Lelit/Imat/Nemox Machine RepairLelit/Imat/Nemox Machine Repair Repairing domestic espresso machines is an activity that can be separated into 5 distinct phases: 1) Diagnosis 2) Disassembly

Lelit/Imat/Nemox Machine Repair

Repairing domestic espresso machines is an activity that can be separated into 5 distinct phases:

1) Diagnosis2) Disassembly3) Repair4) Testing5) Reassembly

Diagnosing the initial problem can be something of an art, but the block diagram should help with some of the basicproblems. Once the diagnosis is reasonably certain, the disassembly phase can begin.

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At this point it's wise to note that certain machines (mostly thermoblockmachines made in China) are designed NOT to be disassembled by thelayman. If there are special screws or bolts, if the fasteners are concealed, ifthe body is glued or clipped together with internal fasteners, it's fairly certainthat the manufacturer doesn't want you poking around inside. Thesemachines usually come with "Replacement" warranties, i.e. you send themback to the manufacturer and they ship you a new one and scrap the dud.

One important rule with all repairs concerns the electronic connections,particularly those for the various electronic bits like switches, thermostats, solenoidsetc. NEVER LEAVE THEM DISCONNECTED. If you have to take the wires off toremove the thermostat, reconnect them to the thermostat as soon as it'sremoved. Any time that a wire will be disconnected for longer than a coupleof seconds, TAKE A PHOTO so you know exactly where and how itreconnects.

Plumbing connections tend to more forgiving (there's usually only one way toconnect them) but Teflon tape, thread sealant and high temperature siliconegasket sealant are proven methods for preventing inconvenient leaks.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER!!! ANY REPAIR WORK ON MACHINES SHOULD ONLY BE CARRIED

OUT WITH THE MACHINE DISCONNECTED FROM ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE BOILER

COLD. IF YOU IGNORE THIS AND DAMAGE YOURSELF, DON'T COMPLAIN TO ME; YOU'VE

BEEN WARNED!

The first thing you need is a reasonably comprehensive tool kit. Note that (apart from the "weird bits" set) there areno really specialised tools involved, just metric spanners, metric sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches and ahammer.

LELIT PL042 COMBIMost of the steps outlined below apply to machines from Imat, Nemox and Lelit, as well as obvious rebadges suchas the LaPavoni Napoletana. I have concentrated on the models with 3-way solenoid valves as they are the mostcomplex.

SPECIAL TOOLS


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There are 2 indispensable "special" tools needed for this classof machines. The first is an 8mm socket with the outside edgeground down sufficiently to give access to the group collar nuts.

The second tool is a 14mm ring spanner ground flat so that it canundo the thin, soft edged brass water distribution nut and allowshowerscreen removal. (Note that showerscreen types and fixturesmay change from machine to machine, and the current Lelitmachines don't have this screen and nut combo.)

GENERAL MACHINE ACCESS

Getting in to the machines is simple, there are only 2 small phillipshead screws to be removed. One is behind the grinder hopper ..

..and the other at the corner of the water tank recess. The wholetop then lifts off. You'll have to remove the filter on the end of theinlet hose to free the hoses.

ELEMENT REPLACEMENT

STEAM VALVE RENOVATION

SOLENOID VALVE REPAIR

Unlike the Silvia, this is as good as it gets for access to theinternals in these machines. In order to fix stuff like the element,solenoid or some bits of the steam valve, you have to remove theboiler first.

The first step in removing the boiler is freeing the indicator light,accomplished by pressing a finger on the little orange cover on themachine's front, then pulling the light away from the cover.


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Then using a 15mm spanner undo the split retaining nut on thesteam valve until you can slide it free of the shaft.

The shaft can then be unscrewed and removed through the front ofthe machine. Stuff like o-ring replacement or shaft touch up can bedone at this stage.

Next step is removal of the wiring; the thermostats unscrew.Remember to reconnect and/or label and photograph as you goalong. Remove the wiring and outlet hose from the solenoid valveas well.

Then undo the water inlet hose (12mm spanner.) Older machineshave this brass nut and ferrule arrangement. Do NOT try graspingthe hose with pliers, use sandpaper or a scotchbrite pad.

It's easier on the latest Lelit machines. With these fittings yousimple depress the green plastic ring and pull the hose out of thefitting, and replacement is accomplished by simply pushing thehose back into the fitting.

