Great tutorial Joe! My Breville Dual has been acting up for a while and finally just died. No pressure. I followed your instructions and ordered the part and it now works better than it has in a long time. Thanks for the detail and instructions!
Hi there, just curious what you mean by died? My bes900 heats up ok but no hot water comes out and none of the shot buttons do anything other than make the machine make a really loud "rattling/buzzing" noise. Don't know if that is symptomatic of solenoid or pump issue. Can share video if helps
Thank you so much! Carefully followed your instructions and succeeded. One hint for others: make sure you have a tiny zip tie available before starting the process.
Thanks for this video, I was having issues with low pressure and replaced solenoid valve but didn’t fix the issue. As per instructions I adjusted the OPV pressure valves and now it’s back up! Thank you! Saved me from buying a new machine.
Thanks a bunch for a great video. Step by step instructions were spot on. Replaced solenoid and adjusted pressure on my BES920XL and now it's good as new. In fact better than new - I don't think it was running right from the start.
Hi, my machine heats fine to 93C but when I hit the shot buttons or turn the hit water knob, it just makes a horrible noise and NO water comes out. Would this be the solenoid valve part too? Don't want to order wrong parts and waste time opening her up too often. I'd already replaced o-rings and steam valve successfully 3months ago, but this is a different problem entirely. Hope you can help advise.
I would start with the solenoid valve, it's a relatively cheap and easy replacement. Could be pump related but unlikely, the pumps are expensive and much harder to swap out.
I bought a Profitec 700 5 years ago and can''t say enough good things about it. It's a big step up from the Brevilles in every way. I've still had to do minor repairs but its super easy to work on and parts are readily available.
Super Helpful video, I was able to confidently test the OPV valve, hoping it would help my lack of pressure - only 3 bars with the gray suction disc installed. I turned it all the way until no threads showed and still no pressure. I've got a unit, where everything else works great except the pressure, the water heats appropriately. I've also replaced the gasket on the group head. I guess my next step is replacing the OPV?
I was hoping to see a video like this showing the internal components of this automatic espresso machine, in which everything is plastic, valves, hoses, etc. Surely not the type of hardware that will give you years of trouble free operation. I have an 8 year Saeco automatic with similar construction and after years of service, plastic valves and hoses have cracked which I have replaced just as you are doing. Which brings me to my point, and that is to give higher consideration to buying a Rocket, Profitec 500/600 or similar machines. There are plenty of similar videos showing these units with internal metal valves, copper tubing, insulated chambers, weldings rather than clamps, and simpler wiring harnesses than what I see here. I am not being critical but I am now convinced that by spending a few hundred dollars more, I can get a better built machine that will provide more years of trouble free operation. Thank you for your video, I found it very helpful.
Since posting this video I bought an used Profitec 700 and did a complete tear down to descale. What you're saying is completely correct - the Profitec is built to last a lifetime. I could pull shots of similar quality on both machines though the profitec is much more consistent. Steam power is not comparable since I have the 2.5 bar version of the Profitec. I have not for one moment regretted the Profitec purchase.
Oh, that’s a terrific update, I won’t buy a used unit, but have settled on the Profitec 600 because the PID has an automatic shot timer. I am envious that you bough a 700 though, thank you very much for the honest reply
Hey Joe, I’ve replaced my opv pump and I’m noticing that Steam is entering my water tank. Also took the solenoid valve out and had a look, looks ok. I checked my max pressure but it’s very low.
Thanks for a great video. I have an Oracle that works great. I just got a Dual Boiler for another location and the pressure was 9 with the cleaning disc in and barely 7 when pulling a shot. It now reads 10.5 after adjustment and I am finally getting decent shots
While idling the water in my brew head line in the heat exchanger section(inside the steam boiler) is boiling causing it to backflow through the OPV and pump and emptying out the brew head boiler. Should the OPV also function as a check valve and stop backflow?
hi joe, checked solenoid, replaced gaskets, adjusted pressure, thanks. however the pre infusion runs but the relay dosent kick to in after 5 seconds, is it a relay or a pump or the solenoid? what you think? much appreciated mark
So I just pulled my machine out for first time this year and last winter my last two coffees I made the clean me light was on. Nothing I haven’t ran into before. But forgot to clean before putting away for year. Just tried to make a cup and get the bad humming and water doesn’t wanna pressure up hoping this is it
@@322816 exactly what I learned with my research today lol. Just gonna find a 3 way solenoid now that will fit. There’s a 120 and 230. I’m sure mine is a 120v but prolly need to open it first
Is it possible to replace the white gaskets with some others like silicone o-rings? I dont understand the construction with these two little metal pins. I ordered a new solednoid valve and it was delivered with 2 o rings. I think it could fit for older solenoid valves (the version before this, with the extra bottom).
Hi mate i have question if you can help i have a breville BES860 when i press single short or double its just goes off i mean shut down and there is solid red cleaning light that never goes and doesn’t goes to cleaning mode or descaling mode Thanks
My machine seems to be stuck. When I start an espresso, it makes the usual noise but nothing comes out. It's a machine I got back and it's never been descalded or cleaned regularly. Do you have any advice or ideas on what I should check first? I'm about to open its belly to see...
Nice Video, thanks Joe, my compressor takes 8 seconds to kick in ,it used to be instant and the pour (not compressor) would start after 8 to 10 seconds , Any ideas why this is happening? Cheers.
Awesome video! I have been repairing an old Breville Oracle BES980XL over the past month. I have scoured the internet for answers but cannot find a solution to my problem anywhere, Maybe you could help? Everything works well on my machine - BUT when the machine heats up to temperature, steam is coming out of the water tank/container valve :/ The water in the water tank actually boiled and the spring loaded valve in the water container has actually melted. I have taken apart both the steam solenoid and the hot water solenoid and couldn't find any obvious signs why they shouldn't work. I've also tried adjusting both Over Pressure Valves. Would you have any advice or tips on how i can stop the steam returning to the water tank? Many thanks.
Thanks. I can’t help much on this but I have seen an instance were a B2B had a run away steam boiler. It got so hot you couldn’t touch the outside of the machine. Only happened once, and came back to normal after powering on/off. Check the probe wires, if they’re not obviously damaged then it may be a board issue which is then likely more $ to fix than the machine is worth.
Thanks for your video, I am watching it to find what's the problem with my BES990. It says descale open,, I have checked the bottom descale switch, the part which holding it, looks fine. Now I opened the top cover, still don't know what's wrong :( Please help me. What can I do?
Breville support got me to troubleshoot with the plug. I got just over 10bar. By just a hair. They told me that means my machine is perfectly fine and I need a grinder. Been fine for a year but now near impossible to get a 9 bar brew and pressure creeps up instead of stabilising.
If you can hold 10 bar with the rubber plug in place then it's most likely the grinder/beans. If you recently changed beans, some (particularly lighter roasts) don't work well for espresso. Try fresh espresso (dark roast) beans. Grind so fine that nothing comes out, then work coarser from there. If the beans aren't the problem then perhaps something changed in your grinder (burrs need adjusting/replacing).
Joe - thank you! Hope you're still monitoring these videos....Was doing great and almost had removed the solenoid when the last screw broke off at the shank right at the base of the solenoid, likely due to the corrosion caused by the bad gaskets on the solenoid. There was just enough of the shank to grab with some vise grips, but then that bit broke off as well and the rest of the shank remains in the hole. So... a simple fix has now become a potential headache. Appreciate any advice you might have.
I'd pickup a small screw extractor like MicroGrabit and give that a go. Failing that you could re-drill the hole and use a self taping screw, not a pretty solution but might be enough to get you running.
Hey Michael, did you ever figure out a solution? I ran into the same thing except 3 screws broke lol. I've ordered the entire head assembly to replace.
Great video, My old breville BES870 will not get up to a decent pressue, it seem to max out just in the espresso range after the infusion , I have tightened the OPV (right in) but it doesnt make any difference to the pressure . even with the blind basket shot. Do you think the pump may be weak or the guage is not reading correctly? many thanks
Best guess is that the machine has scale build-up. Not likely the pump, and not likely gauge error (I have another video on how you can verify the pressure) - both would likely fail completely. You could tear the machine down and descale - very time consuming but low cost.
Hi Joe, very helpful video. Using this video I've been trying to diagnose an issue with my Breville machine: when I start the pump I get water (from the solenoid valve) going into the drip tray at the same time as through the grouphead. This happens regardless of if there is or isn't a portafilter in the group head. Hope you can help with this. I think either the internal seals of the solenoid valve have gone or the solenoid coil itself needs replacing.
Hello Joe K. I have the Breville Oracle BES980XL. I have issues with it, the boiler on the brew side is not filling up, I am assuming I have issues with the coffee pump and possibly the Solenoid. I have not been able to find parts for the machine and have looked all over online. Any suggestions or do you know where they can be found? I have looked at most the online replacement parts store and they say the parts are no longer manufactured. I called Breville and they said they don't manufacture the parts or sell them but can service them.
