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Any servicing guys out there that can help?

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  • craig
    replied
    Thank guys.

    The person that I dealt with was the owner, so I'm not sure that making a complaint would do much.

    I was going to wipe them and just put it down to experience, but upon thinking about it, a well constructed email might be the go. I'm likely to lose my cool if I walked with washers in hand, as this same gent lied to my face, which I don't appreciate.

    He actually told me the unit was initially bench tested after the service for a whole day prior to calling me to have it collected. This is not physically possible as I was asked to approve repairs at 10AM on day I picked the machine up.

    He also told me he checked the valves when I picked it up on my subsequent return trip. Clearly if he had, he would have noticed the wear and cracking of the rubber, put 2 and 2 together and replaced these.

    Anyhow the machine is now producing good coffee and is leak free. I've also found another service place after contacting the VBM importers to see who they recommend in my area.

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  • Dimal
    commented on 's reply
    I would ask to speak to the manager of the establishment, report what has happened and what you did to rectify the problem yourself in the end. If he/she is concerned about the course of events, hopefully processes will be modified to prevent a recurrence. And if they are genuinely interested in improving the services they provide, hopefully they will also do something to recompense you for the inconvenience you experienced and your subsequent feedback.

    Mal.

  • Brewster
    replied
    Hi Craig.
    Glad you were able to sort out your issue. Disappointing though to be let down by the service guy, might be worth a trip back to him with the worn parts you replaced, and ask for an explanation.
    When I get my machine serviced, all the replaced bits and pieces are always given to me with the bill so I know exactly what has been replaced. I guess that's the difference between the shonkies and the reputable retailers.
    Cheers
    Mal

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  • Jackster
    replied
    Good to see you got it sorted, and the satisfaction of knowing you can do it yourself.

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  • craig
    replied
    Ok, update.
    I ended up replacing parts seperately to see what would fix the issue. The infusion valve and spring was first. I thought I was on a winner as there was a crack in the washer, plus the spring was a different length to the genuine one. Alas, no joy.

    The drain valve, upon inspection was also old and had a small crack the washer when I pulled it down, so I just replaced the washer and bingo, no more leak.

    So the question remains, what did the service guy actually replace? I can't say as I didn't pull down the whole group head. I just concentrated on the drain side, but I was charged $40 for new group head washers and I know of at least two that were not replaced.
    Needless to say, I won't be going back. I'm glad it's sorted and to be honest a part of me wants to front them about it, but what's the point?

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  • craig
    replied
    Yeah they were originally a British made thing. Aussie plumbers use them. They are kind of a cross between stillson and multi grips, well kind of. I suppose they are a medium duty wrench. Multi grips are light duty and when you pull out the stillsons, things just got real!!
    https://tradetoolsupplies.com.au/foo...BoCCBwQAvD_BwE

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  • 338
    commented on 's reply
    Mal, pommy pipe wrench like stillsons. Have only heard it used by a British guy I knew, even though I think they might be sold here

  • Dimal
    commented on 's reply
    Eh, what???

  • craig
    replied
    So I should put my 12" footprints down?

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  • Dimal
    replied
    I'd recommend the acquisition of proper sized Open Ended spanners or Hex Sockets over the use of shifting spanners. Far less risk of galling the finish on the chromed brass fittings...

    Mal.

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  • craig
    replied
    I'm on the Sunshine Coast, and if I could find someone who gave a rats and knew their stuff I'd be more than happy to use them. I had a business that I used to use, but they changed hands and the new owner isn't interested in servicing domestic stuff.
    I'd even be happy to drive my machine down to Brissy to get it done properly. It's just knowing where to take it.

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  • roosterben
    replied
    Agree with noidle22 on two points, first with an adjustable spanner (two is easier) some electrical tape on the spanners to protect the bolts and some acid to soak the parts in pulling apart an E61 group is very simple. Just a bit daunting the first time you do it. Second there are some really ordinary coffee techs or coffee tech business out there.

    I have bought a few machines second hand to fix/repair/flip. A few from Brisbane have even come with $500 recent service receipts from coffee technicians. When I have gone through the machines I wonder what the techs have been doing, seized OPV running 13 bar, pressure stats running so high the boilers or pipes could be easily damaged. E61 groups full of scale with rubber gaskets which are so hard you end up breaking the E61 valves trying to remove them.

    There is one particular coffee repair business I keep seeing the stickers on machines in terrible states. I won't mention it here though as you never really know the full history of how the machines were looked after by owners (or how long since the last service) and what sort of water they have been fed.

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  • noidle22
    replied
    Originally posted by craig View Post
    I got a coffee machine guy to do it though, because I thought I'd be better off leaving it to someone who knows these machines and what to look for, particularly a machine with a bit of age on it.
    There's cowboys in this industry just like them all unfortunately, finding a good workshop with technicians who actually care can be hard.

    E61 HX machines are really not too difficult to work on, with a plumbing background you'd be able to pick it up easily. They look intimidating but there's really not much going on.

    There's lots of good videos online showing how to make adjustments and replace basic parts too. Rick from The Coffee Machinist did this video covering the Faema E61 group recently. A bit different to the VBM but very similar in terms of replacing/lubricating parts. Probably the most comprehensive and informative video currently out there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C0VdpfGXhc&t=563s

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  • craig
    replied
    Yeah I'm a little dirty actually.
    The machine actually had several issues after it was serviced. It's just that the others were sorted on the 2nd visit where as this wasn't.

    If I'm honest, it appears that whoever worked on it initially had no pride in their work, or simply didn't care. I reckon that's unacceptable.

    As a plumber, I'd actually like to do it myself. I cant see replacing washers and springs and making adjustments all that different to what I do when servicing a backflow prevention valve or a thermostatic mixing valve. Imust admit that I dont know how to adjust things like brewing head pressures, but with a small investment in the right gear, and a bit of a play, I think I'd figure it out pretty quickly.
    I got a coffee machine guy to do it though, because I thought I'd be better off leaving it to someone who knows these machines and what to look for, particularly a machine with a bit of age on it.



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  • noidle22
    replied
    Originally posted by Sir View Post
    It would be the drain valve. The drain valve should be closed and fully sealed when brewing, whereas the infusion valve is designed to open slightly and fill the pre infusion chamber as the pressure builds so there is a slow ramp up of pressure and the coffee puck doesn't get hit with 9 bar straight away.
    I gave whoever looked at the machine the benefit of the doubt in that I hope they wouldn't miss a faulty drain valve twice. It does seem more that way though.

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