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Expobar Leva Leak

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  • A_M
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    Originally posted by 281711160B0C26620 link=1292623880/11#11 date=1302340637
    It was more of a truism than a specific statement pertaining to the Leva as his experience was with commercial equipment.
    Thanks... Makes more sense now as I asked around re other Leva users and the Brewtus owners and hit a blank every time. A few other problems but not leaks from that joint

    Hence I stick by my first comment.

    My experience suggests that, it was never tight or fitted correctly from the outset.
    OR you were just unlucky...

    Enjoy the Leva for what it is and teh cup it puts out.

    Leave a comment:


  • JustinD
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    Sorry guys, I didnt see the further posts. In full disclosure the machine is actually closer to 20 months old, so out of warranty.

    Also, the explanation was not provided by Expobar (so nothing sinister going on there) but from a friend who has a significant coffee (roasting) business. Given they often supply equipment with their two year (I think) contracts with cafes, he has found that gaskets can go sooner when the machines are turned off an on more often. It was more of a truism than a specific statement pertaining to the Leva as his experience was with commercial equipment.

    My experience with the Leva and Expobar has been great. Since they posted their phone number of their site (rather than only email contact) I couldnt have one complaint on their service and help.

    Leave a comment:


  • A_M
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    Originally posted by 4F736E757F7E697C747F1B0 link=1292623880/9#9 date=1301064020
    I have a used gasket for my Expobar I can show you side by side with a new one.

    The old one has less flexibility.
    If I bend it, new cracks will form.
    The new one doesnt do that.

    The gasket is fairly stiff to start with.

    It seems fairly obvious to me that heat has caused this change in the flexibility.

    As for more heating/cooling cycles speeding up this effect, I believe it to be true based on my personal experience.
    Oh... By the way.  I also agree with the issue of heat and movement causing gaskets to become brittle and fail.

    It is just that  in under 12 months and to have leaks as stated; if they were not fiddling ?

    Unless it is an Exobar thing, I am unaware of this being an issue on many other machines; untill after one starts playing with fittings 

    None of the machines I have played with have suffered in this manner at the outset and only after I have pulled down and stripped. Mind you  Miss BFC was only a couple or more years old and the the others were not much younger and never saw the problem.

    The exobar Minior III on my bench  was Manufactured  in the 12 month 2009 and while not in use for a few months, gets about turned on / off 4 to 6 times a day at least.  (My wife does not like it to idle as it causes spikes on the power meter ... Doh)

    So the moral of the story is that things are different for all and it may be that for the Exobar Leva; one needs to schedule a Service and Gasket change (in addition to the group) every 12 months ?

    Is it just this  one particular gasket or others as well ?  (Quality - RCA)

    I wonder how many other Exobar Leva owners are aware or have this problem ?  A poll ?

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    I have a used gasket for my Expobar I can show you side by side with a new one.

    The old one has less flexibility.
    If I bend it, new cracks will form.
    The new one doesnt do that.

    The gasket is fairly stiff to start with.

    It seems fairly obvious to me that heat has caused this change in the flexibility.

    As for more heating/cooling cycles speeding up this effect, I believe it to be true based on my personal experience.

    When I first got the machine it stayed on longer each day than it does now.

    Since putting it on a timer, gasket life has been reduced.
    I put this down to the 3 on off cycles per day as opposed to the original 1 (on in the morning off at bedtime).

    Pedro at Coffee Parts broached the subject on one of my early visits for new gaskets and when I calculated my machines cycles against Pedros suggested gasket lifespan, my machines numbers fitted well with his theory.

    Leave a comment:


  • A_M
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    Originally posted by 1529342F252433262E25410 link=1292623880/7#7 date=1301034709
    Originally posted by 456A63617649656A65636169616A70040 link=1292623880/6#6 date=1301031318
    As to the highlight - Now about that bridge I have for sale
    What are you insinuating AM? Makes perfect sense to me.

    The reality is; that a Gasket is usually there to manage TWO things.

    1: Manage any mating surface in-consistences

    2: Manage slight changes in the mating surfaces, that may be due to changes in temp or movement/flex...

    If their explanation was 100% true, then many others would also be having the same problem with that same fitting and every other fitting in every machine, where a gasket is subject to changes in temp.