Hi Joe,. Thank you for your well done video. I have Breville 870. No water coming out from all sources. I have exchanged the water pump. Problem still there. I can here the pump but no water coming out. Can you lead me in the right direction? Thank you in advance.
I have a new BES 920XL (BDB), 2 months old, have never been able to get the pressure up when making a cup (max I can get to is 8-8.5), with a blank disc I'm at 9-9.5 bar pressure. Breville has been awful with customer service response, waiting weeks in between even after sending the video. Should I adjust the OPV so that it hits 10 bar pressure with blank disc?
@@322816 ah thank you! And also, do you have a video showing how to undo the top? I can't find any information on that, found 1 walk through but they don't show the 2 screws I need to undo with the Philips head. I got the 2 removed on the back that are torque screws but I'm still apparently missing another set somewhere to pop the top off (any additional advice is welcomed!). I've located the 2 screws by the group head but can't for the life of me get them out! I'm not even sure I'm reaching them with my long screwdriver. I don't know how tight they have those screws up there but I can't get them to budge - using a 1x4 Philips, also tried a 0x3
Hey mate, thanks for the video! I've replaced the Solenoid and adjusted the pressure as per your instructions and although it's much much better (before it was barely pushing out water) I'm still unable to get any more than max 8 on the pressure, I've tightened the pressure valve as far as it can go and still nothing (released a touch to avoid it being too tight) I've also messed with the software pressure settings, is there anything you can suggest to get the perfect 10 to 11? Thanks!! Ally.
I've read on relevant forums that adjustments to the OPV only go so far. After a couple of times tightening, people seem to need to just replace the OPV. If replacing, there are also blog posts out there about replacing them with a more robust brass version, which requires a couple of minor tweaks to get working, but results in a much more reliable outcome.
The problem can be corrected if DC voltage is applied to the control of the valve electric coil instead of alternating voltage ... Install a diode bridge.
Thanks for the video. I have a question and I hope you can help. I have a fairly new oracle touch and whenever I make a shot I get only about 1/4 of the coffee I should be getting. Water leaks out of the hot water spout and also out of the front metal panel on the side. Do you have any idea what could be the issue? Can there be something broken, that, when under pressure starts to release water? Thank you!
Harish Kulkarni Hi have you got your problem fixed? I ran into the same problem - the boiler on the steaming wand side would heat up on its own even when power off i'd have to remove unplug from the power socket to stop it from heating. Wonder what the problem is and how to fix?
@@myfolder4561 hi there, nope its something that I gave up on this brand, I was been told by service center to either change the thermostat or PID sensor which controls the pressure and boiler temperature, it may fix may not since its already discontinued model wasn't worth investing energy, time and money. I am happy with my delonghi and won't recommend anyone for Breville
Harish Kulkarni Sorry to hear that. I'm afraid i'll have to go down that route too. The power problem isn't just a hassle but is a real safety issue...
@@myfolder4561 yeah, I recall that I wasn't able to make more than a cup of espresso due to heating issues, I had no choice waiting for 45 min to an hour to get the machine in normal, the parts are expensive and product is discontinued so won't encourage to repair, better a new one or anything has current production coffee maker.
Hi Joe, really helpful. Thanks. Do you know where I can get the gaskets for the solenoid from? I bought a new solenoid but it didn’t come with the gaskets 😏. I have found a supplier in Australia who charge only £6 for the gaskets, but £47 postage to UK!!
My dual boiler hasn’t been reaching temperature! It only gets up to 160-177. I tried emptying through the descale valves, replaced the big and little o rings. I can open the steam valve at 160 and get that working. But no luck getting to 200. Have you had this issue before?
I haven't run into this problem but I've heard others mentioning it. Must either be one of the temp sensors in the boiler or the controller board. Keep searching - good luck.
Thank you for this great video. I do have an issue with the water dispenser, that little water gets out and also the amount of the espresso is less than the regular. Do you think that I should replace the valve??
It's likely either that you solenoid value needs replacing or your machine is badly scaled. It may also be that you're losing pressure from an internal leak - taking the cover off and inspecting the boiler connections is a good start. Replacing the solenoid valve is easy and fairly inexpensive so I'd do that if you don't have a leak. Good luck.
The OPV sets the max pressure achievable in the steam boiler so increasing the OPV set point will allow more pressure in the boiler and thus create more power steam. However if you take it too far you can damage your steam boiler so it's important to use the plug in your portafilter to check your max pressure after you make an adjustment. I would not adjust it above 11 bar.
Thank you for the video- I have a BE980, and have a leak from the steam boiler tube to the brew boiler. I have been able to remove the one at the brew- but can’t seem to get the one out of the steam boiler. I found a leak - and can’t remove- what would you suggest?
It is likely stuck due to scaling. Saturate the connection in descaling solution, over and over, as necessary until you get some movement. If you pull too hard you could break the hose or hose-fitting joint. You may have to let it soak in for an hour or two.
Hi Joe, thanks for putting together these informative videos. I have a 5 years old BES900. Since last month the pressure is only reaching 3, and it takes ages (30sec plus before it even picks up pressure at all). Did the solenoid test with blind basket and it can reach 11.5 before turn off and water flushed (no trickling water beforehand). I have opened and replace with new pump, there was a leak on the pump area (pump housing was rusted). However it doesn't solve the pressure issue at all. It still is super weak pressure. I also tried adjusting the pressure on the OPV, but also no effect. Before re-assembling I kept an eye on the OPV unit to ensure that there are no further leakage. After 2-3 shots I also experienced flashing 93 on the LED as well. What else could be the issue? Do I need to replace the OPV? Solenoid? Rubber gasket/group head ring (not leaking). Thanks
If I understand correctly, with a blind basket you can achieve 11.5bar? Does it come up to that pressure in a normal amount of time (within a few seconds after pre-infusion is finished)?
@@jeffmimery2627 Not likely a pump or OPV problem then. I suspect you have a flow restriction most likely due to scale buildup. Have you done a full descale? (I have a video on how to do it). I'd start there and remove every hose for cleaning and inspection. The whole process is easier than a pump replacement (commend you for that task!) but time consuming. Failing that, I wouldn't put any more $ into the Breville machine. Look for an used ECM/Profitec/Rocket Hx or dual boiler machine - with a good descaling they work like new. Good luck.
@@322816 Thanks Joe. Yep have bought descaler will try that now. Strange how it's very sudden drop, I would have thought that it will be a gradual pressure loss over time. Looking at Rocket Glotto at the moment as well. Thanks for the help mate.
@@322816 Just finished the descale, lots of brown gunk. However, I noticed that even without any head water barely trickles down. Like probably only 10-15ml after 1 minute. Have you experienced this kind of issue before?
The large port right in the middle of the steam boiler (with the clear tubing and spring inside) proceeds to purge all the steam as the unit heats up, leaving me at 189 with what seems like all the steam pressure coming out of the drip tray. Advice on what is causing all this pressure to purge?
Best guess - that hose is the vacuum relief valve that purges air while the machine is heating up and stops (closes) at a set temperature (well below the final steam boiler temp), your vacuum valve may be stuck up (likely due to scale). That said, I haven't had to touch that on a Breville machine and since I don't see a high-limit pressure relief valve, it may also be integrated into the vacuum relief (i.e. 2-in-1). Those valves are usually screwed in very tight with sealant - probably won't be easy to remove. I would start by pulling the hose off and descalling that valve several times (apply descaler, let sit for an hour, clean-up, repeat). Good luck.
Hey Joe, I have a Barista Express that needs it's solenoid valve replaced. I can't find a video on my exact model, but wondering if you happen to know how different the Barista Express might be from your model? Hoping to use your video as a guide to repair my Breville machine.....
I've got a Breville Oracle BES980XL ... the 'americano solenoid' has a cracked armature shaft and is leaking into my machine. I'm having trouble sourcing a new one; can anyone advise where I might have some luck?
Thanks again Joe. Video was really helpful putting it in - just totally forgot to mark the probes in the steam boiler. I know the BLACK cabled probe is a long one (as I had to replace due to rust), but wondered if you knew whether the BLUE or RED cable is the short probe?
I don't recall but the diagram on ereplacementparts shows the short probe in the middle. Not something you want to get wrong though or you risk overheating your boiler.
That's a good place to start - really small orifices in that valve. You could remove it and do a teardown and full cleaning of it...there's not much to those solenoid valves.
Can anyone tell me what could have gone wrong with my Breville Espresso Machine model BES870XL? First it started an d making a loud humming and buzzing noises. After few days the whole machine just shut off and the power does not come on at all now. Thank you! Hassan
Hey Joe. On the Soleniod Valve replacement, I wondered if you used the Gasket Kit? It looks like you have the different one. I just bought a replacement soleniond and gasket kit. I'm not sure which is better, the silicome looking one-piece gasket kit, or the two small original gasket washers? Don't know if one is newer than the other and now recomended by Breville? Any thoughts?
