Ponte Vecchio Lusso Mods

Koffee_Kosmo

That looks more like a crack in the photo but I you have the benefit of seeing the real thing KK

SniffCoffee

No, I didnt' take photos but the scratch is similar, on mine it's just as long but has a twin running parallel with it. Jack mentioned the autosol issue with me to, and the chroming idea, but like you I'd rather have a new group. Sniff

Brett_H

Wow... Look at those scores Lacehim. Id be pushing really hard for a new group because then last thing you want is to have your machine out of service with "experimental" fixes. Jack is obviously a thoughtful and passionate retailer given that he hasn't fobbed you off and has in fact offered several solutions. This augers well for a great outcome.

Koffee_Kosmo

If they are fine scores they can be easily fixed Cylinder honing is a technique used in the automotive industry for brake and motor block cylinders Another way to look at what honing is ? Its another form of polishing metal One can be purchased from super cheap and used with a hand drill KK

Lacehim

Brett H wrote:

Jack is obviously a thoughtful and passionate retailer given that he hasn't fobbed you off and has in fact offered several solutions.

Jack at Sorrentina Coffee has been fantastic. He's always been happy to answer my questions and help to get the machine right. I would certainly recommend him to others. The Lusso is a great machine, it's just a pity the quality isn't quite there in a few minor places. But I knew that when I bought it!

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

That looks more like a crack in the photo but I you have the benefit of seeing the real thing

Your not wrong there KK. When I first noticed it I thought the cylinder walls where a two part construction. There certainly seems to be a straight line running down and a squiggly line next to it.

AngerManagement wrote:

A good tool and different pads and cutting compounds and chrome may not be needed. And if needed, you may still need to re hone to get a true polished finish.. And with a good bore gauge you can get the size back to spot on. Thus seals of a standard will be ok. Don't toss them if replaced and not needed to be returned, as would be good to have a play.

My issue with heading this route is that I'm not experienced in this type of work, and if I stuff it up the machine is useless until I can source another group head. If one group is removed you can't use the machine 🙁 It's a pity you can't blank it off while one if away for repair or something. Jack did say that the technical chrome would probably be harder wearing and last longer because he's seen it on more top end lever machines. I also pulled off the safety valve. It wasn't on very tight either! Would you believe it's my old friend the 1/8" fitting from my San Marino rebuild! Arrrggghhh!!!! I guess that puts a stop to that idea. I doubt anyone would make a 1/8" all in one safety anti-vac valve under 5cm high to fit in my case! 🙁 It was hard enough to find a stock 1/8" safety valve for my San Marino rebuild! Ah well. I was ready to part with my cash on this one too. It sounded too easy! Seems it was! 😉

SniffCoffee

Lacehim wrote:

Jack at Sorrentina Coffee has been fantastic. He's always been happy to answer my questions and help to get the machine right. I would certainly recommend him to others. The Lusso is a great machine, it's just a pity the quality isn't quite there in a few minor places. But I knew that when I bought it!

+1 from me. Jack has always been very helpful to me too. But whilst AM's and KK's suggestions for a fix seem very straightforward, I think rather than give it a go and hope for the best Jack should maybe get up PV a little for sending out machines with these defects. I agree that the Lusso isn't known for its build quality, but the scratches on mine and Lacehim's are more suggestive of really sloppy assembly techniques... Sniff

Lacehim

Update. It's been a while. Got a few mods planned for the near future. I'm going to copy Bullitt's mod (CS PV thread) to the sight glass for the water level. It might just make it easier to read. Also I've got tons of insulbrite so I might just do the boiler too, and after having a chat with AM today I'm going to sort the antivac out. With the antivac I'm going to use the 1/8" safety valve hole, put a T in, and then mount the safetyvalve horizontally, and the antivac vertically. Might need a elbow to get the fittings with the right termination. I need a male for the boiler, and female for the safety/antivac. I was hoping to use the 1/4" antivac too, but it's all 1/8" fittings. 🙁 AM also had a brain wave (I can't take credit AM) and we found another use for dual floor baskets!!! drill a hole in the bottom, and they will make a perfect cup for the antivac to sit in, and stainless steel to boot. :doh: Why didn't we think of it before? Who knows.

Lacehim

Went to supercheap, asked for a hone. They looked at me blankly and then said, ahhh on of them, and said go to Repco! 🙁 Anyway SUCCESS at last in the lusso antivac department. Fumbled around with various parts, but this is what worked. Remove Safety valve and replace with a 1/8" M-M Fitting attached to the boiler where the safety valve sits. On top place a 1/8" female T, on the rear end I fitted the safety valve (which is 1/8") and the other end pointing towards the front a 1/8"M to 1/4"F, then attached a Elbow fitting 1/4"M-F, and then fitted a 1/4" Antivac. I couldn't find any candles so I used a old film camera case, cut down, to contain any spraying water. The lid sits on the top of this, and should stop any spray hitting the electrics. The electrical cover needs modified, but only to take out a part of the brace so that it can be bolted back in. Shouldn't cause an issues. Here's some photos. 🙂

Lacehim

Did get a small leak still at the antivac, so a bit of thread tape here and there, and used a tea light case instead and it's done. No leaks, it just works. I need to do something about the electrical plastic cover. I did try and modify it, but it still won't fit because of the tea light water catcher. I might need to find a custom cover, the SAMA on the machine just doesn't drop it, you have to twist it about. Very fiddly.

ash

Lacehim, how is this mod going? I'm still not sure of the benefits of this mod as I don't find bleeding my machine each morning too much of a chore. However, the insulbrite thing is something that I've still got to get around to doing.

