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Date: 29 Jul 2006 15:36:44
From: Davesport
Subject: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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Do I need to do more than take off the small mesh that sits up inside the
group. I've had this off a couple of times but was wondering if I need to
clean a bit deeper than this ? If so, how do I go about doing it ? I'm in a
soft water area (Scotland) so there's no limescale build-up to remove :-)))
TIA Dave.
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Date: 29 Jul 2006 16:32:42
From: fullsack
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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Randy G. wrote:
> "Davesport" <davesport@fastmail.com> wrote:
>
> >Do I need to do more than take off the small mesh that sits up inside the
> >group. I've had this off a couple of times but was wondering if I need to
> >clean a bit deeper than this ? If so, how do I go about doing it ? I'm in a
> >soft water area (Scotland) so there's no limescale build-up to remove :-)))
> >
>
> Even machines used with soft water should be descaled once a year
> (depending on frequency of use). Minerals will still build up in soft
> water areas.
>
> Check my website in the right-hand panel: read the article on how a
> 3-way valve works in the "Coffee College" and "Backflushing" in the
> "How To Pages" section. That should answer all your questions.
>
> Randy "clean is good" G.
> http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
A lot of posts in different forums advise against backflushing a
Silvia. Check more than just the "How To"'s before deciding to
backflush.
Doug
fullsack
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Date: 29 Jul 2006 17:28:35
From: Randy G.
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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"fullsack" <fullsack@sbcglobal.net > wrote:
>
>A lot of posts in different forums advise against backflushing a
>Silvia. Check more than just the "How To"'s before deciding to
>backflush.
>
If any of these forums you have read have any amount of factual
information as to why you should not backflush (beyond "the guy I
bought my machine from says the manufacturer told him it will void the
warranty," which is a nonsense), please share it.
Please read my treatise on How a 3-way valve works:
http://home.surewest.net/frcn/Coffee/3way/intro.html
This is 11 illustrated pages on how a 3-way valve works, what happens
when backflushing, and what may happen (over time) if you don't. It
includes a very thorough Q+A on the subject of backflushing as well.
If you have any information that contradicts what I have to say there
on the subject, please feel free to share it. In nearly 6 years on
this forum there has only been ONE person who reportedly damaged a
Silvia backflushing (blew a boiler seal), and he has never given any
evidence that backflushing damaged the seal, and contrary to offering
anything factual or useful on the subject, he has been nothing but
argumentative for the sake of being argumentative.
If the manufacturer does not void the warranty for pulling a choked
shot, there is no way they can void the warranty for backflushing.
Randy "cuz I said so is not a reason" G.
http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
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Date: 30 Jul 2006 03:15:37
From: St. John Smythe
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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Randy G. wrote:
> If the manufacturer does not void the warranty for pulling a choked
> shot, there is no way they can void the warranty for backflushing.
Let me highlight that, because it's at the crux of the issue, and also
paraphrase it: If pulling a choked shot is not harmful to the machine,
there is no way that backflushing would be.
--
St. John, who thinks backflushing may be a little overrated, but at the
same time, can't find it harmful.
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Date: 29 Jul 2006 19:02:19
From: Lloyd Parsons
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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In article <1154215962.234923.244850@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com >,
"fullsack" <fullsack@sbcglobal.net > wrote:
> Randy G. wrote:
> > "Davesport" <davesport@fastmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >Do I need to do more than take off the small mesh that sits up inside the
> > >group. I've had this off a couple of times but was wondering if I need to
> > >clean a bit deeper than this ? If so, how do I go about doing it ? I'm in a
> > >soft water area (Scotland) so there's no limescale build-up to remove :-)))
> > >
> >
> > Even machines used with soft water should be descaled once a year
> > (depending on frequency of use). Minerals will still build up in soft
> > water areas.
> >
> > Check my website in the right-hand panel: read the article on how a
> > 3-way valve works in the "Coffee College" and "Backflushing" in the
> > "How To Pages" section. That should answer all your questions.
> >
> > Randy "clean is good" G.
> > http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
>
> A lot of posts in different forums advise against backflushing a
> Silvia. Check more than just the "How To"'s before deciding to
> backflush.
