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HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

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  • E-Gene
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Haha, I love eggs so its ok. Theres such a great range of members on this forum but your reply was still great. See that the weekend is ahead, will definitely take some time to investigate the disappearing green ball.

    But definitely appreciate your response. Thanks dude.

    Leave a comment:


  • slowdown
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Sorry if I was telling you how to suck eggs re hot vs cold E-Gene (like doh, just noticed your blogspot etc)!

    But it does sound like your Faema has sucked its little green ball somewhere (better than an egg I suspect).

    You could investigate this quite easily by removing the cup warmer tray (via screws) - exposing the top of the machine - then unscrewing the top boiler inspection hole nut, then putting a dipstick (bamboo skewer?) down into the boiler to manually check the level.

    If it is clear that the ball is stuck (and perhaps blocking the water into the glass tube) then you need to go further in the dismantle. First, drain the water from the boiler (LHS side cover will access drain plug) then remove the front panel to get access to the glass tube, then unscrew its whole assembly off the boiler top and bottom (careful, dont damage boiler!), then youve got it on the bench and it should be pretty obvious how to dismantle it from there. Hopefully, the little green ball wont drop out while youre doing this and run down the crack at the back of the workshop!

    Good luck and happy mechanicking.

    Leave a comment:


  • E-Gene
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Well it looks like it was probably a low water senerio. Ive filled the boiler up more and the hot water dispenser, guess what, dispenses hot water now. Thanks guys!

    As for the water level green ball thingie, I cant imagine where the ball could have gone. I think I see water in the tube, but its either totally full or totally empty cos I cant see a level at all.

    Leave a comment:


  • damian1
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Hi E_Gene, You can still get water out the group with really low water level in the boiler, as your HX is independent, and would be full. Id be filling some more to avoid damage.

    Leave a comment:


  • slowdown
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    In terms of running hot - you can deal with this by turning the boiler pressure down to peak at 0.9 bar or thereabouts, then developing a decent cooling flush/recovery understanding.

    A couple of useful threads on this machine are at:

    For the basics on a cooling flush regime, see http://www.home-barista.com/junior-b...g-started.html

    For very useful data on the temperature performance and recovery of the Junior, see http://www.home-barista.com/forums/n...ata-t5601.html

    My own personal regimen is as follows:

    I run my Junior at 0.9 bar max.
    I give Junior 40 mins at least to get warm.
    Preparing to pull a shot, I do two 10 sec cooling flushes about a minute apart to get Junior in the groove (this gets rid of Juniors slight tendency to initial exuberance).
    Then....
    In winter, I do an 8 sec flush, wait around 17 to 22 secs to pull a shot (22 secs on a very cold morning, 17 secs in the middle of a warmer winter day)
    In summer, I do a 10 sec flush, then wait 15 secs to pull a shot (less if its a very hot day).
    The taste is in the cup. Too hot will be black flecked (!), burnt tasting with poor crema. Too cold will be sour tasting and a very washed out colour to the crema. Just right will be a rich toffee crema with reddy flecks (yum).

    Leave a comment:


  • slowdown
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Id be very concerned that the water level wasnt high enough - there is about an inch or so of boiler depth below the sight screen on the front panel that frames the glass tube - below which the ball can disappear into if the water isnt high enough. If the water is down there, its not covering the element fully.

    Even if you cant see the ball (it can get stuck down there) - you should still be able to see the boiler waters meniscus in the glass tube? If not - you definitely need to add more water.

    Leave a comment:


  • E-Gene
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    I can pull a shot no probs. Pretty good actually, but the hot water dispenser still only dispenses steam.

    Maybe Ill push the machine to fill more of the boiler before I try again.

    Any other thoughts?

    Leave a comment:


  • yeeza
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Originally posted by damian1 link=1202177427/20#21 date=1216902747
    Even weeks later, Ill still remember a compliment!

    Leave a comment:


  • damian1
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Even weeks later, Ill still remember a compliment!

    Leave a comment:


  • yeeza
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Originally posted by damian1 link=1202177427/0#19 date=1216901708
    Beat you to it by 2 mins Yeeza!  By the way, glad you like my bike!
    Yeah a bit behind you on the typing there mate, but surely your delayed reaction to my reaction of your bike was weeks! ;D ;D ;D

    Leave a comment:


  • damian1
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Beat you to it by 2 mins Yeeza! By the way, glad you like my bike!

    Leave a comment:


  • yeeza
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Hey mate,
    Good pick up E-Gene! Have you actually pulled a shot from the machine yet? Reason I ask, is that usually the hot water dumps out the bottom of the boiler, now if you say the floating ball isnt, well floating, have you actually got much water in the boiler (hence all the steam being dumped intead)? I must admit, I know nothing about this machine, but I thought Id just throw that out there.

    YeeZa

    Leave a comment:


  • damian1
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Hi E-Gene. Interesting you only get steam. Maybe your boiler water level is really low (ie, below the hot water inlet in the boiler)?

    Leave a comment:


  • E-Gene
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    I just purchase the Faema E98 S1 as well and its such a great machine. Mines made in 2002 but its been barely used from what I can see when Im cleaning the machine.

    A few problems with the machine. The floating ball that tells you the level of the boiler is not working so I cant tell how much water is in the boiler. Doesnt matter but I do want to look into fixing it.

    The hot water dispenser only seems to dispense steam. Not matter what I do in terms of cooling flushes etc, I cant seem to get hot water from the dispenser, just steam.

    How do I tell if the machine is running too hot? Is that possible and what can I do about it?

    Leave a comment:


  • Bill
    replied
    Re: HELP! Faema E98 S1 (aka Cimbali Jnr) problem

    Hi Robert,

    Yes, I read that thread.

    Well tonights effort at steaming was better than last nights attempt, but still nowhere near what I was getting out of the Silvia. I still need more practice at it. It heats up so quick that its a bit difficult to find that right position to get a good whirlpool happening in that short amount of time. Im sure Ill get there eventually though.

    I got a better crema out of it tonight as well, as Im gradually getting the dose and grind closer to optimum. And also been working on my cooling flush routine. Itd be better if I could see what temperature I was actually getting during the shot though.

    Leave a comment:

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