    Bugger, must get my car looked at ASAP as it has gaskets that are subject to heat stresses and changes all the time : : : Damm I I always thought a blown head gasket was from really overtaxing and mistreating the motor; now I know I can just never turn it off

    Reality is more like the following:

    My experience suggests that, it was never tight or fitted correctly from the outset.

    Just ask our resident gasket / fitting expert up on teh sunshine coast. Has lots of experiences with all types of gaskets etc ;D AND am sure he will confirm that if done correctly they never leak, but if ya get it wrong or use the wrong gasket you will have leaks for ever and a day

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    Originally posted by 456A63617649656A65636169616A70040 link=1292623880/6#6 date=1301031318
    As to the highlight - Now about that bridge I have for sale
    What are you insinuating AM? Makes perfect sense to me.

    Leave a comment:


  • A_M
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    Originally posted by 56696F687572581C0 link=1292623880/5#5 date=1301030576
    So, after much delay I have had my Leva fixed. The leak was due to the bottom gasket leaking and needed replacement. I was told that the more a machine is turned off and on (and the assoc. heating/cooling) the increased chance of a gasket going. After the repair the gasket was great but my thermo dodad needed replacement as the water was boiling as it came out of the grouphead. So today I drove out to Dandenong South and had the restrictor replaced by Expobar. Now that they have their phone number on their website I was able to call up two days ago and then just hang around 30mins and watch while the restrictor was installed. I also bought two steam wand ends to play around with - a single hole and a three hole (to complement my existing two hole end). I hope to find the perfect setup for my milk frothing from these options.
    As to the highlight - Now about that bridge I have for sale

    The restrictor is but one part of teh process... Keep an eye on it and for how long you need to run any cooling flushes; once it has been up to temp for a while.

    Enjoy the unit as they are worthwhile.

    Leave a comment:


  • JustinD
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    So, after much delay I have had my Leva fixed. The leak was due to the bottom gasket leaking and needed replacement. I was told that the more a machine is turned off and on (and the assoc. heating/cooling) the increased chance of a gasket going. After the repair the gasket was great but my thermo dodad needed replacement as the water was boiling as it came out of the grouphead. So today I drove out to Dandenong South and had the restrictor replaced by Expobar. Now that they have their phone number on their website I was able to call up two days ago and then just hang around 30mins and watch while the restrictor was installed. I also bought two steam wand ends to play around with - a single hole and a three hole (to complement my existing two hole end). I hope to find the perfect setup for my milk frothing from these options.

    Leave a comment:


  • JustinD
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    thanks for the responses. I just got back in the country and will follow up.

    Leave a comment:


  • Ronin
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    Originally posted by 6E7F711A0 link=1292623880/2#2 date=1292652989
    Contact the seller if its just over a year old theyre usually pretty good about things
    If they are not good about it, look into whats called the Statutory warranty of your state, may even be federal.

    Basicilly states that if you pay X for a product then it should have a warranty period of Y. Not common knowledge that that time is usually longer than the company warranty on the product. Covers everything, if I remember it correctly.

    Disclaimer Insert- Do your own due diligence on the subject, do not take my word for it

    Leave a comment:


  • tek
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    Contact the seller if its just over a year old theyre usually pretty good about things

    Leave a comment:


  • barrel
    replied
    Re: Expobar Leva Leak

    That is a compression fitting mate. If it is out of warranty then just try tightening it up a bit (MAKE SURE MACHINE IS OFF AND UNPLUGGED AT THE WALL FIRST!), if that fails some hi temp thread compound. Going by the size it looks like it goes to the pressure stat or steam.

    Leave a comment:


  • JustinD
    started a topic Expobar Leva Leak

    Expobar Leva Leak

    I have a one year old Expobar leva that has sprung a leak at the bottom of the boiler. I noticed a hissing sound coming from the unit, so I removed the cover. At the base of the boiler [img][/img]
    in the photo (hopefully it attached to the post), the nut on the right hand side of the photo had water coming out above the point where they thread together. It seemed to be bubbling from above and making a hissing noise. Could someone please educate me as to what has possibly happened and what these parts are called as I assume I will need to get this repaired?

    Justin

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