>
> Doug
> fullsack
I've seen lots of those posts, I personally don't agree with them.
Backflushing is literally doing to the Silvia what the 3-way valve is
designed to do. Pull the water back so you get a drier puck.
The only way to damage anything is to either leave the pump on way too
long or not backflush often enough.
So whether you do or don't, I don't think it is going to damage
anything. And I've seen nothing that indicates that it voids the
warranty.
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Date: 29 Jul 2006 20:22:55
From: Davesport
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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Thank you :-)
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Date: 29 Jul 2006 10:04:09
From: Randy G.
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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"Davesport" <davesport@fastmail.com > wrote:
>Do I need to do more than take off the small mesh that sits up inside the
>group. I've had this off a couple of times but was wondering if I need to
>clean a bit deeper than this ? If so, how do I go about doing it ? I'm in a
>soft water area (Scotland) so there's no limescale build-up to remove :-)))
>
Even machines used with soft water should be descaled once a year
(depending on frequency of use). Minerals will still build up in soft
water areas.
Check my website in the right-hand panel: read the article on how a
3-way valve works in the "Coffee College" and "Backflushing" in the
"How To Pages" section. That should answer all your questions.
Randy "clean is good" G.
http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
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Date: 30 Jul 2006 03:46:57
From:
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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I agree. Pulling a choked shot doesn't harm the Silvia any more than
backflushing would. I backflushed my Silvia regularily, no problem and
I agree as well it's not only safe with a 3 way, it's a necessary part
of regular machine maintainance.
The first time I backflushed, though, I was aware of the manufacturer's
warning not to and did a lot of reading on it. I was nervous. Since
then I've come to find you can choke the Silvia and keep it running for
quite a while without damaging it. The only thing to probably watch
out for is the vibe pump burning out if you keep her running too long.
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Date: 29 Jul 2006 22:11:05
From: fullsack
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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Randy G. wrote:
> "fullsack" <fullsack@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >
> >A lot of posts in different forums advise against backflushing a
> >Silvia. Check more than just the "How To"'s before deciding to
> >backflush.
> >
>
> If any of these forums you have read have any amount of factual
> information as to why you should not backflush (beyond "the guy I
> bought my machine from says the manufacturer told him it will void the
> warranty," which is a nonsense), please share it.
>
> Please read my treatise on How a 3-way valve works:
> http://home.surewest.net/frcn/Coffee/3way/intro.html
> This is 11 illustrated pages on how a 3-way valve works, what happens
> when backflushing, and what may happen (over time) if you don't. It
> includes a very thorough Q+A on the subject of backflushing as well.
>
> If you have any information that contradicts what I have to say there
> on the subject, please feel free to share it. In nearly 6 years on
> this forum there has only been ONE person who reportedly damaged a
> Silvia backflushing (blew a boiler seal), and he has never given any
> evidence that backflushing damaged the seal, and contrary to offering
> anything factual or useful on the subject, he has been nothing but
> argumentative for the sake of being argumentative.
>
> If the manufacturer does not void the warranty for pulling a choked
> shot, there is no way they can void the warranty for backflushing.
>
>
> Randy "cuz I said so is not a reason" G.
> http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
Randy,
I know you wrote the book on backflushing Silvias. Everyone who has
suggested backflushing a Silvia may not be a good idea has been taken
on by you, so we don't need to dredge it all up again.
I backflush my Silvia, but researched it first. Let the guy know,
not everyone agrees with you, so he can come to his own conclusions.
Doug
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Date: 30 Jul 2006 05:54:33
From: Coffee for Connoisseurs
Subject: Re: How to clean Silvia ? Newbie question alert.
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>Let the guy know,
>not everyone agrees with you, so he can come to his own conclusions.
>
>Doug
Why? IIRC only one poster has ever claimed to have experienced damage when
backflushing. Direct discussions with Rancilio in Italy have led me to
conclude that the main reason they recommend against it is fear that the
"average" user will stuff it up.
--
Alan
alanfrew@coffeeco.com.au
www.coffeeco.com.au
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