Hello Joe first the water. return to the pain so I replaced the solenoid all the wires correct places But now, worst.. no pressure at all Any ideas? Thanks
Hi Joe, thanks for the helpful video. I have replaced the solenoid valve as per your video with a new e-replacement spare and the temp heats up to the set point as normal. However when I press any of the 3 right hand buttons to start a brew; the pressure remains at zero and no water shows. There is a high pitched noise like a motor jamming when the buttons are pressed. What do you reckon? Charlie
Check if it's a pump problem by dispensing water through the hot water spout. If the pump runs properly then I'd try installing the old solenoid valve to determine if the new valve is the problem. If the problem persists with the old valve too then it could be a blockage in one of the lines.
Joe K Joe K Hi Joe, thanks for the diagnosis. I think it’s the pump based on what you wrote earlier as there is zero noise from the pump and a healthy click from the new solenoid valve. Just to double check before I order a new pump, should I be ordering the coffee pump (closest to the water reservoir) if there is nothing happening when I push any of the buttons for a coffee? (Part no. 06-19 on ereplacementparts.com)
When you open the hot water valve do you get water (not the buttons but rather the valve on the left side of the machine)? It will have to run the brew pump to dispense hot water, if that works then it's not the brew pump.
Joe K Hi Joe, I’ve replaced the pump and that’s solved one problem (thanks). I can now make a cup but the pressure only hovers around 3bar. I’ve adjusted the OPV in as much as possible still to no avail. Is there any other knack to increasing pressure? I’ve checked thoroughly for leaks and found nothing. Really stumped on this one!
You want the max pressure to be between 10 & 11 bar that way you know that the coffee is creating the backpressure at 9 bar rather than the pump maxing out. Also, some beans extract better above 9 bar. Most commercial-grade machines (like my Profitec 700) have OPV set at 11 - 12 bar, and I routinely extract my Salt Spring Blue Heron at 10 bar.
Hi. Even though I adjust the OPV to keep gauge between 9/10 bars while brewing, I lose pressure over time. (Using the cleaning gasket I adjust the OPV to 11). I replaced the solenoid 2 years ago. I have no leaks. Wondering if it could be the pump. I have looked for a replacement and cannot find one. All sites including the 2 you suggest show "out of stock". Thanks. Any suggestions appreciated. I have descaled both boilers several times over the years. Robert
When you say you lose pressure over time do you mean during the shot, or after multiple shots the pressure no longer hits 9/10 bars? If it's during the shot, what are your starting/ending pressures? The pump is available on ebay, it's a ULKA EF Type EFP5 (double check yours before buying) but you'll have to remove/reinstall your thermostat since the replacement ULKA pumps don't come with them (when Breville sold it it came as an assembly with the thermostat installed). Watch Stephen Laird's BES900 pump replacement video - it's pretty straight forward.
Thanks Joe. Lose pressure over time means after adjusting the OPV, I get several weeks of 9/9.5 bar shots then pressure begins to drop again. Specifically, shot starts at 9 bars then slips to 6.5 or 7 by end of shot. Duration of shot also increases to 40/50 seconds to produce 1 to 2 ounces. The coffee and grind has not changed for years which is why I dont look at the coffee/ground being the culprit, but I am open to anything! :-)
Hey Joe (not a Hendrix reference, but still an all-time favorite) - I doubt after so many years you'll see this however I am going to ask anyway. I have had 3 BES 920XLs (it is my current machine) of differing lot numbers and each, including my "newish" replacement has what I call the post-nasal drip problem and I wondered what it could be? Literally each one, after about 6 months, started a running drip/thin stream out of the hot water spout during extraction. It doesn't matter what pressure I extract at, how much I fiddle with the OPA, descaled, how hard I crank the hot water knob, phase of the moon...they all have done it, and once they start they never stop. It's mostly annoying as I know it negatively affects the brew pressure....but I can still pull a decent shot from it. I have sent the first 2 back in for service and each time they came back, a few months later, same thing...leaking from the hot water spout during under-pressure extraction. I actually found the VP of customer service email and tracked him down, ultimately resulting in being given a brand new replacement. ~6 months later....same thing. I am on well water and it's pretty darn hard but use a salt-water softener and filter that out before it goes into the machine. Thoughts?
It's super common for steam wands to leak after time, less common for the hot water nozzle to leak. I would say it's simply the oring(s) on the hot water valve that are wearing out, but not that quickly or consistently...best bet is that it's related to scale buildup. No espresso machine fairs well with hard water. I'd get a TDS meter and check your water to ensure your softener/filter is actually working.
@@322816 Thank you for the reply! After watching your video a few times I opened it up and noticed right away everything was wet = the seal for the hose from steam boiler to the hot water valve is leaking and....engulfing the inside with steam....so that's definitely an issue. Trying to find parts for this thing has been frustrating - can't find OEM parts for the tef lines or o-rings = gambling on eBay and paying wholelattelove $10 to ship a tiny part in hopes it works. I took the line off, flipped the o-ring and reattached to see if it would work = nope. I have tested my water in multiple ways (Breville test strips, a home tester, and actual lab testing) and all 3 confirm that post filtering, the water is actually too soft, though I'll take that over too hard. Appreciate the suggestion though and again, thank you so much for responding.
@@jeffreywall5316 Breville only sells parts to their repair depots so you're stuck with searching online parts stores. I had success with finding Breville parts at ereplacementparts.com Truly the best advice I can offer is to offload your Breville and move up to an e61 from a reputable brand. Profitec/ECM are a dream to use and service, there are other good brands too.
@@322816 I did check ereplacement however nearly everything they have for the 920XL isn't carried anymore and won't be. I refuse to pay $350 again because I literally got no benefit from it last time = either I fix it myself or I am donating it to a friend. I was just dreaming about the ECM Technika V Profi PID. I have limited counter real estate and like the option of reservoir if I need it. Been wanting an E61 for the longest time and wanting to get away from vibratory pumps and back to a heat exchanger. ECM's stainless steel boilers probably a better/best choice for me on hard well water (but would plan on an in-line filter to replace my current setup) I have tools that are 20+ years old and still in perfect working order = I like investing in platforms that are going to be serviceable for a long time because I take care of my tools....
Hello, I have this coffee machine and when I turn on the machine, it says Error2 on the display and does not respond to anything. Where to look for the error please? Thank you very much. Have a nice day.
Hi Joe, I've got a BES920 having been used for 4 months. Recently, the pump is sort of failed to pump water. It was pumping only for the first few seconds then it started to make clicking sounds as if it was blocked of any scale or debris. After the pump was confirmed block free, I tested the electric supply to the pump and found out the pump is supplied with only 50 to 60V when it was supposed to be 220-240V. Are you able to shed some light as to why this has been caused? Could it be the whole main board that causes the issue? Looking forward to your reply. Thanks
Can't help on this issue other than suggesting that you make certain it's the pump and not the solenoid valve which is known to make a clicking sound when it begins to fail. If it's the main board it will be difficult to troubleshot with the schematic - if you're still under warranty I'd go that route. Good luck.
I wouldn't replace it if you can get vise-grips on the broken screws to remove them. Remove the brew boiler if that helps with access - it's just three screws. If you can't remove the screws then you're in a tough spot. If you already have the new solenoid valve then you could try it with just 2 of 4 screws (if your broken screws are on opposite corners) and see if you're leak-free. If you're into buying more replacement parts you may want to consider investing in a different machine. The Breville's are not built to last. If you get 7-8 years of steady use out of it then you're doing well. I have a Profitec 700 now. Performance is only slightly better (more consistent) but the quality and easy of service is 10x better, well worth the extra cost for me since I use it daily.
Hi Joe, I have a 920 that Breville sent as a replacement for my trusty 900. This machine produces 9 bars at the start of the brew, but then pressure starts to fluctuate dropping to 4-5 bars after a few seconds. I sent Breville a video, and they said that if the machine achieved 7 bars this is adequate and not to worry! Much different pressure profile than my 90. If I use the backflush insert, machine achieves 9 bars and stays there. Any ideas? Dan
Your machine is working properly but the OPV is set low. It's normal for the pressure to drop slightly (1-2 bar) during extraction because the pressure is reduced when the water (espresso) finds its way out through the grinds. Therefore, to achieve extraction at 9 bar OPVs are usually set at 10-11 bar. The last time I adjusted mine (because it was low) it only lasted 11 months before it had to be adjusted again (again because it was low). It's an easy adjustment just be careful with the wires when you remove the top cover and be gently when removing the plastic locking clip and hose from the OPV.
Joe K Thanks a lot! I did adjust the OPV on my 900 when I first purchased it, so I am familiar with the process. I will give it a try, but I think a new Rocket R9 one may be in my future!
