EM6910 Steam pump audibly trying, but nothing happens until minutes have passed...

[werni]

Hello together,

With all the informations I got in this thread I was able to repair my Graef ES90 coffee machine (it is similar tothe Sunbeam model and are sold in Germany as Graef). Hope the machine will go on making good coffee now.

Many thanks from Stuttgart, Germany

Werner

[Peeeeeteeeee]

I have worked it out. You just pull them off. (Lucky I don't have a dirty mind or that might sound a bit rude).

Weird though. I took everything apart. Nothing seemed blocked. Put it back together again. It all works like new. (Maybe I put something back into place or freed something up).

[Peeeeeteeeee]

I have had the same problem. I have checked the pump, seems to be fine. I removed the brass hose above the pump, that seems fine. (I did clean it out, but nothing much came out). My next step is to check/clean out the top brass hose but I can not get the top cover off. It looks like the steam and hot water knobs have to be removed but I can not work out how. Does any one know?

[Danielcr]

Spare part available for 34 Euro

I had exactly the same problems, cleaned all parts as described twice but nevertheless it didn't work. I called the importer for the machine in Germany and they sent me the sparepart number. I could buy the spare part at my local dealer with this number for 34 Euro. The machine is running very smooth now. They replaced some of the plastic parts, especially this little screw on the outside, with copper...

Sparepart number:
Graef 145867

Manufacturer:
Jiayin JYPC-4

[nickcaves]

Thanks to spoco2

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1370[/ATTACH]
Just a reminder which screws go where

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1371[/ATTACH]
The view from the side, showing the pump at the bottom. You'll need to unscrew the metal pipe that leads into the top, take off the plastic pipe leading into the top also. Then you can get the pipe off the bottom (I find a flat head screwdriver works well to slide them off) and pop the pump out of the bottom bracket, then lever it down and out of the top bit.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1372[/ATTACH]
You'll be left with this thing, undo those two screws holding the black plastic portion inside the blue part.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1373[/ATTACH]
The 'pump' bit. You can see in the middle a little notch. If you hold it at both ends and twist it you can separate the two halves

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1374[/ATTACH]
Then all this stuff falls out.

I'm pretty sure the problem lays in a little black grommet behind that white disc (sorry, didn't get a photo). It seems to hold the brass coloured bit to the aluminium coloured bit too tightly, and they're supposed to move back and forth in relation to each other. If I take out that grommet the pump seems to move no problems when put back and powered, but no water pumps (I guess as the seal is lost), so you need the grommet, but just need to to still allow the inner metal piece to slide in and out ok.

I put all the pieces in some cafetto to clean them, I tried giving the inner rod a good sand to try to make it ever so slightly thinner... and the pump does work, but still will 'stick' for a second or so before kicking into life when you first turn it on.

Maybe someone trying this can work out the real root cause and work out a better fix, because I'd hate to have to spend over $60 on a new pump when this one really seems fine except for that bit of 'sticking'.

Spoco, just wanted to extend thanks, your troubleshooting above has been so helpful. I have my machine working again, after removing the pump and internal pieces, and then simply sticking them back together! I doubt I would have gone that far if it wasn't for your details above.

So cheers!

[Xanthine]

Hi Dubblerizzy
What are your symptoms - any noises, loud or soft etc.
May be able to help localize the problem with more info before you go to the expense of replacing the pump.
Trev

[Dubblerizzy]

Well thank god for this thread! Found a good youtube on how to pull apart the machine and replace the steam pump but then stumbled across this thread, pulled apart my pump, dropped the middle black section and connecting copper coil in some descaling solution, cleaned the internal shaft of the outter electrical piece of the pump, reassembled and hey presto! I don't have to throw away my machine - the steam is back and stronger than ever!!!

Bugger! Pump not working again this morning. Bit the bullet and just buying a new pump.

[Dubblerizzy]

Well thank god for this thread! Found a good youtube on how to pull apart the machine and replace the steam pump but then stumbled across this thread, pulled apart my pump, dropped the middle black section and connecting copper coil in some descaling solution, cleaned the internal shaft of the outter electrical piece of the pump, reassembled and hey presto! I don't have to throw away my machine - the steam is back and stronger than ever!!!

