Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

[specialpants]

Big Bully - I just commented on your video. Looks like a lube job more than anything.

As for my issue - the fluttering came back. It's currently getting serviced and will report back once it's all done.

According to the initial diagnosis: Pump + motor are in working order. It could be the by-pass valve on the pump, or the expansion valve. The expansion valve started to squeak whilst opening (brass on brass), so the tech said he was going to look at this also and rebuild it if necessary (descale, new o-rings, spring etc)

[bigbully]

Hi Snobs any help would be great. Thanks

Sounds like time for a service Louis. There are threads on lubrication of group levers. We can also do the job for you.

Cheers

Chris

I have recently had my machine serviced by Coffee Roaster Australia but the problem still hasn't gone if anyone can help with any advise that would be great. thanks. this is a link that show my problem i'm having. Problem with alex duetto 2 - YouTube

[specialpants]

Thanks guys for your input.

I first checked for loose items and made sure nothing was touching. I then thought about Javaphile's suggestion in regards to the OPV. It made sense because there was no noise when the pressure set below 8 bar, nor was there any noise when the machine was filling up the steam boiler.

The expansion valve itself doesn't appear to be adjustable and seems to open up at 12~13 bar. What I did was set the rotary pump to 13 bar and let the descaling solution flush through the valve and group head. I had to flush the machine with plenty of fresh water as this was essentially a descale of the brew system.

I've been randomly pulling shots in the past 2 hours and the rapid fluctuations have stopped. Good result

[thundering_gerkins]

That's the go TG. We set to 9 bar on tank mode in the bench test and whatever you see at the gauge is 9 bar. If it changes, you know how to get 9 bar back.

A 2 bar jump is a lot. Check that you are running a 350 kPa pressure limiting valve. Plumbing the machine without one will cause damage.

Cheers

Chris

Thanks Chris,

I have fitted a 350 kpa PLV that came with the kit from Bombora.
The gauge reads a little over 4 bar at idle, so i'm not sure if the gauge is out or the PLV.

Cheers

[TC]

Go for it Pete, I'm sure the moment you finish plumbing in you'll find another house
I'm loving alex plumbed in.

I'm running the Brita c150 filter with the bypass set at 30%, but need to borrow a hardness tester to see where it needs to be set.
I've also noticed when pulling a shot alex is showing almost 12 bar! (had been hovering around 10 bar since new on tank).

I bought from Chris from Talk Coffee, and I remember him saying that they set them to 9 bar, but the gauge may read a little higher as they set
the pressuere at the group handle and the gauge connects nearer the pump.
I'm going to adjust the pressure to bring the gauge back to 10 bar and see how it goes.

That's the go TG. We set to 9 bar on tank mode in the bench test and whatever you see at the gauge is 9 bar. If it changes, you know how to get 9 bar back.

A 2 bar jump is a lot. Check that you are running a 350 kPa pressure limiting valve. Plumbing the machine without one will cause damage.

Cheers

Chris

[thundering_gerkins]

Go for it Pete, I'm sure the moment you finish plumbing in you'll find another house
I'm loving alex plumbed in.

I'm running the Brita c150 filter with the bypass set at 30%, but need to borrow a hardness tester to see where it needs to be set.
I've also noticed when pulling a shot alex is showing almost 12 bar! (had been hovering around 10 bar since new on tank).

I bought from Chris from Talk Coffee, and I remember him saying that they set them to 9 bar, but the gauge may read a little higher as they set
the pressuere at the group handle and the gauge connects nearer the pump.
I'm going to adjust the pressure to bring the gauge back to 10 bar and see how it goes.

[Pete39]

Hi Gerkins,

I think I know exactly what you mean. Am looking at moving house and was putting off plumbing in, but am over filling the tank and finding anothe rhouse is taking a while, so if I plumb in we'll no doubt find a house and the machine will be quieter!!

Pete

[thundering_gerkins]

Thanks Chris. Just listened to mine again this morning and it doesn't have the "clacking" sound you can hear in SP's video. I'll see if things are touching.

Another question - do they run quieter plumbed in??

Thanks again,

Pete

Just finished plumbing my duetto in, and it's noticibly quieter.
Not that it was that noisy before. Seems to have a more consistant hum plumbed in.
When running on the tank it makes a dug,dug,dug,dug sound, if that makes sense.

[Pete39]

Thanks Chris. Just listened to mine again this morning and it doesn't have the "clacking" sound you can hear in SP's video. I'll see if things are touching.

Another question - do they run quieter plumbed in??

Thanks again,

Pete

[TC]

Hi guys- I am sorry to hear that. It can be a couple of things:

1. Something is touching- often the capacitor on the motor against the body (or something else). The fix is to locate it and make it stop touching!
2. Pump cavitation. This can be caused by a stocky solenoid. We have seen 2 cases. In each case the machine had ingested a belly full of carbon having been either on domestic Brita jug with poorly rinsed cartridges or alternately with a filter which was not properly flushed. The fix is to clear the solenoid and this is one for the selling dealer. The carbon if present is easily indentified. Not good to allow this to continue if it's the issue.

Ultimately, if you are uncertain of anything, do have your machine checked.

Cheers

Chris

[Javaphile]

I don't know this machine but others have reported the same/similar symptoms on machines with OPV's that needed adjustment. At the lower pressure the OPV remains closed hence no pressure fluttering. At the mid pressure the OPV opens and closes in time with the pump causing the pressure to flutter. At the higher pressure the OPV remains open enough to prevent the fluttering pressure.


Java "For lack of any other response" phile

[Pete39]

Hi special,

Mine has been heading in that direction too, so I be interested if anyone has any info. At first I thought it must just be me, but I'm pretty sure its getting louder. I also sometimes see the pressure "flutter" that seems to coincide with the pump "pulsing" sound.

Pete

[specialpants]

Howdy - can anyone shed some light on this?

My Duetto starting making some noise at the 9~10bar mark last week. Doesnt seem to affect the coffee, but the machine is defintely louder now. The pressure gauge also flutters slightly now.

I think it's to do withe pressure regulator on the pump but not 100%. If I set the machine to 8 bar or below then the rattle disappears. Similarly, noise disappears if I set the machine to 11 bar.



Here's a video to help explain it better:
Alex Duetto - Pump Noise - YouTube


And this is a video of how it used to sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRvQoPrK4Iw

[kenwahoo]

Chris, can you advise what thread size the Duetto's tamper is? Thinking of getting a Reg Barber base which is 3/8 inch but wondering if the Duetto tamper handle will fit?

ken

[bigbully]

Hi Chris, thanks for replie theres no risitance after the back flush after a couple of shots. put there just been a little squeak a few second after i activate the lever, the squeak literelly only goes for less then a second like someting has sliped and then it continues to pull a nice shots anyway i mite just take it in and get it serviced and i only use 1/4 teaspoon every month for backflush. thanks

louis