without frothing. I have changed the two
thermostats on top and left side of the heater - no result. I run
citric acid through the steam - again no change!
I don't want to buy a new machine especially as this one is still
making good espresso. Any suggestion please? Thanks!
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Date: 18 Jun 2007 19:35:53
From: ichi
Subject: Re: HELP Gaggia Evolution - low steam pressure for milk frothing!
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Thanks and no, all is fine! Water flow is fine both cold and hot,
both through portafilter and wand. Temperature is higher in stean
cycle.
I have completely disassembled and cleaned the machine and found a
fair bit of copper-colored sludge in the bottom of the boiler with all
chroming peeled off, so perhaps some chrome has lodged in the
frother's valve preventing it from opening and closing completely.
That would explain why citric acid etc do not improve the steam.
On Jun 18, 10:20 pm, Flasherly <gjerr...@ij.net > wrote:
> On Jun 16, 9:26 pm, ichi <ichim...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hi, al the rest is fine. No steam leaks anywhere. Water comes out
> > the wand OK (push both brew and steam buttons and open steam valve).
> > I am thinking maybe some calcium or milk deposit blocking the steam
> > valve istelf? I might remove the valve (the one that sits on top of
> > the boiler with the black steam control knob) and immerse it in citric
> > acid and baking soda for a while... desperate measures for desperate
> > times...
>
> > On Jun 17, 1:10 am, "Robert Harmon" <r_h_har...@Zhotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > How's the hot water flow through the wand (plugged)? Does steam escape
> > > through the group valve (weak spring or calcium build up)? If the tstats are
> > > OK & the boiler isn't plugged with deposits there's only these two left to
> > > check.
> > > --
> > > Robert Harmon
> > > --
> > > My coffee pages. -http://www.tinyurl.com/mb4uj
>
> > > My 'Guidelines For Newbies' -http://www.tinyurl.com/2tnv87
>
> > > Gaggia Classic; a great machine! -http://www.tinyurl.com/2enxjo
>
> > > Nuova Simonelli Mac & grinder price cut! -http://www.tinyurl.com/2aogu2
>
> > > <ichim...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> > >news:1182010971.183712.96540@d30g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
> > > > Hello,
>
> > > > to any Gaggia Evolution owners - my machine is 4 years old but I
> > > > maintain it regularly. Recently the steam pressure from the wand has
> > > > become insufficient for good milk frothing - the pressure is low and
> > > > the milk just gets hot without frothing. I have changed the two
> > > > thermostats on top and left side of the heater - no result. I run
> > > > citric acid through the steam - again no change!
>
> > > > I don't want to buy a new machine especially as this one is still
> > > > making good espresso. Any suggestion please? Thanks!
>
> Besides thermostats, is a heater element (two?) on the boiler kicking
> in for steam cycle, getting juice (both, and/or one, and at measurable
> difference accounting type and draw) on steam setting? Temperatures
> would be well under 200F if all it's doing is warming the milk, the
> same as preparation for extracting, if missing and not cycling into
> the steam element. Current draw it should be higher in a steam
> cycle. Orifices and valves and pipes cleaned and reamed. At an
> initial turn on, is cold water pump flow rate through the steam wand
> at all restricted?
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Date: 18 Jun 2007 07:20:19
From: Flasherly
Subject: Re: HELP Gaggia Evolution - low steam pressure for milk frothing!
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On Jun 16, 9:26 pm, ichi <ichim...@gmail.com > wrote:
> Hi, al the rest is fine. No steam leaks anywhere. Water comes out
> the wand OK (push both brew and steam buttons and open steam valve).
> I am thinking maybe some calcium or milk deposit blocking the steam
> valve istelf? I might remove the valve (the one that sits on top of
> the boiler with the black steam control knob) and immerse it in citric
> acid and baking soda for a while... desperate measures for desperate
> times...
>
> On Jun 17, 1:10 am, "Robert Harmon" <r_h_har...@Zhotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > How's the hot water flow through the wand (plugged)? Does steam escape
> > through the group valve (weak spring or calcium build up)? If the tstats are
> > OK & the boiler isn't plugged with deposits there's only these two left to
> > check.