Thanks for this video. I'm having issues with my Breville too... I tried about every combination of every settings possible, I can't get a good coffee. I tried a lot of different beans, from freshly roasted in local stores to industrial beans. When setting my machine to have the best result possible (in taste), it flows way too fast, the pressure is very high, and the taste is still not very good. If I grind the beans finer to make it flow at a "normal" rate, the taste, the espresso LOOKS wonderful, but the taste is just terrible. Now the only thing I can try, is to set the OPV to have less pressure, as shown in your video. If it doesn't work, I think I will sell this espresso machine... I'm disappointed to have a bad espresso on an expensive coffee machine. I know this is probably not considered as a "good" machine by some espresso enthusiasts, but I think that for at least 5x the price of an entry level machine, we should be able to get good results, otherwise it's a scam.
My Breville is gone and replaced with a Profitec 700 at 3x the price but it was worth every penny. You can get good shots out of the Breville but it is much less consistent than a high-end machine (which leads to frustration). Been using the Profitec for over a year and not a single complaint. Food for thought...
Hi Joe, I have the same machine, my problem is that I find water leaking from somewhere under as soon as i fill water in the reservoir. What could possibly be wrong.
Could be as simple as a cracked reservoir, but it's more likely leaking from one of the boilers. Fill the water reservoir but don't turn on the machine - if it leaks then it's the reservoir itself or the reservoir connection. If it doesn't start leaking until you turn on the machine then it's a high pressure line to/from a boiler. I have another video that explains the boiler connections which might be helpful. Good luck.
Hey Joe. This is so informative - thank you! I found a company in Aus that sends the Solenoid, but do you know where I might be able to source an O-ring for the Steam Probe? This has gone on mine and they seem impossible to find!
Thanks @@322816! Tried them sadly, as like all the others, they seem to be on backorder. Though I did manage to find a few from a CA company. Thanks again - looking forward to trying this based on your video.
My line that come out of my solenoid valve appears to be corroding. when you touch it, it is very sticky, and what sticks to your hands does not wash off. Is this something I should replace, and if so, with what exactly?
That's perfectly normal. It's not corroded, it's saturated with coffee residue (coffee bean oil is very sticky). After each shot the valve relieves the brew pressure through that hose and all the coffee that's sitting on top of the puck is sucked back through that hose into the drip tray. This is also where the water goes during the backflushing process. All machines do this, if they didn't you get a loud pop and spray of coffee every time you remove the portafilter after brewing.
Mine has the same issue. A honey like substance on the outside of the tube. I cleaned it off with Alcohol, but it has to be leaching from the hose material itself, because it's not anywhere else in the machine. I asked Breville about it, and sent them pictures, but they ignored me.
Hi Joe I have the BES 920, cant get it to run throught the descale program, gets stuck on Valve, after I empty boilers, it thinks it still has water in boilers, and will not go any further, I then manually empty and refill a few times, would you have any sugestions. Kind Regards John
Joe K Hi Joe, thanks for getting back to me, thevBES920 has drain screws for the boiler, so I have been letting the machine fill the boilers with de scale solution then emptying it with the screws then filling with fresh water a few times to flush out descale solution. I think this is about the same as doing it your way. Thank you for getting back to me. Kind Regards John
No problem. Keep in mind that you can always do the taste-test method of determining if you still have descaling solution left in your boilers. It's usually just a strong citric acid. With the machine on, purge water through the brew head and steam wand into a cup and taste it for remnants of the descale solution. You'll be able to taste the acid in even a very diluted scaling/water solution.
I had this very same problem. What I did was take my shopvac, and sucked water out of each boiler by pulling of the feed that allowed pressure to go between the two boilers. Nothing else worked, but this did, and it brought my machine back from the dead.
Hi, I have a machine that I want to repair. So far I replaced 2 o-rings that were leaking when I started the machine. Now I get to 200F so I can start the brewing process but no water comes out. When I press manual, all the water go in the over flow line thru the overpressure valve. No bar is showing on the display. Pumps seem to be working fine. I also get hot water from the dispenser and the steam wand. Could it be the solenoid valve? Is there a way to test it? Thank you
It doesn't make sense.The hose with a squeeze type spring clamp is the discharge return hose back to the reservoir tank, I believe, not from the supply section of the tank.
Hello Joe and thank you for the great and informative video. Before I go online and purchase the solenoid valve, I hope to check with you to see if that's what the problem is on my machine. It has been working great for 6 years now and yesterday, I performed a system clean as the LED "clean" light came on. After that now the machine just brews on maximum pressure and no water comes out of the filter. I do hear an unusual noise by where the brew buttons are. I'm suspecting it's the OPV valve gone bad based from watching your video but wanted to ask if you have seen an over pressure problem before? Thank you.
Not likely the OPV. Sounds like you have a blockage. The pump and OPV are working since you're getting pressure reading on your gauge. I suspect either a blocked line or a blockage in the solenoid valve. Before you buy anything try removing the solenoid valve, clean all internal parts and re-assemble.
@@322816 my machine usually produces way too much pressure in general and then this morning, my portafilter came off loose while brewing and created a complete mess. After that, I hear a funny - almost like a rattle noise when the pressure guage needle hits the maximum pressure. Also the needle goes quite shaky. Do you assume it might be an obstruction in the solenoid ???
I bought from ereplacementparts.com but I'm not sure if they still sell them. Keep Goggling and checkout the replies on comments to my vids as folks have found parts via ebay and other sources. Good luck.
Great video! Where to buy the parts? I'm in Australia and the Solenoid Valve costs A$140 + postage from a parts warehouse... I'd be better off taking it in to get serviced but I'd like to do it myself.
If I understand correctly - you are achieving 9 Bars when you plug the filter basket, but only 3 Bars when you're extracting a shot. In this case, the problem is the coffee. I also suspect that you're extracting 2oz in much less than 25-20 seconds? If so, you are either not grinding fine enough (the most likely problem) or you're not putting a full 18 grams in the double filter. Get a digital scale and confirm that you're filling the double filter basket to 18 grams. If that still doesn't get you to at least 8 Bars while extracting then adjust your grind finer and finer until you hit at least 8 Bars during extraction and it takes 25-20sec to produce 2oz of espresso (start counting as soon as you see the first drops come out of the spout). What grinder are you using?
Assuming you adjust your grind and achieve 8 Bars during extraction, then you might want to consider adjusting your OPV so that you can achieve 10-11 Bars when you plug the filter basket. As your machine is currently set (maxed out at 9 BARs when plugging the filter basket) you will not be able to achieve 9 Bars during extraction (at best you'll get to about 8 Bars). Don't mess around with the OPV until you've solved the bigger problem of only getting 3 Bars during extraction.
You can find them on eBay. See link here: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5575365330&toolid=10001&campid=5338246973&customid=&mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F184010084994
Where do you purchase the solenoid valve? Do you sell parts for Breville machines? I contacted Breville but they refused to sell me the solenoid valve and the pump. They asked to ship the machine to them for repair. I’m hoping you can help.
I purchased the valve from ereplacementparts.com back in Dec 2017.You could try cleaning it if you're not able to buy new anymore. You could also clean/rebuild the pump but I think that model of ULKA (EFP5) is fairly common.
Joe K thank you Joe. I tried eReplacement and they no longer have it in stock. I’ll try cleaning the valve. It’s hard to find internal parts for Breville machines.
Great tutorial Joe! My Breville Dual has been acting up for a while and finally just died. No pressure. I followed your instructions and ordered the part and it now works better than it has in a long time. Thanks for the detail and instructions!
Hi there, just curious what you mean by died? My bes900 heats up ok but no hot water comes out and none of the shot buttons do anything other than make the machine make a really loud "rattling/buzzing" noise. Don't know if that is symptomatic of solenoid or pump issue. Can share video if helps
Thank you so much! Carefully followed your instructions and succeeded. One hint for others: make sure you have a tiny zip tie available before starting the process.
Thanks for this video, I was having issues with low pressure and replaced solenoid valve but didn’t fix the issue. As per instructions I adjusted the OPV pressure valves and now it’s back up! Thank you! Saved me from buying a new machine.
Happy to hear it. Replacing the valve isn't a total loss, it would have needed replacing eventually.
Thanks a bunch for a great video. Step by step instructions were spot on. Replaced solenoid and adjusted pressure on my BES920XL and now it's good as new. In fact better than new - I don't think it was running right from the start.
You're very likely right - I've heard others say their OPV was off right out of the box. Mine needed adjustment annually or the pressure dropped.
Thank you. Your videos have been an invaluable resource for me as a BES920xl owner. :)
Glad the videos helped.
Finished replacing my solenoid and it's quiet! Also it heats up faster - thanks for the guide
Great. Super common repair that everyone should expect to have to do after 5-8 years.
