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Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on September 23, 2009 at 8:29pm

How often to replace group gasket doesn't only depend on number of shots but majorly time and heat hardening the rubber gasket. If left on 24/7 will need to replace much more often than turning on a couple times a week. My Lineas on 24/7 hammered moderately heavy replace about every 4 months, at home on 16hrs day (timer) only pulling 3 to 8 shots a day depending on day of the week (Fiorenzato Bricoletta) 'bout 8 months interval.

Check your basket rims, if not perfectly smooth replace. Not the whole PF (portafileter), just the basket. Dented basket rim will make a good seal very difficult to impossible.

Also, make sure the PF is not being left in the group locked in hard. It should just be making light contract with the gasket when not actually pulling. Locking in hard prematurely compacts the rubber exacerbating the gradual gasket hardening.

Regardless should always have spare group gaskets and screens on hand.

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Permalink Reply by Amy Napier-Boley on September 23, 2009 at 8:36pm

Yeah .... about that locking in hard thing. As much as I hate it when people do this, it's the only way to keep the leaks at bay. Like I said, we're a not-for-profit church cafe. We don't have a lot of money to call in a machine technician or anything. It's basically DIY troubleshooting. However, the leak did start before everyone started locking in the portafilters too hard. Anywho......

miKe mcKoffee aka Mike McGinness said:

How often to replace group gasket doesn't only depend on number of shots but majorly time and heat hardening the rubber gasket. If left on 24/7 will need to replace much more often than turning on a couple times a week. My Lineas on 24/7 hammered moderately heavy replace about every 4 months, at home on 16hrs day (timer) only pulling 3 to 8 shots a day depending on day of the week (Fiorenzato Bricoletta) 'bout 8 months interval.

Check your basket rims, if not perfectly smooth replace. Not the whole PF (portafileter), just the basket. Dented basket rim will make a good seal very difficult to impossible.

Also, make sure the PF is not being left in the group locked in hard. It should just be making light contract with the gasket when not actually pulling. Locking in hard prematurely compacts the rubber exacerbating the gradual gasket hardening.

Regardless should always have spare group gaskets and screens on hand.

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Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on September 23, 2009 at 9:42pm

For clarification I was referring to not locking the PF in hard when machine at idle. Understand you currently need to lock in hard to keep leaks at bay.

PF gaskets are inexpensive (usually ~$5) and easy to replace. When the old gasket is hardened and brittle it can be a challenge to get it out. A pick set like this can make the job way easier. Be careful not to scratch up the gasket channel. After removing the old gasket clean the channel well insuring all remants of old gasket gone. When inserting the new gasket lube it first with Foodgrade lubricant, then push gasket up and in as far as you can. Finish seating gasket by locking in PF. I do this procedure without even turning off the machine. Obviously the group is HOT, so be careful:-) But you can also replace the gasket on a cooled down machine too of course.

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