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  • ECM Giotto Problems

    Hey guys & gals,

    Long time reader first time poster. Thanks for your previous insights and advice. Youre help would once more be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

    Heres the low down. Bought an ECM Giotto Prem (major upgrade from Sunbeam EM5800) off eBay at a great price, 3 yrs old in sweet condition but had a couple of issues when I got it:

    1. The power light didnt work - easy fix, called ECA (ECM importers) and they sent me a new light assembly. Good excuse to pull it apart. After a small electrocution now working. Nice!

    2. Theres a ticking noise when I turn it on before I can hear the boiler start to heat. Its a regular tick, tick, tick. It then slows down after a while then starts to heat the boiler. The ticking slows down then stops after a while then everything works fine: group, hot water, steam. Not great but OK - any ideas?

    3. This is the doozy! The group leaks when under pressure (with basket full for a shot or blind inserted) via the lever axle. Took it apart to find the seal had completely disintegrated. ECA sent me a seal for this too but after cleaning it out as well as I could and then replacing the seal it still leaks. Should I undo the thick arm that the the lever axle screws into and give it a good clean out? Or should I just bite the bullet and take it to Di Bartoli for a service.

    Thanks for your thoughts.

    Mattt



  • #2
    Re: ECM Giotto Problems

    Mattt, I reckon youre at the point where you should take it in to Renzo. The quicker you do, the quicker youll be enjoying god shots.

    Apart from that, you might consider sending it down to Chris for a thermostability workout at the same time as the repair - made a huge difference (positive) to mine and well worth the money - hell have it back in days, depending on his workload...just dont send it sitting in the co-pilots seat like I did

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: ECM Giotto Problems

      Hey,

      If it was me then I would send it to Chris so he can fix it and do the mod at the same time. Not saying Renzo is bad or anything.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: ECM Giotto Problems

        Originally posted by mattt link=1197631361/0#0 date=1197631360
        1. The power light didnt work - easy fix, called ECA (ECM importers) and they sent me a new light assembly. Good excuse to pull it apart. After a small electrocution  now working. Nice!
        Good stuff Mattt and great that youre still around.
        Rule #1- unplug!

        2. Theres a ticking noise when I turn it on before I can hear the boiler start to heat. Its a regular tick, tick, tick. It then slows down after a while then starts to heat the boiler. The ticking slows down then stops after a while then everything works fine: group, hot water, steam. Not great but OK - any ideas?
        Without seeing the unit, sounds like the element relay might be on the way out- may need a new controller board- $$$  . Is the pressurestat performing normally to maintain element pressure?

        3. This is the doozy! The group leaks when under pressure (with basket full for a shot or blind inserted) via the lever axle. Took it apart to find the seal had completely disintegrated. ECA sent me a seal for this too but after cleaning it out as well as I could and then replacing the seal it still leaks. Should I undo the thick arm that the the lever axle screws into and give it a good clean out? Or should I just bite the bullet and take it to Di Bartoli for a service.
        I think its time to pull down the entire lever assembly and rebuild it. It should only need seals. Sounds like the machine has done a heap of work?

        Re the above mentioned mods, they work well on a Giotto Premium...Unfortunately, if its a Giotto Classic, its not really worth going down the pathway as the differences are not as big....

        Good luck!

        Chris

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: ECM Giotto Problems

          Thanks D, CK & 2mcm,

          The ticking has stopped - must have been from the move - weird.

          The lever handle still leaks but Ive found the culprit. Pulled the lever assembly apart completely this morning before heading to work and have had a closer look this arvo. 2 tiny seals on the shaft set into grooves - one was missing though Im pretty sure the remains of it were distributed through the shaft and the other was brittle - it cracked out under my fingernail. Ill put in a call to ECA on Monday to get the seals, then it should be ready to rock (or should I say shoot).

          I bought it from a small tax office (4 staff) so I dont think its had much use. However I think they keep it on pretty much non stop - I dont reckon they even turned it off at night. The water tank has discoloured at the top from heat so I think it got a bit melty, melty, if you know what I mean.

          Who is Chris (or do you mean ECA Chris)? Does he do the pimping that Ive read about in another thread? If you do mean ECA Chris, he suggested Di Bartoli (I assume this is Renzo).

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: ECM Giotto Problems

            Here is the disassembled lever assembly. NB arrows where seal should be. Its all clean now. Nice!

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: ECM Giotto Problems

              I took apart the waste assembly as well - filthy. Its now all clean too. I forgot how to put it back together but figured it our after a while. Yesssss!

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: ECM Giotto Problems

                Nice to know you found the problem. Chris is 2muchcoffeeman from Talk Coffee, he does the pimping 8-)

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: ECM Giotto Problems

                  Toosey, good to see your working through it all mate, Ill come over and put that power point in for your new machine for ya soon, looks like its gonna be in the new year though mate.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: ECM Giotto Fixed

                    Spoke to Chris at ECA and turns out I had the wrong seal in the wrong place - it doesnt even go in there. The seals I needed to replace I didnt even know were there - pulled then out and they were completely worn out as they sit around the lever shaft that rotates in them. The 2 grooves in the shaft are grease pits. I replaced the correct seal and it works sweet - no drips.

                    Ill post the correct lever handle parts explosion soon.

                    Now I just need to work on my technique - such a hack! 3 shots this arvo: 1st underextraction - I need a proper tamper. 2nd too much coffee in the group handle so the head was resting on the puck - no flow. 3rd over extraction - either cos the group was still touching the puck or too hard a tamp. Plus my milk was shocking - not used to the power. I guess Ill have to unlearn my old Sunbeam habits

                    Plenty of time though...

                    Can I just put in a plug for Chris at ECA (ECM importers). Super helpful! Generous with his time! Sent me the replacement parts for free!

                    Non-Sponsor contact details removed.....

                    Mal.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: ECM Giotto Fixed

                      Originally posted by mattt link=1197631361/0#9 date=1197891806
                      2nd too much coffee in the group handle so the head was resting on the puck[/color]
                      Is Chris still okay? Sounds painful

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: ECM Giotto Problems

                        ;D ;D ;D Ok Identity, it took me about 5 times of reading it, but I just got your joke... good one! ;D Poor Chris. Lets hope Mattt gave it a good cooling flush before hand

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: ECM Giotto Problems

                          ;D OK it also took me a while to get that, but it made my day! lol ;D ;D

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: ECM Giotto Problems

                            Got it. Nice identity.

                            Cooling flush is being utilized. Also waiting for the pressure increase to reside during the boiler reheating before pulling the shot. Is that right?

                            Shots are improving. Had friends over for dinner last night. My mate Scott reckons Ill have it down by the 100th coffee

                            Went to Di Bartoli yesterday - awesome! Got a tamper which makes a huge difference over that crap piece of plastic ECM ship with it.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: ECM Giotto Problems

                              Sorry Mal. Didnt know. Cheers.

                              Comment

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