Hi, my machine heats fine to 93C but when I hit the shot buttons or turn the hit water knob, it just makes a horrible noise and NO water comes out. Would this be the solenoid valve part too? Don't want to order wrong parts and waste time opening her up too often. I'd already replaced o-rings and steam valve successfully 3months ago, but this is a different problem entirely. Hope you can help advise.
I would start with the solenoid valve, it's a relatively cheap and easy replacement. Could be pump related but unlikely, the pumps are expensive and much harder to swap out.
@@322816 thanks Joe. I read you no longer have the machine so I really appreciate your response.
I bought a Profitec 700 5 years ago and can''t say enough good things about it. It's a big step up from the Brevilles in every way. I've still had to do minor repairs but its super easy to work on and parts are readily available.
Super Helpful video, I was able to confidently test the OPV valve, hoping it would help my lack of pressure - only 3 bars with the gray suction disc installed. I turned it all the way until no threads showed and still no pressure. I've got a unit, where everything else works great except the pressure, the water heats appropriately. I've also replaced the gasket on the group head. I guess my next step is replacing the OPV?
I was hoping to see a video like this showing the internal components of this automatic espresso machine, in which everything is plastic, valves, hoses, etc. Surely not the type of hardware that will give you years of trouble free operation. I have an 8 year Saeco automatic with similar construction and after years of service, plastic valves and hoses have cracked which I have replaced just as you are doing. Which brings me to my point, and that is to give higher consideration to buying a Rocket, Profitec 500/600 or similar machines. There are plenty of similar videos showing these units with internal metal valves, copper tubing, insulated chambers, weldings rather than clamps, and simpler wiring harnesses than what I see here. I am not being critical but I am now convinced that by spending a few hundred dollars more, I can get a better built machine that will provide more years of trouble free operation. Thank you for your video, I found it very helpful.
Since posting this video I bought an used Profitec 700 and did a complete tear down to descale. What you're saying is completely correct - the Profitec is built to last a lifetime. I could pull shots of similar quality on both machines though the profitec is much more consistent. Steam power is not comparable since I have the 2.5 bar version of the Profitec. I have not for one moment regretted the Profitec purchase.
Oh, that’s a terrific update, I won’t buy a used unit, but have settled on the Profitec 600 because the PID has an automatic shot timer. I am envious that you bough a 700 though, thank you very much for the honest reply
I have a BES870XL and I'm hoping I can manage to do this even this is not the exact same model. Fingers crossed. Thanks for this video!
Laurie Sorensen I have the same model and the same problem. Did this work for you?
Hey Joe, I’ve replaced my opv pump and I’m noticing that Steam is entering my water tank. Also took the solenoid valve out and had a look, looks ok. I checked my max pressure but it’s very low.
Not sure about the steam in the water tank issue. If your pressure is low you may need to descale.
The solenoid can be tested with a multimeter and should be about 2.5kOhm.
Thanks for a great video. I have an Oracle that works great. I just got a Dual Boiler for another location and the pressure was 9 with the cleaning disc in and barely 7 when pulling a shot. It now reads 10.5 after adjustment and I am finally getting decent shots
Glad you found it helpful!
While idling the water in my brew head line in the heat exchanger section(inside the steam boiler) is boiling causing it to backflow through the OPV and pump and emptying out the brew head boiler. Should the OPV also function as a check valve and stop backflow?
hi joe, checked solenoid, replaced gaskets, adjusted pressure, thanks. however the pre infusion runs but the relay dosent kick to in after 5 seconds, is it a relay or a pump or the solenoid? what you think? much appreciated
mark
So I just pulled my machine out for first time this year and last winter my last two coffees I made the clean me light was on. Nothing I haven’t ran into before. But forgot to clean before putting away for year. Just tried to make a cup and get the bad humming and water doesn’t wanna pressure up hoping this is it
You likely have to replace the solenoid.
@@322816 exactly what I learned with my research today lol. Just gonna find a 3 way solenoid now that will fit. There’s a 120 and 230. I’m sure mine is a 120v but prolly need to open it first
Nice videos mate. Hope you gonna upload more :)
Is it possible to replace the white gaskets with some others like silicone o-rings?
I dont understand the construction with these two little metal pins. I ordered a new solednoid valve and it was delivered with 2 o rings. I think it could fit for older solenoid valves (the version before this, with the extra bottom).
Hi mate i have question if you can help i have a breville BES860 when i press single short or double its just goes off i mean shut down and there is solid red cleaning light that never goes and doesn’t goes to cleaning mode or descaling mode
Thanks
My machine seems to be stuck. When I start an espresso, it makes the usual noise but nothing comes out. It's a machine I got back and it's never been descalded or cleaned regularly. Do you have any advice or ideas on what I should check first? I'm about to open its belly to see...
For the pressure adjustment, you could probably leave the pipe connected.
What about a bambino espresso machine leaking from inside. As soon as I hit the 2 cup shot the outlet get tripped. Please help!! Thank you!
Nice Video, thanks Joe, my compressor takes 8 seconds to kick in ,it used to be instant and the pour (not compressor) would start after 8 to 10 seconds , Any ideas why this is happening? Cheers.
I dont quite understand the actual adjustment, does it give more or less pressure by sliding that shaft forward or backwards? Thanks!
Awesome video! I have been repairing an old Breville Oracle BES980XL over the past month.
I have scoured the internet for answers but cannot find a solution to my problem anywhere, Maybe you could help?
Everything works well on my machine - BUT when the machine heats up to temperature, steam is coming out of the water tank/container valve :/ The water in the water tank actually boiled and the spring loaded valve in the water container has actually melted.
I have taken apart both the steam solenoid and the hot water solenoid and couldn't find any obvious signs why they shouldn't work. I've also tried adjusting both Over Pressure Valves. Would you have any advice or tips on how i can stop the steam returning to the water tank? Many thanks.
Thanks. I can’t help much on this but I have seen an instance were a B2B had a run away steam boiler. It got so hot you couldn’t touch the outside of the machine. Only happened once, and came back to normal after powering on/off. Check the probe wires, if they’re not obviously damaged then it may be a board issue which is then likely more $ to fix than the machine is worth.
Thanks for your video, I am watching it to find what's the problem with my BES990. It says descale open,, I have checked the bottom descale switch, the part which holding it, looks fine.
Now I opened the top cover, still don't know what's wrong :(
Please help me. What can I do?
Which way does the other valve go in? Does it go the opposite way?
Breville support got me to troubleshoot with the plug. I got just over 10bar. By just a hair. They told me that means my machine is perfectly fine and I need a grinder. Been fine for a year but now near impossible to get a 9 bar brew and pressure creeps up instead of stabilising.
If you can hold 10 bar with the rubber plug in place then it's most likely the grinder/beans. If you recently changed beans, some (particularly lighter roasts) don't work well for espresso. Try fresh espresso (dark roast) beans. Grind so fine that nothing comes out, then work coarser from there. If the beans aren't the problem then perhaps something changed in your grinder (burrs need adjusting/replacing).
Hello Joe, thanks for the video
I want to be running shots at 6-7 bars steadily all the time. How should I adjust the OPV for reaching this?
Thank you
I suggest 1/2 turn increments until you achieve the desired pressure. You'll have to reconnect and test after each increment.
Joe - thank you! Hope you're still monitoring these videos....Was doing great and almost had removed the solenoid when the last screw broke off at the shank right at the base of the solenoid, likely due to the corrosion caused by the bad gaskets on the solenoid. There was just enough of the shank to grab with some vise grips, but then that bit broke off as well and the rest of the shank remains in the hole. So... a simple fix has now become a potential headache. Appreciate any advice you might have.
I'd pickup a small screw extractor like MicroGrabit and give that a go. Failing that you could re-drill the hole and use a self taping screw, not a pretty solution but might be enough to get you running.
Hey Michael, did you ever figure out a solution? I ran into the same thing except 3 screws broke lol. I've ordered the entire head assembly to replace.
Great video, My old breville BES870 will not get up to a decent pressue, it seem to max out just in the espresso range after the infusion , I have tightened the OPV (right in) but it doesnt make any difference to the pressure . even with the blind basket shot. Do you think the pump may be weak or the guage is not reading correctly? many thanks
Best guess is that the machine has scale build-up. Not likely the pump, and not likely gauge error (I have another video on how you can verify the pressure) - both would likely fail completely. You could tear the machine down and descale - very time consuming but low cost.
@@322816 hi thanks for reply. It turned out to be the two way valve letting by at the same time as extracting.
Hi Joe, very helpful video. Using this video I've been trying to diagnose an issue with my Breville machine: when I start the pump I get water (from the solenoid valve) going into the drip tray at the same time as through the grouphead. This happens regardless of if there is or isn't a portafilter in the group head. Hope you can help with this. I think either the internal seals of the solenoid valve have gone or the solenoid coil itself needs replacing.
Could also be the OPV. Check it too.
