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

[NK4]

I back flushed the thermoblock as per my previous post and then used this method to flush in the normal flow direction. Disconnect power when working on machine.I opened the side panel to be able to access the wires powering the thermoblock heater in the next step. I took out the anti calc cartridge and filled the water tank with descaling liquid. Powered on the machine until all leds were lit. Surfaces are hot, wear gloves.Turned off power , then disconnected a wire on the thermoblock thermistor and turned power back on within a few seconds and not letting the block cool down.The purpose of disconnecting the wire is to stop the heater from switching on during flushing. Placed a bowl under steam wand and opened steam knob to max. Flushed the thermoblock and connecting pipe work with about 1litre of descaler and purged again with clean water. Fitted panel back and machine is as good as new. Thanks for all the posts on the coffeesnobs site which helped me with the method described. I have a photograph of the cable that I disconnected but will attach it when my account restriction has been removed.

[NK4]

I tried unblocking the thermoblock by injecting descaler with a syringe but it would block again within a month. I read many posts and came up with this method. I used a tree pump sprayer with a 7 mm hose which I connected to the thermoblock inlet, placed descaling liquid in a jug under the steam spout and operated the pump sprayer. This drew descaler through the spout, tube and through the thermoblock and after flushing with clean water the steam flow is excellent. I have some photos but unable to attach because of my account limitations.

[Capri335]

That first coffee after fixing tasted SO GOOD!

I just fixed my EM6910 as well. I didn't even see that there was a page 2 & 3 to this thread. That may have saved some time! My symptoms were no steam at all. I now know that this was starting to happen months ago. Anyway, I tried something that hasn't been mentioned and that was descaling the steam Thermoblock while it is cold. After stripping the copper pipes I pushed a plastic tube over the inlet (bottom) and outlet (top) and found that I could only blow very little air through. My thinking was "if I cant blow air, then the pump is going to have a hard time with water". I set up a large jar on top of the machine, with the recommended dilution of white vinager. The lower tube (connected to the bottom inlet) of the thermoblock I set up to drip into a bucket. I then syphoned through the thermoblock the solution (I used a syringe to start it). The syphoning was very slow, maybe one drip per second. I let it go all night. In the morning the syphoning had obviously finished, so I set up a little more (water this time) and it ran out. I refitted the pump and found it was still struggling. I stripped it out again and used high magnification viewing glasses. That is when I saw the small valve at the end of the pump piston. I got my finger nail under the edge, and yes it was sticking. I decided to immerse all of the whole pump parts in vinager. It was very slow and didn't make a lot of difference. I then used SEPTONE Aluminium Cleaner that contains phosphoric acid and a little (2%) Hydroflouric acid. Before any one starts on the danger of Hyrdoflouric acid, I will say that at this level it isn't considered dangerous (I used to sell chemicals). Wear gloves and eye protection though. 5 minutes in the acid, cleaned all the parts, I reassembled the pump and OMG. I swear it was better than new. It now steams a jug of milk in less than a minute. It seems to me that this valve is critical to the pumps action. I am sure that this allows the pump to pick up the next amount of water on the down stroke. If it isn't functioning properly the pump won't lift the correct amount of water. Thanks to this thread, I saved about $400. Someone asked above for parts stockist, I found this place.

spares.bigwarehouse.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=1648691&gclid=Cj0KCQj wl7nYBRCwARIsAL7O7dF7RMQkpyFcUgZu2YBqJrzUHZ8vTd5tN x93ZvhHztU_iDNXJbT7hx8aAklKEALw_wcB

They also have installation tips on the page, where people have installed parts. I found this useful as it can lead you to other parts.

I hope that this is of some help to others. Happy Coffee making!

