I've just been given two group Grimac espresso machine. While I'm fascinated with espresso machines and want to learn more about them, I don't have a clue. I'm picking it up In the morning.
The lady that's giving it to me says it's not reliable. Who knows what's wrong with the thing. I guess free means I can't go wrong, right? I'll post pictures of the actual machine tomorrow. While I'm handy it's probably way over my head to try to refurbish the machine. Would love to have some feedback. Thank you
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Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
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Good to see another happy Grimac user, I've got a Grimac twenty semi auto single group and loving it also the wife doe's to.
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Nice to hear, I read over this today. I'm sure it's got a lot more life in it.
What's the next upgrade?
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It's been some 5 years since I started this thread on the acquisition of my Grimac 2-grouper.
Perhaps a quick update is in order.
It still sits on the kitchen bench, next to the sink and taking up a lot of valuable real estate there.
It's plumbed in to the water supply and the drip tray to the kitchen sink S-bend which also takes waste from the dishwasher.
A couple of times, waste grounds have clogged that S-bend, so that when the dishwasher emptied, water had nowhere to go but up...up the small flexible hose from Grimac's drip tray.....spilling out all over the kitchen bench.
The drip system is now regularly flushed to prevent reoccurence!
The machine is very reliable, and consistent. I've replaced the group seals a couple of times. And attended to a sticking o-ring on the vacuum break valve a couple of times. Both very quick, cheap and easy fixes.
Without intentionally doing so, we have cut back on coffee and alcohol use. Don't know why.
So now it's switched on in the morning for a breakfast latte for me and Mrs Robusto....and mid-morning double shot espresso for me.
It's then switched off until night for a single espresso for me, and latte for her.
At Christmas and other family gathreings it is a godsend. I take orders for up to 20 espressos and lattes, and with the two groups I can made 4 shots at a time, flush, reload and extract with no waiting. The 5 litre boiler never goes cold or loses pressure.
Steaming milk....we make a great team, and I must say, perfect microfoam has been second-nature for years. I look back at my first attempts with its predecessor, a Rancilo Silvia. Where do I hold the pitcher? At what angle to the wand? Tilt to the left or right, front or back? Do I move it or keep it stil?......It was a mystery whose secrets I feared would never be unlocked.
But they were unlocked, and it's a pleasure to deliver my wife and guests microfoam which knocks their socks off.
I should really descale it, perhaps think about a new diaphragm for the mighty Sirai pressurestat which never misses a beat. Perhaps even clean the contactors contacts. But if it aint broke, why bother trying to fix it?
On the worry side, Grinders in Fairfield no longer stock parts. Something which may be more than a worry down the track when and if I need them.
Looking back over this thread last night I saw recalled how JavaB and Sparky guided me during its set up. I remain indebted to them.
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
You must be quite a sight Lizzie. But as you say, it works.
Unfortunately, I cannot find the suspect external points of entry to take the syringes to them. Just unbroken areas of white paint.
Dennis, the boat is oil-based paint on the outside, and parts of the interior, plus clear polyurethane. If Im feeling energetic next spring Ill sand back and re-paint the outside. Maybe in the process the roof leak entry points will reveal themselves.
--Robusto
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
Great idea Lizzi! I guess you could also use some of the dye that plumbers use to trace leaks - wonderful non-toxic flouro green.
Then again we might be talking about marine ply where just a few coats of marine varnish might help. Tell us more Robusto, or better yet, how about some pics?
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
Robusto, to the hilarity of the camping community i have been known to sit on the roof of the bus with an array of syringes, each filled with a different colour food-dyed water.
each of the suspect spots gets a small squirt of one of coloured waters and whatever colour ends up inside the bus tells me where it comes from.
polka-dotted window frames? sure, but they are dry now!!
i visited the captain Tolleys website and found that the stuff is not available in Oz, other than directly from O/S supplier/manufacturer or the UK Bay of Temptations.
good luck
L
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
Thats all very interesting stuff, and of enormous help. Thanks everyone.
Some leaks are fairly obvious--like some, but not all, of the window ones.
Others are absolutely dumbfounding, absolutely NOTHING on the outside to indicate a breach in the paint even, let alone a sheath of epoxy and very thick plywood..... Yet, there are drips from the ceiling on the inside.
Somewhat like channelling in a coffee puck, but no tell-tale break on the top surface.
That makes them even the more dangerous, because the clandestine path to the interior often leaves a trail of rotting wood in its wake. Thats why I am loathe to plug leaks from the inside.
--Robusto
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
For those weeping leaks you cant seem to find try Captain Tolleys creeping crack cure.
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
Yep,
Sikaflex is great stuff, also known as the Yachtys Friend I believe
. Was working in a location high up in the PNG Highlands about a decade ago where the rainfall averaged about 12 Metres a year
... needless to say, the Sikaflex got a good workout up there, sealing everything from Industrial Electrical Panels to Large Water Pump Hose Clamps. Wonderful stuff,
Mal.
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
Up until I put the new seal in the Bezs boiler sikaflex was helping a weeping seal- Pedro at coffeeparts suggested it. Worked well for a while...
Brett
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
I know buildings in Brisbane whose multi story drain pipes are held on by Sikaflex.
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Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial
It flexes a long way. The best way to smooth it out is spit on the finger and wipe in it after applying with the gun...and plenty of acetone to clear up the fingers later.
Cheers
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