Vibiemme Domobar Super pump repeatedly clicking on and off

[Pretzal]

My trusty VBM has developed an issue when I turn it on. The green light that comes on when the pump is on keeps cycling on and off. If I lift the brew lever the pump engages as normal then once I close the brew lever again it keeps clicking.

I've attached a small video file as a zip file (its only 2.64mb) that perhaps better describes my issue.

The machine was only serviced 6 months ago and is regularly cleaned and backflushed.

Thanks for looking

[CaffeinatedAndrew]

That clicking sounds more like your solenoid valve not your pump.

[Pretzal]

That makes sense. The pump seems to function ok when the brew lever is activated. I've just been able to make a coffee with it. It seems to behave after 30-45 seconds once it has re-established the desired water level at start up. Water is still being drawn but obviously intermittently (and slowly).

[TC]

Check the boiler probe for scale.

[Pretzal]

Thanks very much for your reply Chris. I'll try this tomorrow when I get home from work.

[Pretzal]

Ok I took out the Boiler level probe and here are the before and after shots. I was expecting worse but I guess it only takes a small bit of scale in the wrong place.

It's probably too early to say its a success yet as it was an intermittent problem, but after turning on the machine just now it appears to function correctly. Thanks very much for the input Chris. Hopefully this will be the end of the issue!

[TC]

Hope it works

Chris

[Pretzal]

Well I've used it about 3 times over the last 24 hours and I reckon I'm ready to say that was the cause of the issue. What confirms it for me is how responsive it is now to having water removed from the boiler ie when the hot tap is used. Before it used to come on randomly up to 10 or so minutes after the hot tap was used. Now it is very responsive to boiler level changes.

Kudos to Chris.

[TC]

Glad you're up and running Pretzal.

Cheers..

Chris

[Pretzal]

so...

the clicking pump has returned so I have replaced the boiler probe. The new probe is about 40mm longer than the old one. Can I cut it to the same size as the old one as there isn't enough room to leave it 40mm longer at the top?

Thanks for any replies.