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Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

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  • Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

    My name is BF and I have a lever addiction problem  :

    While looking for a Deli Grinder on the Bay of Evil this bit of 70s treasure came up and looked like it needed a new home. Not to sure exactly how old it is but it still has a Mercury switch to control the boiler. Special shots of the 10A plug fitted to the machine and double adapter for AM 4500W (wonder why the plug melted)

    It even came with some CleanCaff in the parcel but it must have been a long long time since it was used few dead cockies in the cup warmer tray along with PFs caked in sludge  












  • #2
    Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

    And no amount of counseling is going to cure that addiction. I suppose cartwheels were out of the question but you must be pretty happy to see her/it sitting at home. Whats the plan of attack with this beast, BF?

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    • #3
      Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

      Hi BF

      Looks good !

      Ive kept mine quite original except for the colour.

      The mercury pstats works great, is abolutely silent and gives off a bright flash that can be seen through the holes in the cup warming tray when it switches on and off, as the mercury spills on and off the contacts inside the glass tubes! 8-)

      I posted some group resto tips on HB lever forum or happy to post them here as well

      Have fun !

      Cheers Mokka

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

        Plan is a good flush and external clean for a start, replace the power cable plumb it in and try and pull a few brews on Wednesday to see how it goes After that a full strip and renovation, also started talking to Espressotec NZ about a gas kit for it 8-)

        Got your stuff on HB thanks Mokka, I have been giving $tarbucks Kwality couphee a ragging so they might throw me out yet

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        • #5
          Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

          Hi BF

          Have you cranked it up yet ? Tell us you got a shot and didnt electrocute yourself

          PM me if you need the name of the chrome plater or the sign maker I used (to get the black stick on lettering made). Both did a great job and dint not charge much at all.

          Cheers

          Mokka

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          • #6
            Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

            No smoke or coffee came out due to an excessive amount of crud found during the strip down. If I want coffee like that then there is places in town I can already go to to get that at $3.50/cup :P

            Re Chrome plating will come after the rebuild at this stage, like the painting of the covers it wont make the coffee taste any better

            Surprisingly little scale so far, seems there must have been some filtration fitted   Little rust to due to the heavy layering on axle grease (yes I have smelt it) smeared all over the lever mech and the general layer of fish and chip grease covering the rest of the frame and parts  >

            Apart from that Javmad (owner of my old 2 Z9s) and another mate dropped round so we roasted, drank coffees and did a bit more pull down work in the sun on a weekday  8-)

            Minor downer for the day some !@#$ head at some stage has let the lever slam up without a puck in no doubt and crack the stopper for the lever. Not structural luckily but off to the Tig welder we go.





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            • #7
              Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

              Looks in pretty good nic apart from that crack, BF. A new rubber stop should prevent it happening again.


              Cheers
              Mokka.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

                Any updates on this???

                I just bought an identical machine, which Ive spent the last few days pulling apart and cleaning, and will hopefully be back together by this Friday for some shots


                Cheers,
                Nader.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

                  I have bean very slack on the rebuild front due to other things going on but I have a day off tomorrow to play

                  I gather you brought the one from up North of the Flinders Ranges from the Bay of Evil? How was the boiler internally after being on dodgey water if it was that one?

                  Another one sold in Sydney a few days ago for around $500 (cheap) so there is still a few kicking around.

                  More Pics tomorrow of mine if I get a chance. Feel free to jump in here with yours if you like or start your own thread either is good

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

                    Yeah thats the one I bought. The boiler was full when it arrived at my place. I emptied the water into a clean white bucket, and it looked and smelt pretty clean! Ill be giving it a full descale just before putting everything back together.

                    Worst part about mine was the groups. Piston seals gave way and the (Corroded) springs had been copping hot water every shot. Everything is pretty much cleaned or replaced now. Ill probably start a new thread when Im done


                    Nader.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

                      hi there judt got the same machine offf evil bay. the condition looks reasonable. twin mercury switches, an auto fill. the springs feel pretty firm. Will have to give it a overhaul when i get a chance.

                      Do you know if this evdr had a gas kit?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

                        I gather you got the cheapy from Evilbay last week in Sydney? Yes there was a factory standard gas kit for these, but very doubtful if you could still get one for a sensible price.

                        I did approach Espressotec NZ about getting a kit from them as I want to use mine as a mobile unit with 12V and an inverter for the grinder and 12V fill pump. You should find a couple of spare holes on the lower left of the chassis facing the operator thats where the gas gear would have been installed. Operation is much like a hot water service with a sparker, pilot light and a thermocouple/regulator for the adjustment.

                        Back on mine scratch am entire week with some other problems to contend with but back on track I think  

                        Also some good info here for those that havnt found it http://www.home-barista.com/levers/r...0.html#p154675

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

                          Hey BF,
                          any updates on this...???
                          looking to restore a lever machine myself - or at the very least buy an old one that has been restored - as i love the feeling of having to work for my coffee.
                          Do you have any others on the go?
                          Thanks.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

                            Still a work in progress. I currently have 4 working lever machines so the urgency isnt there I guess but it need to be done by the end of the year

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Rancilio Z9 LE 2 group Lever refurbish and mods

                              Well, as an avid lever fan myself, please feel free to update with any photos or info you have on them. Im very keen to do a restoration one day, and just love hearing stories if rescued machines and seeing how good they look when theyre done.
                              Thanks so much!

                              Joel

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