Change your Wega Espresso Machine Group Seals

<h1>Change espresso machine group seals</h1>

 

Leaking coffee over your group handles?

The life of a group head gasket is not a happy one.

All day it sits in a 90 degrees celcius group head, while the group handle also

at 90 degrees celcius is locked in against it (often with a good dose of ground

coffee), released and then re-locked in. This all means that your group gasket

has a pretty short life expectancy, which is shortened even more the greater the

number of drinks you make. When the gasket dies, you will notice coffee leaking

down the group handle when you brew coffee, and definately when you backflush

the machine (you do backflush, don't you?)



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 Below are some quick tips for replacing the

 group gasket on common machines:-

 Wega - or any other machine with a Faema

 E61 group. The E61 group is a massive chunk of brass

 (See Right), when assembled and ready to place on a machine it weighs in

 at 9 lbs. This weight mass contributes to its ability to maintain a

 consistent temperature. The other function that helps with this temp

 stability is the thermo syphon function; this is a function of water

 circulation that reduces hot spots within the group head. A very simple

 system that is worth its weight in crema. </TD>

 <TD><IMG src="http://www.pennineltd.co.uk/wega/group/group.jpg" alt="change group seals" /></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>





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 Turn off machine. (This operation is best

 performed when the groups are hot) 

 <OL type=1 start=0>

 <LI>Crouch down and look up into the group (with the handles removed),

 you can recognise an E61 group because there is no screw in the centre.

 <LI>Once you have confirmed there is no screw in the centre, take a

 small screwdriver and use the end to lever against the side wall of the

 silver diffuser. Alternatively take a large wood screw and screw it into

 the gasket (see right), then use pliers to pull it down and out.

 <LI>Working around the circle where the group handle locks in, lever

 down from the gasket working your way around.

 <LI>With a bit of work, the silver diffuser will start to work out,

 pulling the gasket out with it. Once the water breaker screw is exposed,

 scrub it with a metal bristle brush and the flat plate around it to

 clean it of coffee residue.

 <LI>At this point you can replace the gasket only, but it is best to use

 a new diffuser as well.

 <LI>Slide the new gasket up the diffuser from the mesh end up. (See the

 seperates right and then them combined)

 <LI>Put the diffuser and gasket combo into a group handle mesh down, and

 then push into the group - making sure the locking notches are in line

 with their slots.

 <LI>When you can twist the handle to the right as normal, the gasket is

 fitted correctly. It will be tighter then before.

 <LI>Do not push the gasket in with a screwdriver or it will be damaged

 straight away. </LI></OL>

 </TD>

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 <IMG src="http://www.pennineltd.co.uk/wega/group/removegasket.jpg">

 <IMG src="http://www.pennineltd.co.uk/wega/group/wegadiffuser.jpg"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



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 <TD>The other type of diffuser and gasket combo are pictured right, you

 will know if your group is of this type by looking up and seeing if their

 is a flathead screw in the centre. If so unscrew the screw and lever the

 diffuser down and it will drop out. On some groups (particularly Gaggia

 machines) you will have to remove the breaker plate - this has two Allen

 Key screws which you will need to undo and remove the big chunk of metal

 known as a breaker plate. Soak this in cleaning powder and hot

 water to remove built up oils. If you can see allen key screws in the

 group their is no way you can get the gasket out without taking the

 breaker plate out. If their are no screws or you have taken out the

 breaker then screw a long wood screw into the gasket until it is tight,

 and then use mole grips to grab the screw and pull it down, which should

 pull out the gasket. It might take a few goes, and the longer the

 gasket has been in the group it will be brittle and hard like pot. Once

 the gasket is out, use a metal bristle brush to scrub the metal plate

 clean of coffee oils, and make sure the gap where the gasket goes is

 clean. Push in the new gasket, then re-fit the breaker if present and then

 screw in the new diffuser plate.</TD>

 <TD><IMG src="http://www.pennineltd.co.uk/wega/group/gaggiadiffuser.jpg"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The guides below are from

www.wholelattelove.com

Rancilio

<BLOCKQUOTE>

1. Unplug the machine 2. Remove the reservoir, drip tray

and drip pan and lay it on its back. 3. Use a short wide blade screwdriver

to remove the shower screen. Under the shower screen is a “water jet breaker”

that will come out with the shower screen be careful not to lose it. If you

use a small bladed screwdriver it might strip the screw. 4. Find a couple

of screws that you might have lying around. They do not have to be any special

size. Screw them into the old gasket. I have found that a sheet metal screw

with a 5/16”or 1/4” six sided head and a ratchet works perfectly. Make sure

that they are across from each other. Do not go completely through the gasket

just screw them in far enough to get a good grip. You can judge this by

looking at the new gasket you are going to install. The gasket depth is about

5/16”. 5. Use pliers to pull on the screws and work the old gasket out.

Pull one side and then the other until it comes out. 6. This is a good

opportunity to clean the shower screen and brew group. The cleaner they are

the better the coffee. It does make a difference. 7. Clean and dry the slot

in the machine that the gasket fits into. 8. Slide a new gasket into place.

Make sure the inside edge that is beveled is facing up. 9. Install water

jet breaker and shower screen. 10. Tip the unit back up and install the

drip pan, drip tray and water reservoir. 11. Fill the reservoir and plug

the machine in and you are ready to go.</BLOCKQUOTE>

 Gaggia

<BLOCKQUOTE>

1. Unplug the machine 2. Remove the reservoir, drip tray, drip pan and

reservoir cover and lay it on its back. 3. Use a short Philips head

screwdriver to remove the shower screen. 4. Under the shower screen you

will see the “Shower Holding Plate” that is help in place with two Allen

screws. Remove the two Allen screws with 5mm Allen wrench. 5. Use a large

flat blade screwdriver to gently pry out the “Shower Holding Plate”. Be

careful not to damage the ridge that the shower screen fits up into. 6.

Find a couple of screws that you might have lying around. They do not have to

be any special size. Screw them into the old gasket. I have found that a sheet

metal screw with a 5/16”or 1/4” six sided head and a ratchet works perfectly.

Make sure that they are across from each other. Do not go completely through

the gasket just screw them in far enough to get a good grip. You can judge

this by looking at the new gasket you are going to install. The gasket depth

is about 5/16”. 7. Use pliers to pull on the screws and work the old gasket

out. Pull one side and then the other until it comes out. 8. This is a good

opportunity to clean the shower screen and brew group. The cleaner they are

the better the coffee. It does make a difference. 9. Clean and dry the slot

in the machine that the gasket fits into. 10. Slide a new gasket into

place. 11. Put the machine back together. 12. Tip the unit back up and

install the drip pan, drip tray and water reservoir. 13. Fill the reservoir

and plug the machine in and you are ready to go.

Pennine Tea and Coffee

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Change your Wega Espresso Machine Group Seals