Hey
I have no hot water coming from the machine also no steam
If I brew I shut I get it cold
What do you think is the problem?
Thx
Dude! Thanks for the video! We owe you a beer, I mean, a brew!
Clever!
Hello Joe K. I have the Breville Oracle BES980XL. I have issues with it, the boiler on the brew side is not filling up, I am assuming I have issues with the coffee pump and possibly the Solenoid. I have not been able to find parts for the machine and have looked all over online. Any suggestions or do you know where they can be found? I have looked at most the online replacement parts store and they say the parts are no longer manufactured. I called Breville and they said they don't manufacture the parts or sell them but can service them.
I am considering adjusting the OPV as you show here, but not sure if that is the problem.
Hi Joe,. Thank you for your well done video. I have Breville 870. No water coming out from all sources. I have exchanged the water pump. Problem still there. I can here the pump but no water coming out. Can you lead me in the right direction? Thank you in advance.
I have a new BES 920XL (BDB), 2 months old, have never been able to get the pressure up when making a cup (max I can get to is 8-8.5), with a blank disc I'm at 9-9.5 bar pressure. Breville has been awful with customer service response, waiting weeks in between even after sending the video. Should I adjust the OPV so that it hits 10 bar pressure with blank disc?
Most probably just an OPV adjustment needed. It should be hitting 10 or 11 bar with a blank filter basket.
@@322816 ah thank you! And also, do you have a video showing how to undo the top? I can't find any information on that, found 1 walk through but they don't show the 2 screws I need to undo with the Philips head. I got the 2 removed on the back that are torque screws but I'm still apparently missing another set somewhere to pop the top off (any additional advice is welcomed!). I've located the 2 screws by the group head but can't for the life of me get them out! I'm not even sure I'm reaching them with my long screwdriver. I don't know how tight they have those screws up there but I can't get them to budge - using a 1x4 Philips, also tried a 0x3
My bar pressure goes way over 13 every time! Im going to try and adjust the opv. I hope it works
Now I am wondering which way that steam seal goes in ?
Hey mate, thanks for the video! I've replaced the Solenoid and adjusted the pressure as per your instructions and although it's much much better (before it was barely pushing out water) I'm still unable to get any more than max 8 on the pressure, I've tightened the pressure valve as far as it can go and still nothing (released a touch to avoid it being too tight) I've also messed with the software pressure settings, is there anything you can suggest to get the perfect 10 to 11?
Thanks!!
Ally.
I've read on relevant forums that adjustments to the OPV only go so far. After a couple of times tightening, people seem to need to just replace the OPV. If replacing, there are also blog posts out there about replacing them with a more robust brass version, which requires a couple of minor tweaks to get working, but results in a much more reliable outcome.
I am also considering replacing solenoid, pump and OPV, but not sure what is the weak link.
The problem can be corrected if DC voltage is applied to the control of the valve electric coil instead of alternating voltage ... Install a diode bridge.
Thanks for the video. I have a question and I hope you can help. I have a fairly new oracle touch and whenever I make a shot I get only about 1/4 of the coffee I should be getting. Water leaks out of the hot water spout and also out of the front metal panel on the side. Do you have any idea what could be the issue? Can there be something broken, that, when under pressure starts to release water? Thank you!
Thanks joe for the video, may I know if overheating even after power off for long time has to do anything with valve?
Harish Kulkarni Hi have you got your problem fixed? I ran into the same problem - the boiler on the steaming wand side would heat up on its own even when power off i'd have to remove unplug from the power socket to stop it from heating. Wonder what the problem is and how to fix?
@@myfolder4561 hi there, nope its something that I gave up on this brand, I was been told by service center to either change the thermostat or PID sensor which controls the pressure and boiler temperature, it may fix may not since its already discontinued model wasn't worth investing energy, time and money. I am happy with my delonghi and won't recommend anyone for Breville
Harish Kulkarni Sorry to hear that. I'm afraid i'll have to go down that route too. The power problem isn't just a hassle but is a real safety issue...
@@myfolder4561 yeah, I recall that I wasn't able to make more than a cup of espresso due to heating issues, I had no choice waiting for 45 min to an hour to get the machine in normal, the parts are expensive and product is discontinued so won't encourage to repair, better a new one or anything has current production coffee maker.
Do you have the 900 or 920
That rubber tube is sticky like a wacky wall crawler on mine. Is this normal
Just opened mine up and have the same gunk on my tube too. Looking how to clean it now
Thanks so much for this
Joe I have this machine and the temperature is not reaching 93 degrees it stuck around 66-67 degrees!!! Any idea mate?
I will probably do this soon! I have a channel with a lot of Barista Express videos
Hi Joe, really helpful. Thanks. Do you know where I can get the gaskets for the solenoid from? I bought a new solenoid but it didn’t come with the gaskets 😏. I have found a supplier in Australia who charge only £6 for the gaskets, but £47 postage to UK!!
What I understand if I turn it clock wise will increase pressure
That's right?
Correct
My dual boiler hasn’t been reaching temperature! It only gets up to 160-177. I tried emptying through the descale valves, replaced the big and little o rings. I can open the steam valve at 160 and get that working. But no luck getting to 200. Have you had this issue before?
I haven't run into this problem but I've heard others mentioning it. Must either be one of the temp sensors in the boiler or the controller board. Keep searching - good luck.
I have a BES820 is the part called a magnetic valve? Or where could I get this solenoid part I’m not finding it for the 820
Thank you for this great video. I do have an issue with the water dispenser, that little water gets out and also the amount of the espresso is less than the regular. Do you think that I should replace the valve??
It's likely either that you solenoid value needs replacing or your machine is badly scaled. It may also be that you're losing pressure from an internal leak -
taking the cover off and inspecting the boiler connections is a good start. Replacing the solenoid valve is easy and fairly inexpensive so I'd do that if you don't have a leak. Good luck.
Thank you so much
Hey mate im having an issue where it wont reach temperature it hits about 80c after an hr and wont go any higher than that any ideas? cheers
Hi have a Breville BES920XL I did it descale the other day and now it won't steam anymore it just beeps three times worked perfect till I descaled.
I'm not familiar with the 920 but the three beeps seems like an error message. Best bet is to contact Breville support.
Thank legend.👌
what happens if I adjust the opv on the steam boiler pump, will I get more steam??
The OPV sets the max pressure achievable in the steam boiler so increasing the OPV set point will allow more pressure in the boiler and thus create more power steam. However if you take it too far you can damage your steam boiler so it's important to use the plug in your portafilter to check your max pressure after you make an adjustment. I would not adjust it above 11 bar.
Thank you for the video- I have a BE980, and have a leak from the steam boiler tube to the brew boiler.
I have been able to remove the one at the brew- but can’t seem to get the one out of the steam boiler.
I found a leak - and can’t remove- what would you suggest?
It is likely stuck due to scaling. Saturate the connection in descaling solution, over and over, as necessary until you get some movement. If you pull too hard you could break the hose or hose-fitting joint. You may have to let it soak in for an hour or two.
Joe K cheers joe .. appreciate it
Joe K .. one stubborn part to take out.
Any other suggestions? Thank you
Hi Joe, thanks for putting together these informative videos.
I have a 5 years old BES900. Since last month the pressure is only reaching 3, and it takes ages (30sec plus before it even picks up pressure at all).
Did the solenoid test with blind basket and it can reach 11.5 before turn off and water flushed (no trickling water beforehand).
I have opened and replace with new pump, there was a leak on the pump area (pump housing was rusted).
However it doesn't solve the pressure issue at all. It still is super weak pressure.
I also tried adjusting the pressure on the OPV, but also no effect.
Before re-assembling I kept an eye on the OPV unit to ensure that there are no further leakage.
After 2-3 shots I also experienced flashing 93 on the LED as well.
What else could be the issue? Do I need to replace the OPV? Solenoid? Rubber gasket/group head ring (not leaking).
Thanks
If I understand correctly, with a blind basket you can achieve 11.5bar? Does it come up to that pressure in a normal amount of time (within a few seconds after pre-infusion is finished)?
@@322816 Hi Joe, it takes about 30sec+ before it actually reach the 11.5bar with blind basket.
@@jeffmimery2627 Not likely a pump or OPV problem then. I suspect you have a flow restriction most likely due to scale buildup. Have you done a full descale? (I have a video on how to do it). I'd start there and remove every hose for cleaning and inspection. The whole process is easier than a pump replacement (commend you for that task!) but time consuming. Failing that, I wouldn't put any more $ into the Breville machine. Look for an used ECM/Profitec/Rocket Hx or dual boiler machine - with a good descaling they work like new. Good luck.
@@322816 Thanks Joe. Yep have bought descaler will try that now. Strange how it's very sudden drop, I would have thought that it will be a gradual pressure loss over time. Looking at Rocket Glotto at the moment as well. Thanks for the help mate.
