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Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

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  • Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

    I just today confirmed my purchase of a friends La Pavoni Professional lever -- pretty good deal, I thought, at $200.
    It seems tight as a drum but one of the O-rings on the steam wand fell apart as I switched wands .. so maybe I should think about replacing all the seals this year to start with an as-new machine.
    Ive seen DYI instructions on the net -- they sound totally impossible! Has anyone tried it ... is it in fact easier than it reads? The comparative costs are DYI seal kit $62 vs minimum of $100 for a service.

  • #2
    Re: Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

    I would also be interested in any info about do it yourself seal replacement for a Pavoni pro...failing that what is a fair price to pay for labour if I already have a complete set of rings/seals ?

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    • #3
      Re: Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

      I just found via google search a service agency in Annandale Sydney (uro@tpg.com.au) which quoted me $62 for a DYI seal kit, or around $100 for basic seals replacement plus extra for anything else they found needing attention ...
      The DYI instructions can be found on the net via google search, but they sound pretty intimidating .. which is why I wondered if anyone here has tried it!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

        You can do this. Its not as big a deal as it sounds, heres the instructions I got when I first replaced it:

        Make sure you have the following parts, some of which you did not order.
        Dont begin until you have all of them. They should be available from any
        Saeco dealer. If necessary I can get them for you:

        1) The "O"-ring between the brew head and the boiler (about 1.5" dia?)
        2) the small opaque white upper seal (with a ridge on one side) for the
        piston rod,
        3) a brass flat retainer ring with four small holes around the periphery and
        4) the steel spring clip.
        5) the thick basket "O"-ring that surrounds the shower head (inner basket)
        and seals the portafilter when attached to the brew head.

        The spring clip often rusts completely away so that you only find some
        rusty crumbs in its place I will attach pictures of these parts.

        You begin by removing the nuts and spring clips that hold the lever onto
        the piston rod and remove the lever altogether. Then remove the two large
        bolts that hold the brew head onto the boiler and withdraw the brew head
        by pulling the copper tube out of the boiler.

        Now you will need to remove the portafilter seal and shower head. How
        difficult this is will depend upon whether you have changed the seal and
        how hard it is. If it is relatively new you can just pry the shower head
        out with a screwdriver, working around the perimeter. If it is older it is
        best to use a knife to cut it out or if it is really hard, drive a wood
        screw through it and pull it out. Try not to damage the brass brew head
        anymore than than necessary, although small scratches are unavoidable and
        wont cause problems.

        When you have removed the shower head you can push the piston rod all the
        way through the brew head by pressing down on a wood surface and then
        pulling the piston out.

        Now look up into the brew head from below. You should see the (remains of)
        the steel spring clip. If the clip should still be intact you will need to
        use some kind of a tool (awl or special pliers) to remove it. Then pull
        out the brass ring (you may damage it, therefore it is best to have a new
        one) and the old silicone rubber gasket. The old gasket, by the way, may
        be black. The new ones are an opaque white.

        Clean up and wash out the inside of the brew head cylinder, insert the new
        opaque white silicone upper seal with the v-shaped notch facing towards
        you, the brass ring and then the steel spring clip. This takes some
        fumbling around if you dont have a special long-nosed spring-clip pliers
        to do it. Take your time with it. It is possible with just an awl and a
        normal long-nosed pliers.

        Check the two, thick piston gaskets. If they look alright you can leave
        them, or if you have new ones you can replace them to be sure. They
        usually arent prone to wearing out.

        Now comes the part with the lubricant. The easiest was to get the
        lubricant is to buy the "Brew-group service pack" for Saeco full-automatic
        machines because these packs are readilly avaiable. Here in Germany they
        can even be found in normal larger departments stores. They contain 2
        gaskets that you wont need (unless you have a Saeco auto) and a tube of
        white, food-quality grease. This is the bit you need. You can also get
        food-quality white-grease from specialty service stores, but if you had
        one of them available you probably would not have asked about where to get
        this. Alternatively, I can also send you some. Dont use anything else on
        the Pavoni or you are asking for trouble or at least a bad flavour.

        Once you have the lubricant, put some on the shaft and on the piston seals
        and re-insert the piston into the cylinder. Then put the whole thing back
        together the way you took it out. Getting the portafilter seal and shower
        head in is a bit tricky and it helps if you put a little of the lubricant
        around the perimeter of the seal so it can be pushed up into the brew
        head. Finally, bolt the brew head back onto the boiler using the new
        "O"-ring.

        Thats the instructions Bruce in Germany sent me and I found them easy to follow once I stopped worrying and just did it Send me an email at seal.5.alsmith@xoxy.net if you need more info, Im not checking the forum often enough! If youre close enough to Northcote you could even come around and Ill show you

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        • #5
          Re: Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

          Al,
          Thanks for such a comprehensive set of instructions...I may just give it a go!

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          • #6
            Re: Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

            Yes indeed, thanks heaps.

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            • #7
              Re: Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

              Good one AI [smiley=thumbsup.gif],

              Great to see CSers helping out fellow members with such concise information..... keep up the good work 8-),

              Cheers,
              Mal.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

                Good work Al, agree with most of what you said, except on removing the shower head. I find if you take a mallet and softly tap the top (after removing the lever & bolts, of course), the shower head should drop off easily. It the shower head is stuck, wrap a piece of cloth around the top, and give it a few harder knock, this should dislodge the shower screen. This way, the shower head wont be demaged.

                By the way, anyone found the Saeco "brew group service pack" in Australia?

                slow

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                • #9
                  Re: Pavoni seal replacement -- DYI?

                  Im with you slow, I disagree with what I said as well Its definatly easier to use a mallet. I think the machine Bruce got was in much worse condition, hence where he says:
                  You should see the (remains of) the steel spring clip. If the clip should still be intact you will need to
                  use some kind of a tool (awl or special pliers) to remove it.
                  My circlip was in perfect condition, and Id recommend getting a cheap pair of circlip pliers rather than playing around trying to get it out any other way.

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