At this stage you undo the group collar nuts and remove the groupcollar. The whole boiler, steam arm and solenoid assembly canthen be lifted clear of the machine. This is the point where thesteam arm o-ring and the solenoid coil and valve can be removedand replaced.


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Now comes the tricky part. The water flow through this boiler to thegroup goes >>boiler input>>steam assembly>>solenoidvalve>>teflon pipe>>copper pipe>>water distributor. First undo the10mm compression nut and remove the pipe from the nipple.

Then unscrew the 12mm nipple nut from the top of the copper pipethrough the boiler. Do not damage the thread or lose the o-ring...

Now you can undo the 4x8mm boiler bolts and separate the halves. At this point things are easy; you can replace the element, replacethe boiler o-ring, whatever. The reassembly goes in reverse order,but with the addition of a little bit of silicone at the top of the copperpipe, and around the element and boiler o-rings. And make surethat the group collar is on the right way before doing up the nuts.MAJOR TIP: Don't Forget to push the solenoid drain tube back ontothe nipple before testing the machine.

GRINDER REMOVAL

First, MAKE SURE THE MACHINE IS UNPLUGGED. Remove the watertank and pull the filter off the intake pipe.

Next, remove the trays. Turn the machine upside down and empty thegrinder hopper.

Use a flat head screwdriver to gently lever off the grinder adjustmentknob.

Pull the grinder hopper straight up and it will come out. Record thesetting before you do.


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Undo the screw behind the hopper. And above the water tank area. Remove the top plate of the machineand set it aside.

Unscrew the 2 screws holding the adjusment gear on. Remove the gearand the washers underneath it.

Unscrew the 3 screws holding the grinder in the machine. Gently pushthe pump and wires towards the front and pull the grinder up and out.

Disconnect the female connector from the bottom of the switch and themale connector from the brown wire. Remove the grinder from themachine.

Slide the plastic exit spout upwards to remove it.

TIPS

Every stainless steel edge is razor sharp. Move slowly and

gently when your hands are in the machine.

Take care that when you're moving wires around that they're

not rubbing on the sharp edges.

When you put the top back on, there's a little tab on the

"down" part that sits in the hole in the red rubber washer.

Use a screwdriver set with replaceable magnetic bits, it

makes everything a lot easier.

REASSEMBLY

Slide the exit spout onto the outlet.1. Move the grinder into the machine to the left and connect the

wires.

2.

Move the grinder into place (GENTLY move the pump and

wires) and screw in the 3 screws.

3.

Put the brass washers over the screw holes, put the

adjusment gear in place and screw up the 2 screws.

4.

Replace the adjustment knob.5. Replace the machine top and screws. Remember you need

to feed the water hoses through the slot.

6.

Replace the filter on the input hose.7. Push in the hopper with the setting in the same place.8. Replace water tank, drip trays beans etc. and you're good to

go.

9.

TIPS AND TRICKS


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The steam valves on these machines are needle valves, and tend towear as the machines age. Filing about 0.1mm of brass from the flatseat about 1cm from the needle tip allows the valve to do up a tiny bitfurther and compensates for wear.

Removing stuck showerscreens can be a pain, but removal can behelped by using a hammer and flat head screwdriver at the edge ofthe screen to "chisel" it in the anticlockwise direction. When the screenbegins to rotate you should be able to undo the screw.

Sometimes the showerscreen is so dirty no amount of detergent orscrubbing will clean it. Heating it to red hot over a gas flame burnsaway the crud clogging the holes quickly and effectively.

The quickest way to remove old group gaskets from any machine is toscrew a couple of self tapping woodscrews into them and pull thescrews out with pliers. Even if the gasket comes out in chunks it givesyou a chance to chisel out the rest.

The el-cheapo socket set. You can get even cheaper sets (orsometimes solo 8mm sockets) for a few bucks at $2.00 stores,hardware stores or reject shops.

In this case I stuck the grindstone in an electric drill, put on my safetyglasses, locked the drill into place and attached the socket to the allpurpose handle from the set. Turned on the drill and slowly rotated thesocket against the grindstone, it took about 3 minutes to grind down.

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Lelit/Imat/Nemox Machine RepairLelit/Imat/Nemox Machine Repair Repairing domestic espresso machines is an activity that can be separated into 5 distinct phases: 1) Diagnosis 2) Disassembly