[jonr2]

I think there's this post which already has done a great job for the MaraX - I am quoting a bit of it at the bottom of this post, which details what tools are needed. Essentially, the same would apply to the Bianca. We can use it as a starting point. It lays down what to buy (Puly Caff, a wrench, lubricant), and has a few links.

@DavecUK YouTube's channel has a few videos that cover routine maintenance items that apply to all machines, such as Removing & Cleaning E61 shower screen (he suggests it be done every couple days) after-shot cleaning, E61 cam lubrication (every 4-8 weeks I assume, depending on how often you backflush with detergent). And in general plenty of videos about cleaning such as this.

The below + the above is probably covering most if not all bases. But probably:

After every shot: brush grouphead and pf (I'm lazy so probably would do this at the end of every day)

At the end of every day: backflush with water only

Every 2-4 days: clean shower screen. Dave will cringe at the "4 days" scenario, so let's pretend I said "every other day".

Every few weeks: backflush with detergent and then lubricate cam lever. Immerse PF in hot water with detergent as well. @DavecUK, would you say this can be stretched to 8 weeks or more, provided that daily water backflush is adhered to?

Every few months: probably so many other things other than the steam ball joint lubrication.

Ideally either this could be edited into the initial post, or a similar could be created with a "starter guide".

Maintenance

• 
  Puly caff
  
• 
  Adjustable Wrench
  
• 
  Lubricant
  
• 
  E61 lubrication guide
  
• 
  E61 grouphead maintenance
  
• 
  E61 understanding the group mushroom
  
• 
  How to descale video
  
• 
  How to drain the boiler video
  

@Baffo - thanks for this - super helpful 🙂

 

[Baffo]

First day, first problems. Perhaps I'm being stupid, but I can't quite figure out what else to do. Ideally I wouldn't want to return this on the first day..

Issue: excess pressure coming out of the little safety valve (unsure of the name). Like so:

I tried solving it by:

- turning machine off

- opened both steam and hot water knobs until boiler is completely empty

- close knobs (without cranking them)

- turn machine back on

Tried twice. Problem still persists. It could be a recurrent issue. What to do?

edit: upon further research, looks like it might be a common issue. Would probably need to replace the temp probe.. Grr

 

[MediumRoastSteam]

That's annoying. Where did you buy it from? Was it Bella Barista? Don't they bench test their machines? I thought they did?

Usually you see a bit of water/steam coming out of that when the machine first heats up until the vacuum breaker seals up. After that, there shouldn't be anything coming out from there, maybe a few drips if the OPV opens. Certainly not steam!

 

[cuprajake]

Thats shute 😭

 

[Baffo]

That's annoying. Where did you buy it from? Was it Bella Barista? Don't they bench test their machines? I thought they did?

Usually you see a bit of water/steam coming out of that when the machine first heats up until the vacuum breaker seals up. After that, there shouldn't be anything coming out from there, maybe a few drips if the OPV opens. Certainly not steam!

Well I thought they did too, but clearly not in my case...

 

[cuprajake]

Heard that a few times of not bench testing.

My minima took a tad longer to get del as it was being bench tested over the weekend.

Fingers crossed its a quick fix, cant imagine how 😠😡🤬 you are right now, it would be getting thrown through their shop window

 

[Baffo]

Heard that a few times of not bench testing.

My minima took a tad longer to get del as it was being bench tested over the weekend.

Fingers crossed its a quick fix, cant imagine how 😠😡🤬 you are right now, it would be getting thrown through their shop window

Yeah well, it's fine if an issue arises over time, but when a machine is faulty out of the box, it gets rather annoying, cause now I'd probably have to wait biblical times for replacement parts to come from Italy.. Unless they have a probe at hand (I hope they will) and ship it asap.

The repair itself seems not too difficult, and I want to be in a positive state of mind and take it as an opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the machine. But it's s***e that it happened on Day 1..

 

[cuprajake]

Be back at there door, day one and a fault. Not for me not at nearly 2k of machine.

