Archive for the ‘Spare Parts and Repairs’ Category

Quality Espresso Rebuild of Rimini Nera Espresso Machine

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

My new/old Rimini arrived a day ago and I’ve been inspecting it.  I haven’t had the opportunity to hook it up with water and power yet but I’m getting close to that eventuality.  In the interim I have a question about the knob on the lower left front of the machine in this picture

 

When I turn the knob, the knob mounts solidly on the shaft of the valve but when I turn the knob, it doesn’t stop, in either direction.  It just turns and turns and never hits a stop.  Is there something wrong with it?  And what exactly does this knob do?n  What about the galvanic corrosion I see on the valve, should I be concerned?

 

Please pardon my ignorance.  I’m learning aobut this machine, and I’m truly enamored with it.  BTW, when I wrote to you about the Bunn Users Group, I believe I said the Bunn ES-1A was a USA only machine but it’s come to my attention that machine was marketed elsewhere in the world as the Milady

 

Hello Andrew,  Thank you so much for sending me the parts file and extending a helping hand.  The parts file will come in very handy, especially when I disassemble the group for a thorough cleaning.  I spoke with the PO yesterday by phone and he told me the machine was last used in 2004 and not 2002 as I mentioned in my email to you.  It’s still 4 + years since it last ran and I have no idea if the machine was maintained properly with detergent backflushing (owner of the machine used hired help to opearte it and seemed clueless about upkeep)

 

A couple friends of mine run a Yahoo group for Bunn ES-1A owners-

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BUG-is-Bunn/

 

I suggested to Tex (Robert Harmon) that he invite you to join.  His reply was you are most welcome to join and he asked me to invite you 

 

As the name implies, BUG is an acronym for Bunn Users Group.  You are probably aware that Bunn Coffee Co in the U.S. had Gaggia in Spain manufacture a one and a two group espresso machine for Bunn with Bunn’s name on the machine.  I think production ceased in 1996. 

 

Anyways, Tex and David Mankin started this group to be used as a resource for Bunn espresso machine owners.  Since machines like Visacrem, Futurmat, etc. were built in the same factory, those machine owners are welcomed too.  I think there is only one other Futurmat member there

 

It is an international group and I’m sure the group owners would like to see it grow.  Having said that, they limit membership to owners of the machines.  Anyone can peruse posts but members have access to the other areas of the site like the files, photos and what not

 

I’ve only recently been allowed to post w/o moderation now that I will be taking possesion of one of these machines shortly.  FWIW, I met Tex when I purchased my Gaggia Classic from him last spring.  He’s been a good friend and has taught me quite a bit about espresso, home roasting green coffee beans and the like

 

That file you sent to me, I was planning on adding it to the Files section after I receive my Rimini next week.  I am wanting to surprise the others there with this machine acquisition and so I want to keep it under my hat until then so to speak 

 

 

Best,

 

 

Jim (Jake) Wilson

Reddick Fla.   

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Service an Espresso Machine- How Often and Why

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

espresso machine serviceHow do you know if your espresso machine needs a service? Isn’t this warranty is the question that we tend to be asked. A Coffee machine runs at a fairly high temperature and even if used correctly takes a fair bashing.

Where your coffee handles lock into the group head they are sealed watertight by a rubber seal. All heads on a commercial machine are maintained at a high temperature by thermal circulation -after a bout a year they dry out and need to be replaced – but the actual time can depend on how well you treat your machine -how regular your backflush, do you clean the head with a stiff brush like the coffee tool

The other items that need to be refurbished is the hot water tap and the steam -again for the same reasons – rubber seals tend to dry out and are then not watertight. The steam weeps or the hot water drips and however hard you turn those handles you cannot the drip!

One last word of caution – whoever you get to service your coffee machine make sure the engineer has original parts not copies, not so that you pay more but that the seals fit properly. Expect to pay around £200 per annum for a thorough front end strip as we refer to it!

And a final comment -if you are looking for spares and having problems we may be able to advise you as to where to get them -just email us or ring!

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Programming an Espresso Machine -Spare Parts or Not?

Friday, February 8th, 2008


I enclose a chain of some recent correspondence which I hope has saved Wes a lot of money! I get so frustrated when people are talked into buying a new machine or parts because of the ignorance or incompetence of a so called engineers.

A Coffee Machine should last 17+ years given proper maintenance and a bit of loving care -so if you have a machine and someone says you need to replace it – watch out – its likely *a -hes trying to con you or *b- doesn’t know what he’s doing, cant be bothered, and lets face it theres more profit in a sale!

Andrew,

I’ll be damned if it didn’t eventually work. You were right, the board is at least 90% functional.

It’s late and I need to do some more testing but it seems to be working as intended.

I owe you one,

WES

—–Original Message—–
From: Andrew Porter [mailto:andrew@verdecoffee.com]
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 2:27 AM
To: wesley@*********
Subject: FW: motherboard

Dear Wesley,

Direct from the manufacturer -
“In older machines, it is necessary to go into programming mode, and
then cancel the alarm. The only difference in this respect is that to
go into programming mode and cancel the alarm, you need to do in on the
right hand key pad, and not the left hand keypad.

As a reminder, once in programming on the older machines, you need to
cancel the alarm by pressing at the same time and holding a couple of
seconds the buttons for 1 short and 2 short coffees. Then come out of
programming by switching the machine off and on again.”

To get into programming – switch off machine, hold down continuous
button on left hand pad, keeping held down switch machine back on and
continue to hold down button for about 10 seconds – you should then see
a difference in the light on the machine then move to right hand panel
and do above. If you need any further help please do email -best of
luck!