@@322816 Just finished the descale, lots of brown gunk. However, I noticed that even without any head water barely trickles down. Like probably only 10-15ml after 1 minute. Have you experienced this kind of issue before?
The large port right in the middle of the steam boiler (with the clear tubing and spring inside) proceeds to purge all the steam as the unit heats up, leaving me at 189 with what seems like all the steam pressure coming out of the drip tray. Advice on what is causing all this pressure to purge?
Best guess - that hose is the vacuum relief valve that purges air while the machine is heating up and stops (closes) at a set temperature (well below the final steam boiler temp), your vacuum valve may be stuck up (likely due to scale). That said, I haven't had to touch that on a Breville machine and since I don't see a high-limit pressure relief valve, it may also be integrated into the vacuum relief (i.e. 2-in-1). Those valves are usually screwed in very tight with sealant - probably won't be easy to remove. I would start by pulling the hose off and descalling that valve several times (apply descaler, let sit for an hour, clean-up, repeat). Good luck.
What size o-rings does this take?
Hi joe,
Have you done any trouble shooting for the steam wand before. My steam wand stopped working it just peeps now?
have you tried poking a pin up the three vents on the tip of the wand, it may be backed up with milk residue etc.
Do you know the diameter of the Silicone tubing that goes from solenoid valve down to the driptray? I cannot find information online anywhere.
Hi Joe! Hope you can help me. My Dual Boiler's doing some strange noise and am not sure if it's the solenoid. Where can I send you the video? Thanks.
Hey Joe, I have a Barista Express that needs it's solenoid valve replaced. I can't find a video on my exact model, but wondering if you happen to know how different the Barista Express might be from your model? Hoping to use your video as a guide to repair my Breville machine.....
Sorry, can't help since I've never worked on a Barista Express. Keep searching, someone will have info on how to do it.
I've got a Breville Oracle BES980XL ... the 'americano solenoid' has a cracked armature shaft and is leaking into my machine. I'm having trouble sourcing a new one; can anyone advise where I might have some luck?
Thanks again Joe. Video was really helpful putting it in - just totally forgot to mark the probes in the steam boiler. I know the BLACK cabled probe is a long one (as I had to replace due to rust), but wondered if you knew whether the BLUE or RED cable is the short probe?
I don't recall but the diagram on ereplacementparts shows the short probe in the middle. Not something you want to get wrong though or you risk overheating your boiler.
The red cable goes to the short probe.
Hi Joe, great video bud. I've lost all pressure. I wound the opv all the way in and still no joy so I take it that would mean a new solenoid?
That's a good place to start - really small orifices in that valve. You could remove it and do a teardown and full cleaning of it...there's not much to those solenoid valves.
Can anyone tell me what could have gone wrong with my Breville Espresso Machine model BES870XL? First it started an d making a loud humming and buzzing noises. After few days the whole machine just shut off and the power does not come on at all now. Thank you! Hassan
Hey Joe. On the Soleniod Valve replacement, I wondered if you used the Gasket Kit? It looks like you have the different one. I just bought a replacement soleniond and gasket kit. I'm not sure which is better, the silicome looking one-piece gasket kit, or the two small original gasket washers? Don't know if one is newer than the other and now recomended by Breville? Any thoughts?
I believe the larger one-piece gasket is the older style and the two round gaskets (shown in my video) are newer.
Hello Joe first the water. return to the pain so I replaced the solenoid all the wires correct places But now, worst.. no pressure at all Any ideas? Thanks
Try the old solenoid valve to determine if the new solenoid valve is the problem.
Hi Joe, thanks for the helpful video. I have replaced the solenoid valve as per your video with a new e-replacement spare and the temp heats up to the set point as normal. However when I press any of the 3 right hand buttons to start a brew; the pressure remains at zero and no water shows. There is a high pitched noise like a motor jamming when the buttons are pressed. What do you reckon? Charlie
Check if it's a pump problem by dispensing water through the hot water spout. If the pump runs properly then I'd try installing the old solenoid valve to determine if the new valve is the problem. If the problem persists with the old valve too then it could be a blockage in one of the lines.
Joe K Joe K Hi Joe, thanks for the diagnosis. I think it’s the pump based on what you wrote earlier as there is zero noise from the pump and a healthy click from the new solenoid valve. Just to double check before I order a new pump, should I be ordering the coffee pump (closest to the water reservoir) if there is nothing happening when I push any of the buttons for a coffee? (Part no. 06-19 on ereplacementparts.com)
When you open the hot water valve do you get water (not the buttons but rather the valve on the left side of the machine)? It will have to run the brew pump to dispense hot water, if that works then it's not the brew pump.
Joe K Hi Joe, I’ve replaced the pump and that’s solved one problem (thanks). I can now make a cup but the pressure only hovers around 3bar. I’ve adjusted the OPV in as much as possible still to no avail. Is there any other knack to increasing pressure? I’ve checked thoroughly for leaks and found nothing. Really stumped on this one!
Based on thesecomments I have same problem. No water dispense with hot water knob open. Machine makes Clanking noise.
Can you explain why you wouldnt want your pressure to be at 9?
You want the max pressure to be between 10 & 11 bar that way you know that the coffee is creating the backpressure at 9 bar rather than the pump maxing out. Also, some beans extract better above 9 bar. Most commercial-grade machines (like my Profitec 700) have OPV set at 11 - 12 bar, and I routinely extract my Salt Spring Blue Heron at 10 bar.
Hi. Even though I adjust the OPV to keep gauge between 9/10 bars while brewing, I lose pressure over time. (Using the cleaning gasket I adjust the OPV to 11). I replaced the solenoid 2 years ago. I have no leaks. Wondering if it could be the pump. I have looked for a replacement and cannot find one. All sites including the 2 you suggest show "out of stock". Thanks. Any suggestions appreciated. I have descaled both boilers several times over the years. Robert
When you say you lose pressure over time do you mean during the shot, or after multiple shots the pressure no longer hits 9/10 bars? If it's during the shot, what are your starting/ending pressures? The pump is available on ebay, it's a ULKA EF Type EFP5 (double check yours before buying) but you'll have to remove/reinstall your thermostat since the replacement ULKA pumps don't come with them (when Breville sold it it came as an assembly with the thermostat installed). Watch Stephen Laird's BES900 pump replacement video - it's pretty straight forward.
Thanks Joe. Lose pressure over time means after adjusting the OPV, I get several weeks of 9/9.5 bar shots then pressure begins to drop again. Specifically, shot starts at 9 bars then slips to 6.5 or 7 by end of shot. Duration of shot also increases to 40/50 seconds to produce 1 to 2 ounces.
The coffee and grind has not changed for years which is why I dont look at the coffee/ground being the culprit, but I am open to anything! :-)
Are you able to source just those lower seals from somewhere?
Check ereplacementparts.com
@@322816 sadly almost all breville parts are usually NLA from them
Hey Joe (not a Hendrix reference, but still an all-time favorite) - I doubt after so many years you'll see this however I am going to ask anyway. I have had 3 BES 920XLs (it is my current machine) of differing lot numbers and each, including my "newish" replacement has what I call the post-nasal drip problem and I wondered what it could be? Literally each one, after about 6 months, started a running drip/thin stream out of the hot water spout during extraction. It doesn't matter what pressure I extract at, how much I fiddle with the OPA, descaled, how hard I crank the hot water knob, phase of the moon...they all have done it, and once they start they never stop. It's mostly annoying as I know it negatively affects the brew pressure....but I can still pull a decent shot from it. I have sent the first 2 back in for service and each time they came back, a few months later, same thing...leaking from the hot water spout during under-pressure extraction. I actually found the VP of customer service email and tracked him down, ultimately resulting in being given a brand new replacement. ~6 months later....same thing. I am on well water and it's pretty darn hard but use a salt-water softener and filter that out before it goes into the machine. Thoughts?
It's super common for steam wands to leak after time, less common for the hot water nozzle to leak. I would say it's simply the oring(s) on the hot water valve that are wearing out, but not that quickly or consistently...best bet is that it's related to scale buildup. No espresso machine fairs well with hard water. I'd get a TDS meter and check your water to ensure your softener/filter is actually working.
@@322816 Thank you for the reply! After watching your video a few times I opened it up and noticed right away everything was wet = the seal for the hose from steam boiler to the hot water valve is leaking and....engulfing the inside with steam....so that's definitely an issue. Trying to find parts for this thing has been frustrating - can't find OEM parts for the tef lines or o-rings = gambling on eBay and paying wholelattelove $10 to ship a tiny part in hopes it works. I took the line off, flipped the o-ring and reattached to see if it would work = nope. I have tested my water in multiple ways (Breville test strips, a home tester, and actual lab testing) and all 3 confirm that post filtering, the water is actually too soft, though I'll take that over too hard. Appreciate the suggestion though and again, thank you so much for responding.