> > --
> > Robert Harmon
> > --
> > My coffee pages. -http://www.tinyurl.com/mb4uj
>
> > My 'Guidelines For Newbies' -http://www.tinyurl.com/2tnv87
>
> > Gaggia Classic; a great machine! -http://www.tinyurl.com/2enxjo
>
> > Nuova Simonelli Mac & grinder price cut! -http://www.tinyurl.com/2aogu2
>
> > <ichim...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >news:1182010971.183712.96540@d30g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
> > > Hello,
>
> > > to any Gaggia Evolution owners - my machine is 4 years old but I
> > > maintain it regularly. Recently the steam pressure from the wand has
> > > become insufficient for good milk frothing - the pressure is low and
> > > the milk just gets hot without frothing. I have changed the two
> > > thermostats on top and left side of the heater - no result. I run
> > > citric acid through the steam - again no change!
>
> > > I don't want to buy a new machine especially as this one is still
> > > making good espresso. Any suggestion please? Thanks!
Besides thermostats, is a heater element (two?) on the boiler kicking
in for steam cycle, getting juice (both, and/or one, and at measurable
difference accounting type and draw) on steam setting? Temperatures
would be well under 200F if all it's doing is warming the milk, the
same as preparation for extracting, if missing and not cycling into
the steam element. Current draw it should be higher in a steam
cycle. Orifices and valves and pipes cleaned and reamed. At an
initial turn on, is cold water pump flow rate through the steam wand
at all restricted?
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Date: 16 Jun 2007 18:26:46
From: ichi
Subject: Re: HELP Gaggia Evolution - low steam pressure for milk frothing!
|
Hi, al the rest is fine. No steam leaks anywhere. Water comes out
the wand OK (push both brew and steam buttons and open steam valve).
I am thinking maybe some calcium or milk deposit blocking the steam
valve istelf? I might remove the valve (the one that sits on top of
the boiler with the black steam control knob) and immerse it in citric
acid and baking soda for a while... desperate measures for desperate
times...
On Jun 17, 1:10 am, "Robert Harmon" <r_h_har...@Zhotmail.com > wrote:
> How's the hot water flow through the wand (plugged)? Does steam escape
> through the group valve (weak spring or calcium build up)? If the tstats are
> OK & the boiler isn't plugged with deposits there's only these two left to
> check.
> --
> Robert Harmon
> --
> My coffee pages. -http://www.tinyurl.com/mb4uj
>
> My 'Guidelines For Newbies' -http://www.tinyurl.com/2tnv87
>
> Gaggia Classic; a great machine! -http://www.tinyurl.com/2enxjo
>
> Nuova Simonelli Mac & grinder price cut! -http://www.tinyurl.com/2aogu2
>
> <ichim...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1182010971.183712.96540@d30g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Hello,
>
> > to any Gaggia Evolution owners - my machine is 4 years old but I
> > maintain it regularly. Recently the steam pressure from the wand has
> > become insufficient for good milk frothing - the pressure is low and
> > the milk just gets hot without frothing. I have changed the two
> > thermostats on top and left side of the heater - no result. I run
> > citric acid through the steam - again no change!
>
> > I don't want to buy a new machine especially as this one is still
> > making good espresso. Any suggestion please? Thanks!
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Date: 16 Jun 2007 17:10:02
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: HELP Gaggia Evolution - low steam pressure for milk frothing!
|
How's the hot water flow through the wand (plugged)? Does steam escape
through the group valve (weak spring or calcium build up)? If the tstats are
OK & the boiler isn't plugged with deposits there's only these two left to
check.
--
Robert Harmon
--
My coffee pages. - http://www.tinyurl.com/mb4uj
My 'Guidelines For Newbies' - http://www.tinyurl.com/2tnv87
Gaggia Classic; a great machine! - http://www.tinyurl.com/2enxjo
Nuova Simonelli Mac & grinder price cut! - http://www.tinyurl.com/2aogu2
<ichiman1@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1182010971.183712.96540@d30g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> Hello,
>
> to any Gaggia Evolution owners - my machine is 4 years old but I
> maintain it regularly. Recently the steam pressure from the wand has
> become insufficient for good milk frothing - the pressure is low and
> the milk just gets hot without frothing. I have changed the two
> thermostats on top and left side of the heater - no result. I run
> citric acid through the steam - again no change!
>
> I don't want to buy a new machine especially as this one is still
> making good espresso. Any suggestion please? Thanks!
>
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