 

[Baffo]

Put me off a little bit from buying a Solo grinder tbh. Anyway, I'll call first thing on Monday. I've already emailed with the evidence.

@jonr2 is yours working flawlessly? They must be from the same batch.

 

[jonr2]

Put me off a little bit from buying a Solo grinder tbh. Anyway, I'll call first thing on Monday. I've already emailed with the evidence.

@jonr2 is yours working flawlessly? They must be from the same batch.

hey - it does seem to be (fingers crossed) - also when i did the initial start up yesterday it was shortened showing that the machine had been tested by BB - i am gutted for you 😞 hope it can get sorted quickly

 

[jonr2]

Put me off a little bit from buying a Solo grinder tbh. Anyway, I'll call first thing on Monday. I've already emailed with the evidence.

@jonr2 is yours working flawlessly? They must be from the same batch.

that said - i just looked at your video - the progress bar shows that the start up sequence hasnt finished right and the steam pressure is showing zero.

during start up mine does leak some steam out of that valve for a bit but then it stops (i think like described by @MediumRoastSteam above)

 

[HVL87]

Yeah well, it's fine if an issue arises over time, but when a machine is faulty out of the box, it gets rather annoying, cause now I'd probably have to wait biblical times for replacement parts to come from Italy.. Unless they have a probe at hand (I hope they will) and ship it asap.

The repair itself seems not too difficult, and I want to be in a positive state of mind and take it as an opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the machine. But it's s***e that it happened on Day 1..

That is very upsetting I'm sure. It really should go back to BB. Maybe something happened in transit. Was it delivered via courier or pallet?

 

[Baffo]

that said - i just looked at your video - the progress bar shows that the start up sequence hasnt finished right and the steam pressure is showing zero.

during start up mine does leak some steam out of that valve for a bit but then it stops (i think like described by @MediumRoastSteam above)

Which start up sequence did you follow? The one from Dave's video I assume? I turned machine on and immediately opened the brew water, then turned it off.

 

[jonr2]

Which start up sequence did you follow? The one from Dave's video I assume? I turned machine on and immediately opened the brew water, then turned it off.

from Page 4 of his manual - i switched it on, immediately the steam boiler filled (it didnt show the level image as described in the Lelit manual) - then after that i just followed the instructions on page 4

 

[Baffo]

@jonr2 well that's what I've done as well. I've ignored the first few seconds of the video about resetting the PID.

How do you see that the procedure is not complete from my video? Should I reset it to factory settings and try again?

I'll just try it from the start on page 3..

 

[jonr2]

@jonr2 well that's what I've done as well. I've ignored the first few seconds of the video about resetting the PID.

How do you see that the procedure is not complete from my video? Should I reset it to factory settings and try again?

I'll just try it from the start on page 3..

just switched mine on and allowed it to heat up - video shows the steam release and then stops

 

[Baffo]

2 minutes ago, jonr2 said:

just switched mine on and allowed it to heat up - video shows the steam release and then stops

So is that steam coming out normal, if it lasts only for a handful of seconds? (mine doesn't).

 

[jonr2]

So is that steam coming out normal, if it lasts only for a handful of seconds? (mine doesn't).

as far as i know that is normal - mine does it everytime it is switched on so hope so 🙂

but yes each time it has stopped after 5-10 secs as per video

 

[Baffo]

as far as i know that is normal - mine does it everytime it is switched on so hope so 🙂

but yes each time it has stopped after 5-10 secs as per video

Mine seems to have improved after the reset but I don't know if it's working ok now.. It still leaks and puffs for a while but it stops. It continues dripping though, albeit slowly, even after reaching 1.4bar. I still don't know if it's normal to have excess pressure like that, and dripping that continues.

 

[jonr2]

Mine seems to have improved after the reset but I don't know if it's working ok now.. It still leaks and puffs for a while but it stops. It continues dripping though, albeit slowly, even after reaching 1.4bar. I still don't know if it's normal to have excess pressure like that, and dripping that continues.

yes so i have noticed that happening - like 1 drip per 2-5 mins or so