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  • Machine needs cleaning

    Does everyone agree that this machine of mine needed a good clean?  If you look closely you might be able to see a rather thick layer of coffee deposits around the group head.

    The machine is an Imat Napoletana 1.  Unfortunately the shower screen screw is well and truly stuck - have tried all sorts of things to get it to loosen including a hammer and punch. Anyone got any more ideas?

    Does anyone fancy a guess at how many months/years its been since this part of it was cleaned?


  • #2
    Re: Machine needs cleaning

    Geez MochaMaster.......

    What a mess..... the previous owner doesnt deserve to use/own a coffee machine.

    I have only two ideas for removing the SS screw...

    Firstly invert the unit and place a liberal amount of CRC or WD40 or similar in the screw recess and leave it for a day (these things are good for dissolving coffee oils as well as freeing frozen bolts/screws).

    You could then try your previous methods.....

    or if you can get your hands on an impact driver that would be even better.

    The only other method is heat.... but carefully applied after removing the rubber gasket and anything else which will burn.

    Good Luck!

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    • #3
      Re: Machine needs cleaning

      ummm ... who said anything about a previous owner  :-X  

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Machine needs cleaning

        Originally posted by MochaMaster link=1162866265/0#2 date=1162868054
        ummm ... who said anything about a previous owner :-X
        OK, well definately a canidate for more frequent cleaning in the future (When I had a Solis I removed the shower screen, soaked it in cleaning solution and scrubbed behind it -- with a scourer -- every month..... still do that with the La Cimbali.... dont want all those old coffee oils/ grinds flavouring my espresso.... )

        The other thing you can try is turning the screw in both a tightening and loosening direction- back and forth over and over again..... you will start to get a slight movement which will slowly increase- eventually you can actually unscrew all the way....

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        • #5
          Re: Machine needs cleaning

          Originally posted by MochaMaster link=1162866265/0#2 date=1162868054
          ummm ... who said anything about a previous owner  :-X  
          We may have to call together a coffee snobs board of conduct to assess what will have to be done to Mochamaster

          Its okay Expobar you wont look like that.

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          • #6
            Re: Machine needs cleaning

            Originally posted by MochaMaster link=1162866265/0#0 date=1162866265
            Unfortunately the shower screen screw is well and truly stuck - have tried all sorts of things to get it to loosen including a hammer and punch. Anyone got any more ideas?
            The punch idea will work (presuming youre referring to the method I mentioned on another thread on this site), providing you get the positioning of the punch correct. Can you explain in detail how you tried to do it?
            I dont know how long it would be since it was cleaned but theres definitely a faulty group gasket there. My site has similar pictures when my gasket failed www.coffeetamper.com.au/imat/groupgasket.html although nowhere near as bad.

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            • #7
              Re: Machine needs cleaning

              We may have to call together a coffee snobs board of conduct to assess what will have to be done to Mochamaster
              Ill take it like a man ;D

              I dont know how long it would be since it was cleaned but theres definitely a faulty group gasket there
              I may have to pull the group gasket back out when I replace it and post a pic of it. Its definitely failed most likely as a result of too much coffee in the basket a couple of times. Ive found that the grinder is most likely not grinding the coffee fine enough.

              The other thing you can try is turning the screw in both a tightening and loosening direction- back and forth over and over again
              The edges of the screw slots are starting to burr a little, I figure if I keep trying I may end up with no usable surface to work with.

              Can you explain in detail how you tried to do it?
              I had a rather short screwdriver,and tapped the end as hard (with a block hammer) as I felt appropriate, and possible given space limitations - given what is attached to the other end of the screw When that didnt work I got a punch and tried the same, directly in the middle of the screw. I guess Im a bit concerned that there is a fair bit in there that can get damaged.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Machine needs cleaning

                Originally posted by MochaMaster link=1162866265/0#6 date=1162871985

                Can you explain in detail how you tried to do it?
                I had a rather short screwdriver,and tapped the end as hard (with a block hammer) as I felt appropriate, and possible given space limitations - given what is attached to the other end of the screw When that didnt work I got a punch and tried the same, directly in the middle of the screw. I guess Im a bit concerned that there is a fair bit in there that can get damaged.
                Youre not wanting to hit in the middle of the screw but at the edge.

                Unplug machine, remove water tank, drip tray and grinder waste tray. Invert machine, making sure grinder hopper is over edge of bench so youre not putting force on it. Get sharpish centre punch and a decent hammer. Position punch within 1mm of the right-hand edge of the screw in an area that has the most available metal, hold vertical and tap it firmly with the hammer. Repeat this process until youve got an obvious indentation in the screw. Keep hitting with about the same pressure and start to lower the angle towards you so some of the force is in a horizontal direction away from you and some vertical. Do this slowly and to start with, ensuring most of the force is still down to prevent the punch slipping out. Once youve got a decent hole in the screw you can continue to lower the angle further, thus applying more horizontal (~anti-clockwise rotational) force. With this jarring force on the side of the hole youve made youll eventually loosen the screw enough to use a screwdriver to completely remove it.

                Is that what you tried?

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                • #9
                  Re: Machine needs cleaning

                  No. Ill give this a shot when my new gasket(s) comes, and I pull it apart again.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Machine needs cleaning

                    So, MochaMaster, how long does it take for that to build up?

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                    • #11
                      Re: Machine needs cleaning

                      6½ years it took for that to build up before I worked out that it needed to be cleaned. Its pretty good on one hand - the machine has gone for that time with only a couple of gasket replacements, some polishing and two spout replacements. Its pulled no less than two shots a day, been on holidays, taken to parties etc. Some evenings its even pulled a dozen or more shots. A rough quick calculation tells me the capital cost of the machine now works out at about 9 cents per shot. Good value for sure.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Machine needs cleaning

                        Time for an upgrade !!!


                        franjae :-)

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