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Date: 01 Oct 2006 03:44:33
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Bunn ES-1A questions
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I removed the element (needed to use a vice grip to get the element squeezed
to a narrower profile). No wonder it leaked, the gasket was completely
crystallized. After I soaked the elements flange in an acidic solution I was
able to remove most of it with a gasket scraper. The rest came off with a
Dremel wire brush. The boiler flange wasn't as difficult to clean up, just a
light touch with the Dremel.
While looking for a new gasket I found most Gaggia ES makes (Futuremat,
Visacrem, etc.) offer two gaskets, 1) ALIMENTARY GASKET, 2) TEFLON
RESISTANCE GASKET. Alimentary refers to food or the digestive tract so I'm
assuming that #2 is approved for use with food preparation equipment. So
what is #1 used for, making coffee for chimps? Or are they supposed to both
be used together? There is what looks like an O-ring groove cut into both
flanges but the was no O-ring when I disassembled it. I'm tempted to revert
to my hot-rodding roots & use a copper O-ring & RTF sealant. Hey, it used to
hold Keith Black hemis together, it should do for this application.
After taking a look in the boiler it appears that at some point it was used
with straight tap water because there was at least a half inch of mineral
flakes laying on the bottom of the boiler. If I invert the boiler so the
element flanges opening points down I can rinse the sediment out with the
garden hose. Other than that the tank looks clean & if the various gaskets &
seals on the machine look like the few I've already looked at this machine
will be a snap to clean up. Wish me luck?
--
Robert (Bunn men do have a different perspective!) Harmon
http://tinyurl.com/pou2y
http://tinyurl.com/psfob
http://tinyurl.com/fkd6r
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Date: 01 Oct 2006 06:34:41
From: Barry Jarrett
Subject: Re: Bunn ES-1A questions
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On Sun, 01 2006 03:44:33 GMT, "Robert Harmon"
<r_h_harmon@Zhotmail.com > wrote:
>what is #1 used for, making coffee for chimps? Or are they supposed to both
>be used together? There is what looks like an O-ring groove cut into both
>flanges but the was no O-ring when I disassembled it.
get the teflon; they don't go bad like the fiber ones and they're
usually reuseable should you need to pull the element out for any
reason. the groove isn't for an o-ring; when the element is tightened
to the boiler, the gasket deforms into that groove, enhancing the
seal.
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