Introduction
Espresso machines need to be descaled regularly to remove mineral buildup. After I had owned the Gaggia for 2 years, with regular (every 6 weeks) descaling, the machine was struggling to pump enough water to make a decent cup of espresso. Sydney does not have a much mineralization in the water, but there were was significant buildup. Here I document how I fixed the problem by pulling the machine apart, cleaning it and replacing the rubber gaskets.
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Here are the tools you need (from left):
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1 flathead screwdriver
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2 allen keys / allen wrenches, one small, one larger
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13mm thin spanner / wrench
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2 #1 Philips head screw drivers (one short, one long).
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One adjustable spanner / wrench
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Parts from coffeeparts.com (in 2009). Today coffeeparts.com.au still sells parts for Gaggia Espresso machines, but I no longer live in Australia so I don't buy from them.
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The next steps are to disconnect the electrical connections (the wiring harness).
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Start with the connections at the rear of the machine. The earth wire (yellow/green) is on the left.
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Use a marker to label the two power wires - it will make it easier to reassemble later. Be sure to pull on the plastic clip rather than the cable.
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Remove the pump assembly by releasing the two Philips head screws on either side of the pump. Move the pump to the right, out of the way, for the next step.
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(TODO: photo)
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Gently lift the pump and the boiler assembly out of the base of the machine. If anything is stuck, check the previous steps to make sure you didn't miss anything.
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There may be some fluid draining from the boiler at this point, so make sure you are prepared for it!
Added the parts list I used when I repaired this machine in 2009. I don’t own the machine any more but I am a pack-rat when it comes to email, apparently.
I agree with Alex: What parts need to be cleaned and how?
James
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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3 commentaires
Name should be changed to "how to take apart Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine" - there is no information on maintenance or descaling.
Looks like step 8 mentions a part that should be descaled. The intro also calls out general cleaning and gasket replacement. In general, descaling just means soaking most of the parts that look funky or can be clogged, especially filters, pipes, and hoses. =)
Correct. A full video showing how to descale everything, including the boiler, is here: