Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
nice tips. I had to bend the orig steam arm to get the collar off. Havent changed the silvia arm to have the orig collar as yet. Just have the machine resting on a platform (street directory hahaha)
would certainly like to PID at some stage!
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
James, you obviously have one of the newer classics, on mine the only way to get the nut off the old steam arm is to hacksaw it.
The water tank thing is a pain, I just remove the steam arm when it is time to clean the tank, and only hand tighten it. My machine is set up at the right hand edge of the worktop, so no problem with clearance.
I think putting the original fitting onto the new arm will be the best solution.
surfing the steam is much easier with a temp display. If you do decide to add a pid, given that you seem to make milk drinks, it is probably best to use the alarm output to control the steam and then surfing is no longer necessary.
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
*update, I just added the silvia steam wand to the Gaggia. It was pretty simple. My steam wand from dibartoli included a brass adapter, with thread tape on it, ready to go.
I bolted it up and prepped the machine for brew. Some observations:
1. the water tank no longer slides in and out of the machine! the steam wand is in the way now, it sits too low with the brass adapter on it
2. the wand itself sits too low to the bench top that the machine sits on! I can hardly fit a 600ml jug under the wand with milk in it, let alone stretched milk.
For now, Ive propped the machine up on an old street directory book, made it about 1" higher, I think it needs to be higher still, maybe a phone book would be best.
Long term, Im thinking about taking the wand off, removing the adapter and fitting up the original gaggia threaded collar on the silvia arm. At least I will be able to get the water tank in and out easily. I understand I will need to bend the orig gaggia wand a little to get the threaded collar off it.
For the time being Im filling the tank through the top of the machine (filler).
Also today whilst using the new wand for the first time I ran out of steam. I wasnt paying attention (was in a rush) and wasnt temp surfing the boiler. fail!
As for performance, its better than the standard wand for sure. I think after a few more goes Ill have it sussed
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
Cheap pids off the bay will work fine, but not all can drive an ssr
Check the specs before ordering. You definitely want an ssr as mechanical relays will wear out.
Dont know if ssr quality is an issue, I went with the cheapest and it has been fine.
Firepower posted instructions a while back about using the alarm output on the pid to control the steam function.
If you buy a kit, it will be easier to install as all components, wires, casing and instructions are included. Im guessing that it will also be pretuned, but you pay for that and diy is half the fun.
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
quarterly tag, haha, indeed!
Id like to take a moment to thank site sponsor dibartoli for shipping me a silvia steam arm and blind basket SUPER FAST.
will be fitting it up on Monday to the Classic. Thank you guys!
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
James, dont forget to get the maintenance dept to test and tag the machine with the appropriate quarterly coloured tag
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
This morning in the office:
Switched on the classic, locked in PF, walked away, came back later (10 min) with crew (four of us).
grind-on-demand each shot, double basket, brew in to shotglass (none of our cups fit under the group), pour in to big cup. 2-shots back to back
flush group, switch on steam, wait.
Milk time. texture a 600ml jug (filled just over half way) for two milk coffees. purge wand, wipe, cycle boiler, wait.
pull two more shots back to back, flush, back to milk again.
So, four milk drinks with four pulled shots and two jugs of textured milk. It handled it fine.
Just getting the hang of temp-surfing and steaming just prior to the readly light comes on to keep it strong.
So quirky, I love it
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
Yep that is a great dealOriginally posted by 4368646C7A44090 link=1304412107/10#10 date=1304641990I scored the machine for only $150 (with a grinder)
Well done JM, enjoy the coffee
Steve
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
You guys have been a great help. Ive now found more than enough info to get tweaking on this machine. "thedomesticbarista" has a nice guide, with elec schematic, and pics. Ive also recently discovered auber instruments do an actual kit, although its $150USD I think.
I see there are PIDs on ebay pretty cheap, like around $25-35, I assume the internal relays are not ideal and one should get a good SSR.
Im eager for my silvia steam wand to arrive from dibartoli as Im struggling with the standard wand. Im way to used to texturing on my sunbeam, which Ive mastered great microfoam with.
To be honest, Im just amazed at the quality of the shots on the classic. Even more impressed since I scored the machine for only $150 (with a grinder)
remarkable! 8-)
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
Gaggia Classic machines do have a rep for pulling great espresso James, just as is.
They are very amenable to the addition of a PID Controller for the boiler as well and probably make a better job of it than a Silvia with the simpler Boiler-on-Group design - Makes for less lag in the control loop and therefore easier to tune and manage....
As Who says, theres a lot of info around from other CSers who have completed this mod...
Mal.
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
Loads of threads on pidding. I wrote up my experience under the non-machine specific section a while back.
There is a really good guide on a website by thedomesticbarista.
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
thanks! wand ordered from di bartoli. didnt think to mention coffee snobs. I dont think the online store has a provision anyway...
also grabbed a blind basket while I was there so I dont have to bring mine from home.
Id like to get more info on PIDing this thing, and do it myself. Also tinker with the OPV. I tell you what though, this thing pulls really amazing shots as-is. Maybe the OPV is already in the sweet spot, Im getting brilliant crema and 25-30 sec shots. It blows my EM6910 away for shot qual. Just need to get my milk texturing up... (sucks right now)
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
Cant remember exactly what I used to do before getting the rancilio wand, but I was able to texture milk ok. Although the short wand and lack of a milk jug (at the time I only had a steel camping mug) did make it difficult. I got the wand from Dibartoli. They may give you a discount if you mention coffeesnobs, if you dont they will not give you a discount.
The rancilio wand is longer and at more of an angle, so not only gives more steam, but is easier to use.
You need an older style wand apparently the newer ones dont fit.
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
great tips. Ive done everything except pid, opv tune, steam wand and descale.. which is... well, everything you listed almost hahaha
I just tried steaming for the first time on this machine with standard wand (plastic removed), its difficult, nothing like my sunbeam. The wand points straight down, I cant get a whirlpool effect at all like on the sunbeam, is there a trick to texturing on this thing? Will the silvia steam wand be similar?
texturing tips most welcome! Will order the silvia wand asap, the standard one is really not good (too short)
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Re: Help before I turn on this stale Gaggia Classic
Only other things you may want to do are:
Descale boiler with citric acid or commercial solution - I wouldnt bother as it has hardly been used, but it may make a difference.
Remove and clean behind the dispersion screen in the group head
Chuck out the stupid panarello frother (looks like you have already removed it)
Add a PID, the water temp can vary up to 15 degrees with standard thermostat. Usual rules about 240v and dont do it unless competent/qualified. The alternative is temperature surfing and personally I cant be bothered.
Tune up the OPV
Upgrade to a rancilio steam wand - improves steaming performance dramatically. And the longer wand helps with larger jugs.
Which you choose to use at work is up to you. If you use the gaggia, at some point, someone will forget to reprime the boiler after steaming milk, but at least on the gaggia, this is unlikely to cook the element
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