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Permalink Reply by Brady on July 20, 2013 at 8:40am

I have a couple of thoughts, but a little more info would be helpful.

Does the machine take forever to refill the boiler, timing out?

Is the problem occurring when you're pulling shots? Does the pump continue to run after you've stopped the shot? If so, does water continue to come from the group?

Looks like you have a Rancilio. What model and how old is it?

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Permalink Reply by John P on July 20, 2013 at 8:50am

It sounds like the switch that engages the pump is faulty. Is this for all groups or just one group? It depends on type of switch and machine how difficult it will be to repair. If you have a machine tech you use, you may want to give them a quick call. 

If you are familiar with your machine you can pull off the case, check the switch for a loose contact, and with the multi-meter and go from there.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Fadorsen on July 20, 2013 at 9:01am

The boiler seems to be at the right level the pump just wont shut off. The pump comes on when you steam milk or pull shots. the shots still are at the right time and temp and the crema and taste is good. and this doesnt happen every time you use it just seems like it sticks. than the green light flash on both group heads and you have to turn off than back on and most of the time this causes the pump to come right back on. Than when the espresso is done the pump most of the time shuts off right away and than the cycle starts again. I have owned this coffee shop for 7 years and it was old when we bought the shop we did have it overhauled about 4  years ago.
 
Brady said:

I have a couple of thoughts, but a little more info would be helpful.

Does the machine take forever to refill the boiler, timing out?

Is the problem occurring when you're pulling shots? Does the pump continue to run after you've stopped the shot? If so, does water continue to come from the group?

Looks like you have a Rancilio. What model and how old is it?

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Fadorsen on July 20, 2013 at 9:11am

My husband is the handy one he will try that and i will let you know if it works thanks for the info Kathy
 
John P said:

It sounds like the switch that engages the pump is faulty. Is this for all groups or just one group? It depends on type of switch and machine how difficult it will be to repair. If you have a machine tech you use, you may want to give them a quick call. 

If you are familiar with your machine you can pull off the case, check the switch for a loose contact, and with the multi-meter and go from there.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Fadorsen on July 20, 2013 at 9:27am

the model is z11

Kathy Fadorsen said:

The boiler seems to be at the right level the pump just wont shut off. The pump comes on when you steam milk or pull shots. the shots still are at the right time and temp and the crema and taste is good. and this doesnt happen every time you use it just seems like it sticks. than the green light flash on both group heads and you have to turn off than back on and most of the time this causes the pump to come right back on. Than when the espresso is done the pump most of the time shuts off right away and than the cycle starts again. I have owned this coffee shop for 7 years and it was old when we bought the shop we did have it overhauled about 4  years ago.
 
Brady said:

I have a couple of thoughts, but a little more info would be helpful.

Does the machine take forever to refill the boiler, timing out?

Is the problem occurring when you're pulling shots? Does the pump continue to run after you've stopped the shot? If so, does water continue to come from the group?

Looks like you have a Rancilio. What model and how old is it?

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Permalink Reply by Brady on July 20, 2013 at 2:30pm

I suspect a sticky pump relay. This would cause the pump to stay on after the brain wanted it to shut off. If this were the case, it would continue to run after it was no longer needed regardless of what it was doing, be that pulling shots on either group or doing an autofill.

(I hope this suspicion is wrong - I believe the pump relay is on the motherboard, so the whole thing would need to be replaced. Bound to be expensive, if they even still stock that board - I believe the Z11 predated the S20 and has been out of production for 10-15 years or more.)

Call your tech.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on July 20, 2013 at 3:07pm

If it's just a pump relay on the board, that can be repaired. That's not terribly difficult. Google for electronics repair or avionics repair in your area (the later doesn't seem to mind working on oddball stuff like espresso machine brains).

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Fadorsen on July 21, 2013 at 8:43am

Thanks for the info we will work on and let you know Thanks again you guys are great i really apperciate your help

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