Cleaning and Descaling Article

[Nick]

Here's an article from the UK. does this work for our machines?

http://www.anothercoffee.co.uk/coffeeinfo/cleaning.aspx

[Nick]

Here's a quote from WLL's article on descaling:

Machines that cannot be decalcified and should be back flushed with
Urnex Espresso Machine cleaner:
ECM Giotto
Pasquini Livia 90/Livia 90 Auto
Isomac Millennium, Tea, Relax
Rancilio S24
WEGA Machines
Expobar Machines
Salvatore

[Sean Lennon]

That sucks like a bucket of ticks.

Sean

[Nick]

...with Lyme's disease!

Todd sent me an email last night and he said: "I am trying to get the
info from Expobar about the water filter. I should have it by Wednesday
(I hope)."

So let's wait and see if it goes into descaling, etc.

[Ken Krone]

I wrote to Todd yesterday about a section for the manual regarding
descaling and this was his reply:

Hi Ken,

I will work on the descaling thing. It is difficult but obviously many folks
that own the Brewtus could handle it.

Thanks for talking her up.

Best regards,

Todd

>__________ NOD32 1.1079 (20050426) Information __________
>
>This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
>http://www.nod32.com
>
>
>
>
>

[Nick]

"Thanks for talking her up"? I thought Brewtus was a guy! At least my
wife thinks he is and she's never wrong.

That sounds hopeful. We will be at version 2.0 of the manual before we
know it. I did the first final proofing today and made about 40
corrections and grammatical changes and we are now at V 1.6. Please
report any others that may have gotten overlooked.

[dennis....@comcast.net]

Ken,

I will look forward to Todd's details about descaling Brewtus.

For instance, the boiler must be overfilled with solution and allowed to soak & dissolve scale where the normal level line is at.

I believe Expobar reccomends distilled water use instead of dealing with their average consumer trying to descale a dbl. boiler machine.

[Barton, John]

 

Nick,

I noted one correction on the Draining the Boiler section that I forwarded you.  I mis-spoke, or we misunderstood one another.  The procedure that I forwarded you was the same as was sent to me when I had to return my machine – however, although Expobar is noted as one of the machine types, I suspect that what was sent me was not specific to Brewtus, but in-fact is for other Expobar HX machines that Todd sells.  It may be worth confirming that the HX procedure that was given me (and forwarded to you) is also the procedure that Todd recommends for Brewtus.

John N. Barton
Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership
Architecture / Planning / Interior Design 
925 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2400
Seattle, Washington  98104
Direct: (206) 521-3444
Fax:      (206) 623-7868

[Nick]

Thanks, John, for the heads up. I'll double check on that for sure.

[Nick]

Hello John,

Here's the email Todd sent me this morning regarding the boiler
draining. (I sent him what we had in the manual and asked if that was
the correct procedure):

"HI Nick,

That works fine for draining the steam boiler. The brew boiler will
still be full of water. If you want to drain the brew boiler also this
is a good way to do it.
Thanks.
Todd

The brew boiler is much more difficult.

After your steam boiler is drained as per your instructions do the
following:

1 Unplug the machine.
2 Let the machine cool down to room temperature.
3 Remove the reservoir and remove the back cover of the machine.
4 Remove the white Teflon tube from the outlet side of the pump. Some
water will drain out of this tube.
5 Put the casing back on the machine, make sure you do not cross thread
the screws.
6 The the two hex headed bolts off the top of the E61 group.
7 Place the machine with its back facing the sink.
8 Tip the machine onto its back and then upside down with the opening
at that top of the E61 over the sink. make sure you tip it backwards
not forwards.
9 When it is done draining tip it back up and put it back together."

What did he mean in #6? Did he mean to say, "Take the two hex headed
bolts off"? I'll edit the info in the manual to accomodate this info.

Nick

[Barton, John]

 

Thanks for forwarding this to Todd.  I guess when the repair place sent my unit back the brew boiler was still full!

Todd definitely needs to add some additional clarification to this process.  This seems to be on-par with the instruction booklet that was hastily put together without proof reading.

“Disconnecting the white Teflon tube from the outlet side of the pump” – presumably, that would be the white Teflon tube that is connected to the end of the de-aerator valve, or is the OPV the last in the line of valves?  In any case it is a little unclear if this tube is to remain dis-connected for the draining process, or just temporarily to get any water out of the tube.

Regarding the (2) hex bolts…it seems as though you would remove these to allow draining – again Todd should provide some clarification.  I am a little nervous as to why his directions state to “make sure you tip backwards, and not forwards.”  Is this just because of boiler configuration and all the water will not be able to get out if it were tipped forward – or will something come apart from the machine if you do it wrong?

 

Perhaps Kitt, you may have something to add to this as I have some recollection that you have spoken with Todd about the less than satisfactory process of draining Brewtus’ boilers – this seems to be directly tied into the de-calcifying problems us owners will run into not so far down the road.

 

I’m glad you asked the question.  Thanks for all your work on this Nick!

John N. Barton
Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership
Architecture / Planning / Interior Design 
925 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2400
Seattle, Washington  98104
Direct: (206) 521-3444
Fax:      (206) 623-7868

-----Original Message-----
From: Nick [mailto:nscu...@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 7:43 AM
To: bre...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Cleaning and Descaling Article

 

 

Hello John,

[Sean Lennon]

I believe he means the hex head assemblies on the Very top of the
brewgroup that hyouse the Gicleur valve assy....this opens the the
inner cavity to the outside and will allow the water to run freely out
the top of the brewgroup when inverted.
removing the teflon tube from the OPV on the pump assembly allows air
to enter the HX/brew boiler thereby draining the unit.

That whole procedure is real fun...prepare to get wet.

Sean

[Abraham Carmeli]

He Meant "Unscrew the Two Hex Headed Bolt". It comes out, and the
boiler water drains out of that hole when you flip it over. Important:
There is a spring and a pencil shaped metal rod in that chamber.
Remember the orientation of both before you remove them and flip the
machine over. You will need to put them back in after you emptied the
boiler, and screw back the two hex headed bolt.

Abe