La Marzocco Rebuild - Part 1
Click pictures to see an enlarged version.
The first day.
Finally, my La Marzocco Linea arrives. This unit had a shipping weight of 220lbs.
Included on the pallet was the main unit, a pump motor, and a pump. It was also supposed to have 3 portafilters, but those were back ordered.
It took me a few days, but before long I decided I was going to tear the entire machine down and rebuild it.
Included on the pallet was the main unit, a pump motor, and a pump. It was also supposed to have 3 portafilters, but those were back ordered.
It took me a few days, but before long I decided I was going to tear the entire machine down and rebuild it.
A group with the banjo tube and diffuser removed.
The group gaskets and o-rings were fossilized on this machine. I had to use the diffuser tool and a breaker bar to remove the diffusers from this machine.
I unfortunately broke one of the banjo tubes while trying to remove the bolt. They are silver braised together and I could have repaired it, but I decided just to order another one.
I unfortunately broke one of the banjo tubes while trying to remove the bolt. They are silver braised together and I could have repaired it, but I decided just to order another one.
Citric acid bath.
In order to descale all the plumbing I soaked it in a citric acid bath.
In order for the citric acid to work it has to be hot. I have heard that the best is around 150 degrees.
The first time I did this I put boiling water into the tub, added the citric acid, then the parts.
This worked great at first, but by 7 to 8 hours later the water had cooled leaving the parts looking worse than before I started.
In order for the citric acid to work it has to be hot. I have heard that the best is around 150 degrees.
The first time I did this I put boiling water into the tub, added the citric acid, then the parts.
This worked great at first, but by 7 to 8 hours later the water had cooled leaving the parts looking worse than before I started.
Citric bath heater.
In order to keep the solution hot I made this contraption. There is a small pump in the bucket that pumps water into the flask where it is heated on the electric skillet. With a rubber cork in the top of the flask you have a closed system and any water pumped in causes the same amount to be forced out.
This system worked great! It keeps the water hot, and it also created some current in the water to keep things moving around.
This system worked great! It keeps the water hot, and it also created some current in the water to keep things moving around.
Large acid bath.
I could not descale the boilers in my small device so I had to enlarge it.
I used the same pump. I purchased an electric hot plate from a local hardware store and a plastic bin.
The original flask I had was small and cheap. It apparently could not deal with the heat differential of this new setup and shattered near the bottom minutes after beginning.
I dried everything and moved up to this actual Pyrex flask. It is larger and thicker, and works very well.
I used the same pump. I purchased an electric hot plate from a local hardware store and a plastic bin.
The original flask I had was small and cheap. It apparently could not deal with the heat differential of this new setup and shattered near the bottom minutes after beginning.
I dried everything and moved up to this actual Pyrex flask. It is larger and thicker, and works very well.