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  • #16
    Re: Expobar Minore III

    Originally posted by 454257414C5A7C121A1A1A230 link=1232770787/14#14 date=1243224414
    Mainly though, I would suggest you talk to the supplier about the issues you have and see what they have to say.
    +1

    I know the sponsors here would be willing to help if they had supplied it, I would hope that your chosen supplier would be willing to also.

    I have to ask - did you see this model machine in the flesh before buying it, and if so did you notice these issues on it?

    Grant

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    • #17
      Re: Expobar Minore III

      Hi BeanMonkey,

      Shame that you are here now rather than when you were looking to purchase. Sadly, it looks like you purchased a box and received that level of service from the mob you purchased it from. My guess is that it was never bench tested either and more likely than not, you may have received less than what you paid for :-?.

      On the other hand, had you purchased form a sponsor, your machine would have been correctly packed and more likely than not, shipped on a small wooden skid. Seems that $100 saved can result in $1k of grief...

      Expobar finish is sometimes a tad "rough around the edges" on domestic stuff when compared to the Italian stuff.

      The electricals are an issue and need to be addressed one way or another. The other issues sound pretty typical to me...

      Get the seller to rectify it...

      2mcm

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: Expobar Minore III

        Thanks for your input guys.

        Yes, it was purchased from one of the sponsors.  I Dont want to name them, as the guy who served me is a good man and has given plenty of his time to me.

        I asked him if I did the fixing, would he honour the warranty, and he said yes.  Would be nice in writing, but Ill take his word for it.  He actually said, as long as I dont fiddle with the inards etc, it should be fine.  I could get them to do it, but its too much trouble to return it and wait weeks etc.  I will carefully mask off the area and file away.

        Would anyone be interested in a optional replacement top and bottom tray for their Exobar?

        As Ive been in the manufacturing of stainless steel parts before, I am thinking of fashioning a replacement top tray and bottom tray.  Would be nice to have a shallow tray for taller cups too.  Was going to do some funky mods for my older Sunbeam, but didnt think there would be much market for it.  My personal opinion of Expobars top tray is that its very ugly, and dont like the holes into for water to drip down into the guts.

        As for mods, I saw on this forum someone hunting down a switch for the Minore II.  As an electrician, I would not recommend anyone to self modifiy any of the electrics, as youd probably get the wrong switch and compromise the machine, as well as injure yourself, or even death.  240 Volts doesnt feel pleasant, believe me.


        @ Everyone,
        I hope you are all using a "Saftey Switch" aka "Residual Current Device" on your machine.  Lots of metal, water and electricity dont mix well, so be prepared and buy a safety switch.



        As for the bench test, I had all the laser film still on the unit , and as I didnt think it would be neccessary to poke around looking for anomalies, it didnt look that close at the machine.  I was more concentrating on what the guy was telling so I knew how to look after the machine.  ( I still have all the laser film on the machine.  Leaving it on until I make my proper bench for it.  Currently sits on a K-Mart kitchen trolly. )

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        • #19
          Re: Expobar Minore III

          Originally posted by 4451464453564F4F4E424D230 link=1232770787/4#4 date=1232937477
          Agreed, see attached. Though the naming on the plate is a bit odd, mine definitely isnt an Office Leva.
          Expobar emailed me about this, and this is what its called in the overseas markets. Obviously is the Minore here. You would of expected them to make a different sticker though.

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          • #20
            Re: Expobar Minore III

            I have a Leva.
            Its the base mode.
            You then have the Minore II, which has the two boilers and digital readout (not for me).
            The Minore III is the newest model.

            The Minore is known as the Brewtus to the Yanks.

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            • #21
              Re: Expobar Minore III

              And to the Poms the office Leva Double Boiler.

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: Expobar Minore III

                My sticker also says Office Leva 2.
                Must just be what Expobar call the dual boiler model.
                Looks the same as the sticker Greg posted apart from the serial number (blanked) and mine was built in June 2006.