[tedozz]

I bought an EM6910 on 18 March 2012, paid $575, grinder included. Used once per day, 2200 brews for me and wife at $0.13 per cup. Beans and Milk probably $0.30 x 4400 =$1300.00. If I had bought coffee from shop I would have paid 4400 x $4.00 = $17600.00. The machine has paid for itself.
I now have this very problem. I am going to try and fix it given I have this unbelievably excellent set of instructions.
Thank you so much, all of you, particularly spoco2 for his photos and details. I am sure it is within my level of expertise from what I have learnt here.

[NK4]

I had low steam flow and I descaled following instructions on this site. The descaling had worked on previous occasions but this time it did not fix the problem. I did a factory reset and the steam flow returned to normal, I suspect the setting had changed somehow. Factory reset as follows:
Connect to power point and switch on at power point
Press and hold the manual button
With the manual button pressed, press the power button and release
Release manual button
Power button will flash and there will be 4 beeps.

[jonsjunkstuff]

Thanks heaps “spoko2” for the tip, my machine had exact same symptoms, took pump apart, didn’t appear dirty but it was a little tight around the shaft/oring, not sliding very freely, gave it a clean and light coating of wd-40, put back together, steams like a new machine again, very happy, and very surprised at the same time that it made that much difference.
cheers

[rawill]

Excellent!

It was just a random "outside the square" thought I had when pondering your issue.

Now onto cleaning up the "mess" I found in mine after pulling it apart to replace the collar!
Broke 3 screws taking the old one out! So now down to the "bolt supplier" to get 5 new torx bolts!
But not till Tuesday as we have a holiday weekend!

[rajanski]

@rawill thanks! it was really the coild that was borken. So I ordered an ULKA HF/s pump, and just used the coil part --> works like a charm! Thanks again!

[rawill]

Just wondering if there is an ohm reading for the coils. I am sure there will be, and that might be worth checking.
I am thinking it is like a "flutter valve" in turbo controller, and the coil energises the shuttle, hence the pumping motion.
If the coil has "faulted" it may be humming but does not have the full "grunt" it needs.

Just a thought from my turbo car ECU tuning days.

[rajanski]

Also the insides of the pump move freely when outside pump. The silicon grease helped greatly there

[rajanski]

I also tried tapping the pump while connected, this doesn't lead to any change though.

[rajanski]

@rawill the thermo block is free and air can be pushed through.

The pump also has the quiet humming when disconnected from the machin (only AC connected)

[rawill]

Dont take this as a troll, but if you look within the 500-1500 section of the forum, half of the posts seem to be issues with this model machine. I too wasted time and expense on this unit before selling it off for parts on this very website. If you enjoy your coffee enough to warrant the hours you have spent on repairing the 6910, get yourself a decent machine, because you WILL have more problems with the Sunbeam - and I do speak from experience. I now have a siliva which touch wood, is doing well....similar price range....light years better machine.

I wonder if it is because there are so many of them out there in use, and they do not get the preventative maintenance they should. My 6910 has delivered around 10,000 shots. Had a blocked thermoblock when I bought it for $100.00. all in all it has cost me about $200.00 with the maintance I have done on it. 2 thermal fuses, a few group head seals, a magnetic water level sensor. That is it. Not bad I reckon, I have pulled about 4000 shots of the 10,000 it has done. Is that good or bad, I think it is good. IMO even at new price this machine has delivered value, especially when a coffee at a cafe costs $4.00. $4000.00 worth of coffee from a cafe.

[rawill]

Is it possible the steam thermoblock is blocked.
I had that once, I imagine the pump would work but nothing would get through.

I know I put a vinegar/water solution through mine to keep it clean and descaled inside.
My son does the same to to his, but only when the steam gets a bit weak!

To check if it was blocked you would need to take it out and see if you can get compressed air to go through it, or something similar to test it.

[rajanski]

Hi all, great thread!

I also have the model em6910 and could successfully clean and reassemble the steampump. Also applied a tiny bit of silicon grease. The steam block and all pipes / hoses are clean and free.

But the pump still only emits that very quiet humming, and doesnt give any steam. Anybody got some pointers what else to try?