Regards
Andrew

—–Original Message—–
From: Andrew Porter [mailto:andrew@verdecoffee.com]
Sent: 04 February 2008 09:14
To: ‘wesley@***************
Subject: RE: motherboard

Wesley,

I think I can safely say this is NOTHING wrong with the board! The water
alarm has been triggered and that is why only the continuous works.This
is when the machine has not been able to fill up in the time
allotted- about 90seconds.

I will have to get the instructions as how to switch it off because it
is slightly different with new boards -you just have to switch off then
just switch on! And that turns off the water alarm.

Regards
Andrew

—–Original Message—–
From: wesley [mailto:wesley@****************]
Sent: 02 February 2008 03:07
To: ‘Andrew Porter’
Subject: RE: motherboard

Yeah, I hear you on the expense part.

I’ve tried to diagnose it and checked the fuses for continuity – they
seem to be OK. Over here, the Futurmat/Gaggia Espana machines have a
bad reputation for fragile electronics and I bought it used – condition
unknown.

My problem is that the autofill circuit does not work. This triggers
some sort of protective state that disables all of the other buttons on
the control panel except for continuous brew and cappacinatore clean.
I’ve jumped some wires around and all of the other solenoids work as
does the motor, I just can’t get the whole thing to come together.

I’ve contacted Quality Espresso a couple times and to their credit, they
have actually returned some emails. I didn’t get the sense that they
were super concerned about helping me though. There is zero support
here for Futurmat on any scale here in the USA, so I haven’t set myself
up for success.

The machine is built well and the quality of fabrication is great. It’s
just getting the electrics sorted that’s killing me. A diagram of the
motherboard would be really helpful but I’m not sure that they exist.

WES

—–Original Message—–
From: Andrew Porter [mailto:andrew@verdecoffee.com]
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 12:56 AM
To: wesley@furnacegroup.com
Subject: RE: motherboard

Hi,
Yes we import from Quality Espresso who are the manufacturers. You are
correct – it’s the most expensive item on an espresso machine -except
perhaps for the boiler! Are you sure the board has gone [normally they
are very reliable] I know this is obvious but have you checked the fuses
on the board? Regards Andrew

—–Original Message—–
From: wesley [mailto:wesley@*************]
Sent: 01 February 2008 06:44
To: ‘Andrew Porter’
Subject: RE: motherboard

Andrew,

Thanks for the effort. $477 is a chunk of change for this machine.

Are you a distributor for Futurmat in the UK??

WES

—–Original Message—–
From: Andrew Porter [mailto:andrew@verdecoffee.com]
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 5:25 AM
To: wesley@furnacegroup.com
Subject: RE: motherboard

Wes,

Noticed I had put the incorrect symbol for currency price – should have
been £ not $! Price is £224 or 320euros approx or $477 -sorry about the
error. In stock and can be shipped whereever! [ Cant locate any refurb
boards!]

Regards
Andrew

—–Original Message—–
From: wesley [mailto:wesley@***********]
Sent: 26 January 2008 19:47
To: ‘Andrew Porter’
Subject: RE: motherboard

Andrew,

I re-read your email and here’s some more detail:

http://www.home-barista.com/forums/reviving-futurmat-ariete-t5413.html

If you scroll down about half-way there is a photo of the mfg plate.

Thanks for the help,

WES

—–Original Message—–
From: Andrew Porter [mailto:andrew@verdecoffee.com]
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 4:04 AM
To: wesley@furnacegroup.com
Subject: RE: motherboard

Wes,
There were a variety of boards used on machines shipped to the USA.
Please take a picture of your machine and ratings plate and I can get
the exact board and price but we are talking ‘very very ‘roughly about
$250 for new, less for a refurbished. Regards Andrew

—–Original Message—–
From: wesley [mailto:wesley@**********]
Sent: 24 January 2008 16:28
To: ‘Andrew Porter’
Subject: RE: motherboard

Andrew,

I’m curious. What would a motherboard cost? I can take any currency
with shipping to Belgium or USA.

WES

—–Original Message—–
From: Andrew Porter [mailto:andrew@verdecoffee.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 2:32 AM
To: wesley@furnacegroup.com
Subject: motherboard

Hi Wes,
No problem re the board!
If you want one I can email you the price.
REgARDS
Andrew

—–Original Message—–
From: wesley [mailto:wesley@*********]
Sent: 23 January 2008 18:16
To: ‘Andrew Porter’
Subject: RE: futurmat

Do you have a lot of experience dealing with these guys?? Repairing the
Futurmat/Quality Espresso machines?

I’m afraid that I need a motherboard, and 110v ones are super hard to
find.

WES

—–Original Message—–
From: Andrew Porter [mailto:andrew@verdecoffee.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 1:32 AM
To: wesley@furnacegroup.com
Subject: RE: futurmat

Dear Wesley,
Shipping to Belgium or USA is no prob – just that costs on low value
items make them stupidly expensive. If you need any help please email
me.I will send you the diagrams if you need them? Regards Andrew

—–Original Message—–
From: wesley@furnacegroup.com [mailto:wesley@*********]
Sent: 23 January 2008 06:24
To: ANDREW@VERDECOFFEE.COM
Subject: futurmat

Hello andrewporter123, The following is an email sent to you by
djmonkeyhater via your account on Home-Barista.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hey, This is Wesley (Djmonkeyhater) in the
USA with the Futurmat Ariete. I’d love to talk with you about parts for
it. I have a shipping address in Belgium if that would make
transactions easier. wesley@********* WES

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