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                • #23
                  Re: Expobar Minore III

                  Originally posted by 3F382D3B36200668606060590 link=1232770787/21#21 date=1243255041
                  My sticker also says Office Leva 2.
                  Must just be what Expobar call the dual boiler model.
                  Looks the same as the sticker Greg posted apart from the serial number (blanked) and mine was built in June 2006.
                  Mine just says Office Leva.
                  Built April 2006.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Expobar Minore III

                    Expobar Australia has returned my call and spoken to me about my concerns and now Im not too concerned about it.

                    Now, this thread got a little off topic. No one has responded to my idea of making an alternative top tray and or bottom tray.

                    What are people thoughts on this, or they are not concern. I guess I will post pictures when Im closer to getting something produced.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Expobar Minore III

                      Originally posted by 2205010E2D0F0E0B0519600 link=1232770787/23#23 date=1243639363
                      Now, this thread got a little off topic.No one has responded to my idea of making an alternative top tray and or bottom tray.
                      Well, Im not handy wih metal or wood, so its not something Id ever consider doing myself but if its something you think would be useful, then why not?
                      I only use one tall mug at home and I suppose travel mugs are the other things that dont fit under the current setup. It doesnt really bother me though. If I really want to, I can empty the drip tray, take the grille off, put my cleaning cloth under the return and stand the tall cups in place that way. More often than not though, I just pull the shot into a cup and transfer it to the other one (with milk).
                      Originally posted by 2205010E2D0F0E0B0519600 link=1232770787/17#17 date=1243233784
                      Would anyone be interested in a optional replacement top and bottom tray for their Exobar?
                      I might be... what are your demands?

                      Brett.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: Expobar Minore III

                        I dont mind the look of the existing setup and find the holes drain the water well.

                        On very rare occasions Ive done the same as Brett for a tall cup but 99.999% of the time it hasnt been a problem in the 2.5 years Ive had the Expobar.

                        By top tray do you mean the cup warmer?

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: Expobar Minore III

                          Cup warmer tray - dunno - but holes in the top (1) help to warm the cups - so it has a purpose, and (2) must surely provide some decent ventilation - would get hotter inside the box without them surely.

                          Driptray - if mugs are too high, its far easier and cheaper to get shorter mugs - its usually only a few mms thats needed, even a new spout can make that difference up - eg using the single spout for mugs makes life a whole lot easier. i bought a set of mugs that fitted perfectly under a mokita combi, and they were a bit smaller than regular which to me was an advantage for use anyway.

                          looks- well if you can just replace the top of the drip tray with some funky design, then you have a one off leva - thatd be pretty cool - and its easier than the whole tray if you dont need to do the whole tray.

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: Expobar Minore III

                            Originally posted by 7B636A79666A6964720B0 link=1232770787/26#26 date=1243650573
                            looks-  well if you can just replace the top of the drip tray with some funky design, then you have  a one off leva - thatd be pretty cool - and its easier than the whole tray if you dont need to do the whole tray.
                            Hmmm, OK fair enough.  Thanks to those that replied.

                            Might just concentrate on the bottom tray lid then.  I agreed that maybe a shallower bottom tray wouldnt really be that beneficial, unless your going to drill out the tray to have it drain into a waste pipe.  Ive got my Minore III setup in what is meant to be a laundry, so there is  a waste pipe for the washing machine.  Was thinking of running a pipe from the drip tray to the waste pipe.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: Expobar Minore III

                              When I finally decide on the exact location of mine Im going to plumb my waste in as well.

                              theres an example down the bottom of this page
                              http://www.home-barista.com/espresso-machines/plumbing-in-espresso-machine-in-new-kitchen-t10236.html#p116391

                              and then next is to plumb in the refill tank with a float valve and 1/4" line from a filter.

                              the trick with draining the tray I think, is setting it up so you can still remove the tray, and also easily convert backwards to non drained

                              so small outlet in bottom of tray that drips into a much bigger drain hole that then goes off to the waste.

                              People who have done it seem to think its the best think it was the best upgrade ever.
                              | |

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: Expobar Minore III

                                Originally posted by 455D54475854575A4C350 link=1232770787/28#28 date=1243656087
                                the trick with draining the tray I think, is setting it up so you can still remove the tray, and also easily convert backwards to non drained

                                so small outlet in bottom of tray that drips into a much bigger drain hole that then goes off to the waste
                                Arrrr, Nice pharmaboy. Ill keep that in mind.

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