Lacehim

Ash, it's been fantastic. I know it doesn't bother most folk but I'm the sort of person that turns something on, then get distracted. I was always coming back later for a coffee only to find it's just full of false pressure! Also the WAF has vastly improved. She's must happier turning it on, and has even filled it up and turned it on for me while I'm having a shower! ??? All I want to do now is have the pressurestat pointing up, insulate the boiler & fix the groups up. Jack has a new one coming to replace my faulty left group which should be here in a few months. The right is also playing up, and probably needs another new set of seals 🙁 The coffee is still excellent, and I love it paired with the Vario. How's your going?

ash

Mines going great, although I think I may have a scratch inside the right group. I may try just to smooth it out with some autosol first though. Every now and then I'll get a shot on the right group that dosen't produce anything as it seems as thought the water goes back into the boiler. Almost like it's bypassing the coffee altogether. I'm going to ask Jack to send up the piston removal tool to pull out the piston and have a look inside and clean it up before putting in a new set of seals. What I really like about it compared to almost all oher domestic lever machines is that I can turn it on in the morning and leave it on, with out having to premeditate when I want a coffee. The only form of upgradeitis for me is if I go to something like an Izzo Popmpeii, but I'm cautious about buying a plumbed in machine due to moving house every few years because of work. If I could find a machine in that class that was a simple boiler like the Lusso I may be interested, but this little machine is perfect for me so I really don't see the need to get a new machine yet. Grinders on the other hand.... For anyone else who has a Lusso and wants to replace the seals, ask to borrow the piston removal tool from Jack at Sorrentina Coffee. It makes life so much easier than trying to use a G-Clamp!! And seeing as I have a couple of spare group handles lying around I really should see if someone can knock up another piston removal tool...

ash

I should mention that you check out all the spade connectors going to the 'brain'. My machine wouldn't switch on one day, so off came the case to check out the electric's, thinking that is was going to end up being brain dead. Found the main power supply spade connector wasn't fitted correctly and had melted the spade cover to bits, leaving the connector not connecting! Connected everything back that way it was supposed to and things were back to normal. I may have a photo of it, but that'll have to wait until I get home as I'm over in Perth visiting the folks for another week or so.

Koffee_Kosmo

ash wrote:

The only form of upgradeitis for me is if I go to something like an Izzo Popmpeii, but I'm cautious about buying a plumbed in machine due to moving house every few years because of work. If I could find a machine in that class that was a simple boiler like the Lusso I may be interested, but this little machine is perfect for me so I really don't see the need to get a new machine yet. Grinders on the other hand....

I have opted for the Bezzera Strega Yes I know it has a pump that runs for 5 or so seconds But this lever is a hell of as machine KK

Brett_H

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

I have opted for the Bezzera Strega Yes I know it has a pump that runs for 5 or so seconds But this lever is a hell of as machine KK

Yes it is! It's built like a tank, steams like a train and pulls very sweet consistent shots!

Lacehim

That looks really interesting AM. Seems to be a success. I'm soooo tempted to buy one and give it ago. Another 8 weeks for a new group according to Jack. The antivac mod is going well, and I've modified the plastic electrical cover to keep the electrics safe. I'm not sure I can get it back out though! :🙂 I'm going to give it the works when I get back on my feet, and insulate the boiler, make the case fit better, and put something behind the water lever indicator to improve the water level. Also make a better cover for the electrics too I think. Any idea what materials I can use? I needs to be heat tollerant, and non conductive because it touches the boiler, and is in proximity to electrical stuff.

Lacehim

Well on a positive note Jack sent me a group from his own machine because the single group can't be modified for the 2 group. While swapping over the groups I noticed a few things, and I'm not really happy with it, at all. The cover that goes over the electrical area has melted, and is all bent. Yes I took out a part of it to fit my antivac, but on further investigation I looked down at the box that houses the low water level circuit board. Have a look for yourself. It's melting too, and the finish on the valve stems (welded the boiler) have gone from chrome looking to sparkly, and scratched looking. 🙁 I'll have to fix that box up somehow, and might make a new cover with some timber. At least it wont melt.

derrilex

Upgrade time :rofl: 8)

Brett_H

Lacheim, you've been such a champion of this machine and Jack seems to have gone out of his way to help. I don't know... all the good will in the world and clever little mods won't make this machine into something it isn't. Yes the manufacturing could be better and the materials could be refined but then it would be in a different price bracket. Dont get me wrong, i share your frustration and you have my sympathy; but I think DX has a point 😉

derrilex wrote:

Upgrade time :rofl: 8)

Lacehim

BH and D, I agree it is what it is. Not a bad machine for $1500. Time to move on I think, but to what? Maybe there are some EOY sales on. ;D

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