Originally posted by Dimal
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Lubricating Bezzera E61 Cam.
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When I got my Bez the lever was slick but after by first Caffeto backflush its tighter and squeaks...doesnt feel right. 20 shots later and margin improvement. Looks my machine might be in the lube required category... Cheers
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Morning Ozscott, Yep, Cafetto does strip the lube away, you should be able to lube the cam by removing the mushroom, spring and pin, then using something long and thin (I use a satay stick) put a dab of food grade grease on the cam, much easier than removing the handle/cam assy.Originally posted by ozscott View PostWhen I got my Bez the lever was slick but after by first Caffeto backflush its tighter and squeaks...doesnt feel right. 20 shots later and margin improvement. Looks my machine might be in the lube required category... Cheers
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Trouble is, this only lubes half the cam, the portion that engages with the upper valve.
Not hard to remove the cam ass'y, lube and replace...
Another option, is to have the cam "hard chrome faced" and this issue will never be a problem again.
Mal.
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Thanks gents. Any tips for first time strip down. I am assuming screw comes off the side of the lever allowing handle removal which in turn allows a socket (with cloth or tape...yikes) over the main fitting on the side of the group and once that is off the cam is accessible? Cheers
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Morin Ozscott, good job well done.
I've contemplated Mals hard chrome option for the cam, however, one of those jobs I've never found time to do, means machine down time, trip or send to Adelaide, all too hard, perhaps if/when I need to replace the cam.
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I just bought a new one and sent it off to have the cam chromed (they're pretty cheap). Replaced the original the next time I serviced the Group...Originally posted by Yelta View PostMorin Ozscott, good job well done.
I've contemplated Mals hard chrome option for the cam, however, one of those jobs I've never found time to do, means machine down time, trip or send to Adelaide, all too hard, perhaps if/when I need to replace the cam.

Mal.
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Hi Mal. Would you mind letting me know where you got yours hard faced? I am somewhat underwhelmed by the fact that despite a liberal greasing and no chemical backflush the handle of my Bez is getting stiff and a little squeaky again... not happy Jan!
Should I just let it grind away and reach a happy medium...? Because from memory each valve gets replaced eventually when the seals go... I can live with the squeaks and stiffness as long as I'm not doing damage that isn't easily repairable.
Cheers
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Be wary of hard chroming the cam. The cam surface will last forever but will cause premature wear on the upper and lower valve pins and before you know it you'll be wondering why the exhaust and brew valves are misbehaving.
Edit: one issue that rarely gets mentioned re cam wear is the orientation of the valve pins that contact the cam. Grinding and a dry feeling thru the lever can be caused by the pins being on an angle with the corners digging into the cam rather than being square on. Easily checked and rectified by removing the actuator/lever assembly and if necessary turning the valves straight on with needle nose pliers.Last edited by JMcCee; 22 April 2019, 08:15 PM.
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This is NOT true...Originally posted by JMcCee View PostBe wary of hard chroming the cam. The cam surface will last forever but will cause premature wear on the upper and lower valve pins and before you know it you'll be wondering why the exhaust and brew valves are misbehaving.
If the chrome plating is completed correctly, the contact interface between the two materials produces such little friction that all that eventually occurs, is that the brass valve stems become highly polished over time with the result that the valve ass's last more than four times as long. Also, no sign of metal 'drag' (galling) on the valve stems either...
Mal.Last edited by Dimal; 23 April 2019, 03:04 PM.
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I arranged it through a machine-shop owner here in Warwick who uses a business in Brisbane.Originally posted by ozscott View PostHi Mal. Would you mind letting me know where you got yours hard faced? I am somewhat underwhelmed by the fact that despite a liberal greasing and no chemical backflush the handle of my Bez is getting stiff and a little squeaky again... not happy Jan!
I did a quick look-up on businesses in Brissy and noticed that there are quite a few to pick from, so I guess the easiest thing to do would be to contact a number of them and find which operations are setup to handle small items...
It's only the cam periphery that needs to be hard faced, not the entire component.
Mal.
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