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Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

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  • Buschy
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Cam popped out easily with a gentle tap. All done. No more squeak. Thanks!

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Hello Buschy,

    You need to remove the cam from its collar (just tap it out) and then lubricate.

    Cheers

    Chris

    Leave a comment:


  • Buschy
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    After almost a couple of years the lever is starting to stiffen up and squeak again. Sort of sounds like a spring being pulled when I raise it to pull a shot. 2 weeks ago I pulled the assembly out as I did in the past and put some inox on it. Put it back together and problem solved. Today it started squeaking again. Pulled it out did the same thing, but still stiff. Not sure why? The only thing I can think of is that the descaling agent in my new water filter which I replaced around 2-3 weeks ago is to blame. Perhaps its eating away the inox. I decided to pull the assembly out and then crack the two sections apart with a couple of spanners. I havent done this in the past.



    After reviewing some older threads on e61 maintenance Im still not sure where to place the grease now thats its in 2. Do I need to go a step further and take more bits apart? I assume the roundish thing is the cam and the other end the "spindle"? Is the big thing in the middle the collar? If so, where the heck do you put the grease? All looks pretty sealed up to me...  Heres what the group looks like. I tried to dry things up a little thats why oils partially wiped off.

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  • Koffee_Kosmo
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Originally posted by 546365757E6F160 link=1236205891/54#54 date=1250036349
    I pulled chamber ("spindle"?) out as a single unit from group, applied INOX to the outside face of the roundish protruding collar thing-a-ma-bob and then reassembled.
    A cam lobe



    KK

    Leave a comment:


  • Buschy
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    I ended up putting some INOX on my GPP lever assembly for the first time last night. Machine is only a few months old and I followed the same backwash procedure as that used on my old VBM Piccolo (never had to add lubricant) but lever started squeaking a couple of days ago and noise wasnt going away. Procedure seemed simple enough. I used the screwdriver to remove the lever handle, then the spanner to unscrew the outside nut. I pulled chamber ("spindle"?) out as a single unit from group, applied INOX to the outside face of the roundish protruding collar thing-a-ma-bob and then reassembled. Perhaps I missed something along the way as I didnt encounter any springs, etc. when I unscrewed the outside nut.  :-? However the machine worked perfectly this morning. Problem solved.  

    My biggest worry was scaring/scratching the exterior of the parts with the screwdriver or spanner. I ended up wrapping the end of the tools with a little bit of soft tape so steel wasnt directly in contact with steel.

    Leave a comment:


  • ev
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Originally posted by 4B49435F161611260 link=1236205891/52#52 date=1239261491
    well i put the seals back in but still i had a real flow of water from the shaft while brewing. so i did what any desprate coffee snob would do...i called Chris. it turns out that i had not put the shaft back together correctly after taking it off. now its all back together correctly and im back on track.  thanks Chris, Evan and all other contributers to this thread.
    Great news moey007. Lets hope Chris never changes his phone number. Wed be lost without him! ;D

    Evan.

    Leave a comment:


  • moey007
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    well i put the seals back in but still i had a real flow of water from the shaft while brewing. so i did what any desprate coffee snob would do...i called Chris. it turns out that i had not put the shaft back together correctly after taking it off. now its all back together correctly and im back on track. thanks Chris, Evan and all other contributers to this thread.

    Leave a comment:


  • ev
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Theyre meant to be together. Actually, my VBM had one big seal instead of two small ones. Ive now fitted two. Chris suggested that reseating the rubbers may get you out of trouble. Try cleaning & rubbing a smear of grease on them before you re-install. They only cost $1.40 so you might as well replace them.

    Evan.

    Leave a comment:


  • moey007
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    hi everyone, i had the same problem as Evan in that i noticed a water leak from the shaft during the pour, so i tried to reseat the 2 seals that Chris suggested. what exactly do you mean by " You may find that simply reseating them will do the trick" are the meant to be together or apart? any suggestions please.
    thanks

    Leave a comment:


  • ev
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Yep, the E61 is certainly very easy to maintain. I just replaced all the valves, seals & shaft/cam in my group & it really was a no brainer. A huge thanks to our site sponsor George at http://www.espressocompany.com.au/ for all his assistance in getting the job done right. No more water leak from the shaft when I run a shot now!

    Evan.

    Leave a comment:


  • hotshod
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Originally posted by 3023550 link=1236205891/46#46 date=1239004895
    I just received my tube of Loctite 8104 silicon grease & its much thicker & stickier than the Inox stuff. This grease really looks like itll hang on better.

    Evan.
    Sounds like thats in the same league as my red rubber grease ..... removed the cam 2 days ago to have a look at it , and found plenty of red sticky stuff in place. The actually cam face still needs a touch up , to maintain super smooth action..... with the Little VBM, a 5mm allen key and the job is done in less than a minute.
    Easy As

    Cheers

    Leave a comment:


  • DavidR
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Ive found my lever loosens up after the machine is backflushed with the special detergent (Clean Machine etc).

    Leave a comment:


  • ev
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    I just received my tube of Loctite 8104 silicon grease & its much thicker & stickier than the Inox stuff. This grease really looks like itll hang on better.

    Evan.

    Leave a comment:


  • bolb
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    I would agree Mal.
    The Inox wasnt what i expected in consistancy but it was very easy to apply and position where required.

    Mal

    Leave a comment:


  • ev
    replied
    Re: Squeaky and stiff Giotto lever

    Mal, Im completely rebuilding the group & I want to make sure that the new cam doesnt end up with worn spots on it this time. A $30 tube of grease is cheap insurance, not that the group parts are expensive anyway! Once Ive got it, Ill compare it to the Inox.

    Evan.

    Leave a comment:

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