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Portafilter handle "loosening"
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pandahill make one out of a cereal box. Trace your group head seal. Start too big and trim down. No they normally don't get (very) wet.
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G'day Panda, you will note I said "the judicious use of a sharp fine flat file" if you need it explained I suggest you don't attempt the job, you will probably only compound the problem.Originally posted by pandahill View Post
Yelta could you expand on what you did to fix the worn PF that was loosening please?
I don't really understand how filing more material from a worn part fixes the problem? I would have thought more material would have to be added to the PF lugs (or a thicker gasket)
I have the same problem with my old Sunbeam, new silicon gasket, the handle pretty much goes round to 4:30 and when pressurised unwinds completely
See if you can find a friendly fitter, what your trying to do is reduce the contact angle, as I said, it needs thinking about.
I'm not familiar with the Sunbeam setup or whether it would even work, I did the job on a Silvia with a brass PF, it worked a treat.?
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Yelta could you expand on what you did to fix the worn PF that was loosening please?Originally posted by Yelta View PostIt finally occurred to me that wear may well be the problem, on examination the chrome on the PF lugs had indeed worn off as well as a significant amount of brass.
I solved the problem with the judicious use of a sharp fine flat file, dressed the lugs to reduce the angle of contact, never had a problem after this.
I don't really understand how filing more material from a worn part fixes the problem? I would have thought more material would have to be added to the PF lugs (or a thicker gasket)
I have the same problem with my old Sunbeam, new silicon gasket, the handle pretty much goes round to 4:30 and when pressurised unwinds completely
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Ahh gotcha I didn't think of that but it certainly makes sense now you've said it.
Cheers
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You can purchase a new naked portafilter from one of the site sponsors for circa $90
I'd be wary of the real cheapo units you find online some have weird geometries that don't marry to your group head and will cause accelerated wear.
Cheers
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My Silvia started doing this after about 5 years of use, tried new seal and whatever else I thought may have helped, it finally reached the stage where I had to hold the PF in place by hand for the duration of the shot or it would unwind completely and fall on top of the cup making a hell of a mess.
It finally occurred to me that wear may well be the problem, on examination the chrome on the PF lugs had indeed worn off as well as a significant amount of brass.
I solved the problem with the judicious use of a sharp fine flat file, dressed the lugs to reduce the angle of contact, never had a problem after this.
Obviously its a job that needs to be done with care, checking often during the process, it would be easy to remove too much material and from the wrong place, close examination and a bit of thought about the contact faces is needed before starting work, go slowly.?
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I'm not suggesting that your experience isn't valid Steve and given that, for the most part, all of these items are mass produced by a number of different companies to some range of acceptable tolerances that they try to adhere to. Certain combinations of Group Handles to Group Receivers may result in a rare situation where the accrued tolerances allow for a less than ideal interference fit.My machine was only about 5 years old when I started using the silicon gasket and I can assure you the lugs weren't worn.
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