[Katinzahat]

Thanks TampIt, I'll start my investigations there.

[TampIt]

Thanks to everyone on this thread, your pictures and descriptions have all been so helpful. I too bought a 6910 on the cheap with the steam arm not working and managed to pull the steam path apart, the pump and pressure outlet, clean them all (I did turn the small O-ring over so that it sat proud again, just in case), reassemble and it now has steam. All from the info on this one thread.

This is what the internet and forums should be for, people sharing knowledge and helping people.

You guys are fantastic.

Now just to workout why the pressure guage isn't working, not that it's essential but I love a challenge.

G'day Katinzahat

Two main reasons (there are a few rarer ones as well)
1) it is blocked. Usually the input line to the gauge as it is very small (without measuring it, it is probably the smallest diameter pipe in the 6910 by quite a margin).
2) It has been transported badly and the input line to the gauge has split / broken off just behind the gauge. Telltale signs - a very small patch of water underneath the gauge / milk wand area. usually it is about 5cms under the left hand edge and 10 to 15 cms from the back of the case.

TampIt

[Katinzahat]

Thanks to everyone on this thread, your pictures and descriptions have all been so helpful. I too bought a 6910 on the cheap with the steam arm not working and managed to pull the steam path apart, the pump and pressure outlet, clean them all (I did turn the small O-ring over so that it sat proud again, just in case), reassemble and it now has steam. All from the info on this one thread.

This is what the internet and forums should be for, people sharing knowledge and helping people.

You guys are fantastic.

Now just to workout why the pressure guage isn't working, not that it's essential but I love a challenge.

[spoco2]

Well... I've just bought another faulty one of these, I couldn't help myself. $33 for one with, from the description, the same steam issue. My plan is to get this one up and running, the one I detailed fixing in this thread is still going strong, so I really like these machines.

I just got the other one last night, and I don't have the time to repair it yet, that's about a month off I think... but already I can tell it's a different problem. When I turn on this machine it immediately starts making the quiet chugging noise of a not working steam pump... and I think it was even doing it when the machine was switched off... so... yeah, I'm not sure what's going on with this machine. I'll run through similar steps and see what happens.

Hopefully I'll take better pictures this time too!

[noidle22]

I've got an 18 month old one that fails to get water through the coffee (regardless of grind setting). No movement of the pressure gauge needle at all. Water comes out with no coffee though. I'm guessing the pump can't produce enough pressure. Only makes 1-3 cups per day and regularly cleaned. If it's the pump it will be covered by warranty. If something else it won't (though my credit card gives me another year so that's ok). Wondering about the statutory warranty though. Surely a machine should last more than that but how do you get action on it (the statutory warranty)?

Does water leak under the machine or into the drip tray when extracting? This could indicate a failing solenoid.
If not, yes probably the pump.

I have repaired many EM6910's with failed solenoids up to 12 months out of the 12 month warranty period, Sunbeam are generally fairly accommodating with things like this as long as your service agent is a good one.

Wow what an amazing thread. Thanks firstly to everyone here for going to the effort of contributing to this great community and helping so many others. Outstanding.

My questoon is where I can order parts online for the 6910. No one has mentioned a supplier you trust.

Thanks!

Al

Send me a message, I'll see what I can do.

[kindred]

Wow what an amazing thread. Thanks firstly to everyone here for going to the effort of contributing to this great community and helping so many others. Outstanding.

My questoon is where I can order parts online for the 6910. No one has mentioned a supplier you trust.

Thanks!

Al

[wfdTamar]

I've got an 18 month old one that fails to get water through the coffee (regardless of grind setting). No movement of the pressure gauge needle at all. Water comes out with no coffee though. I'm guessing the pump can't produce enough pressure. Only makes 1-3 cups per day and regularly cleaned. If it's the pump it will be covered by warranty. If something else it won't (though my credit card gives me another year so that's ok). Wondering about the statutory warranty though. Surely a machine should last more than that but how do you get action on it (the statutory warranty)?