@@jeffreywall5316 Breville only sells parts to their repair depots so you're stuck with searching online parts stores. I had success with finding Breville parts at ereplacementparts.com Truly the best advice I can offer is to offload your Breville and move up to an e61 from a reputable brand. Profitec/ECM are a dream to use and service, there are other good brands too.
@@322816 I did check ereplacement however nearly everything they have for the 920XL isn't carried anymore and won't be. I refuse to pay $350 again because I literally got no benefit from it last time = either I fix it myself or I am donating it to a friend. I was just dreaming about the ECM Technika V Profi PID. I have limited counter real estate and like the option of reservoir if I need it. Been wanting an E61 for the longest time and wanting to get away from vibratory pumps and back to a heat exchanger. ECM's stainless steel boilers probably a better/best choice for me on hard well water (but would plan on an in-line filter to replace my current setup) I have tools that are 20+ years old and still in perfect working order = I like investing in platforms that are going to be serviceable for a long time because I take care of my tools....
I have replaced the double basket and seal in the head with no improvement. When I insert the cleaning plastic seal, the pressure jumps to 9 bar.
Hello, I have this coffee machine and when I turn on the machine, it says Error2 on the display and does not respond to anything. Where to look for the error please? Thank you very much. Have a nice day.
Search for it on Home-Barista.com in the Breville Dual Boiler Mods and Maintenance forum.
@@322816 Thank You.
Hi Joe, I've got a BES920 having been used for 4 months. Recently, the pump is sort of failed to pump water. It was pumping only for the first few seconds then it started to make clicking sounds as if it was blocked of any scale or debris. After the pump was confirmed block free, I tested the electric supply to the pump and found out the pump is supplied with only 50 to 60V when it was supposed to be 220-240V. Are you able to shed some light as to why this has been caused? Could it be the whole main board that causes the issue? Looking forward to your reply.
Thanks
Can't help on this issue other than suggesting that you make certain it's the pump and not the solenoid valve which is known to make a clicking sound when it begins to fail. If it's the main board it will be difficult to troubleshot with the schematic - if you're still under warranty I'd go that route. Good luck.
Finally got the main board replaced. Everything works great now
Thanks. Great video. My screws snapped off while removing valve. Is it worth replacing the part UNDER the valve, where the severed screws remain?
I wouldn't replace it if you can get vise-grips on the broken screws to remove them. Remove the brew boiler if that helps with access - it's just three screws. If you can't remove the screws then you're in a tough spot. If you already have the new solenoid valve then you could try it with just 2 of 4 screws (if your broken screws are on opposite corners) and see if you're leak-free. If you're into buying more replacement parts you may want to consider investing in a different machine. The Breville's are not built to last. If you get 7-8 years of steady use out of it then you're doing well. I have a Profitec 700 now. Performance is only slightly better (more consistent) but the quality and easy of service is 10x better, well worth the extra cost for me since I use it daily.
My pressure, goes to 10bar, 15 seconds into pouring, it drops to 3 bar and no more coffee? It's a BES 920...What could it be?
where are you buying parts??
I found everything I needed at ereplacementparts.com but that was a few years ago so I'm not sure if they still stock them.
Hi Joe,
I have a 920 that Breville sent as a replacement for my trusty 900.
This machine produces 9 bars at the start of the brew, but then pressure starts to fluctuate dropping to 4-5 bars after a few seconds. I sent Breville a video, and they said that if the machine achieved 7 bars this is adequate and not to worry! Much different pressure profile than my 90.
If I use the backflush insert, machine achieves 9 bars and stays there.
Any ideas?
Dan
Your machine is working properly but the OPV is set low. It's normal for the pressure to drop slightly (1-2 bar) during extraction because the pressure is reduced when the water (espresso) finds its way out through the grinds. Therefore, to achieve extraction at 9 bar OPVs are usually set at 10-11 bar. The last time I adjusted mine (because it was low) it only lasted 11 months before it had to be adjusted again (again because it was low). It's an easy adjustment just be careful with the wires when you remove the top cover and be gently when removing the plastic locking clip and hose from the OPV.
Joe K Thanks a lot! I did adjust the OPV on my 900 when I first purchased it, so I am familiar with the process. I will give it a try, but I think a new Rocket R9 one may be in my future!
Thanks for this video.
I'm having issues with my Breville too...
I tried about every combination of every settings possible, I can't get a good coffee.
I tried a lot of different beans, from freshly roasted in local stores to industrial beans.
When setting my machine to have the best result possible (in taste), it flows way too fast, the pressure is very high, and the taste is still not very good.
If I grind the beans finer to make it flow at a "normal" rate, the taste, the espresso LOOKS wonderful, but the taste is just terrible.
Now the only thing I can try, is to set the OPV to have less pressure, as shown in your video. If it doesn't work, I think I will sell this espresso machine... I'm disappointed to have a bad espresso on an expensive coffee machine. I know this is probably not considered as a "good" machine by some espresso enthusiasts, but I think that for at least 5x the price of an entry level machine, we should be able to get good results, otherwise it's a scam.
My Breville is gone and replaced with a Profitec 700 at 3x the price but it was worth every penny. You can get good shots out of the Breville but it is much less consistent than a high-end machine (which leads to frustration). Been using the Profitec for over a year and not a single complaint. Food for thought...
Hi Joe, I have the same machine, my problem is that I find water leaking from somewhere under as soon as i fill water in the reservoir. What could possibly be wrong.
Could be as simple as a cracked reservoir, but it's more likely leaking from one of the boilers. Fill the water reservoir but don't turn on the machine - if it leaks then it's the reservoir itself or the reservoir connection. If it doesn't start leaking until you turn on the machine then it's a high pressure line to/from a boiler. I have another video that explains the boiler connections which might be helpful. Good luck.
Hey Joe. This is so informative - thank you! I found a company in Aus that sends the Solenoid, but do you know where I might be able to source an O-ring for the Steam Probe? This has gone on mine and they seem impossible to find!
Thanks. Try ereplacementparts.com for the o-rings, failing that you can try to find an equivalent from McMaster-Carr.
Thanks @@322816! Tried them sadly, as like all the others, they seem to be on backorder. Though I did manage to find a few from a CA company. Thanks again - looking forward to trying this based on your video.
My line that come out of my solenoid valve appears to be corroding. when you touch it, it is very sticky, and what sticks to your hands does not wash off. Is this something I should replace, and if so, with what exactly?
That's perfectly normal. It's not corroded, it's saturated with coffee residue (coffee bean oil is very sticky). After each shot the valve relieves the brew pressure through that hose and all the coffee that's sitting on top of the puck is sucked back through that hose into the drip tray. This is also where the water goes during the backflushing process. All machines do this, if they didn't you get a loud pop and spray of coffee every time you remove the portafilter after brewing.
Mine has the same issue. A honey like substance on the outside of the tube. I cleaned it off with Alcohol, but it has to be leaching from the hose material itself, because it's not anywhere else in the machine. I asked Breville about it, and sent them pictures, but they ignored me.
Hi Joe
I have the BES 920, cant get it to run throught the descale program, gets stuck on Valve, after I empty boilers, it thinks it still has water in boilers, and will not go any further, I then manually empty and refill a few times, would you have any sugestions.
Kind Regards
John
I've never worked on a BES920 but you could try manually descaling (like a BES900). See my BES900 descaling video. Good luck.
Joe K Hi Joe, thanks for getting back to me, thevBES920 has drain screws for the boiler, so I have been letting the machine fill the boilers with de scale solution then emptying it with the screws then filling with fresh water a few times to flush out descale solution. I think this is about the same as doing it your way. Thank you for getting back to me.
Kind Regards
John
No problem. Keep in mind that you can always do the taste-test method of determining if you still have descaling solution left in your boilers. It's usually just a strong citric acid. With the machine on, purge water through the brew head and steam wand into a cup and taste it for remnants of the descale solution. You'll be able to taste the acid in even a very diluted scaling/water solution.
I had this very same problem. What I did was take my shopvac, and sucked water out of each boiler by pulling of the feed that allowed pressure to go between the two boilers. Nothing else worked, but this did, and it brought my machine back from the dead.
Hi, I have a machine that I want to repair. So far I replaced 2 o-rings that were leaking when I started the machine. Now I get to 200F so I can start the brewing process but no water comes out. When I press manual, all the water go in the over flow line thru the overpressure valve. No bar is showing on the display. Pumps seem to be working fine. I also get hot water from the dispenser and the steam wand. Could it be the solenoid valve? Is there a way to test it? Thank you
It doesn't make sense.The hose with a squeeze type spring clamp is the discharge return hose back to the reservoir tank, I believe, not from the supply section of the tank.
Hello Joe and thank you for the great and informative video. Before I go online and purchase the solenoid valve, I hope to check with you to see if that's what the problem is on my machine. It has been working great for 6 years now and yesterday, I performed a system clean as the LED "clean" light came on. After that now the machine just brews on maximum pressure and no water comes out of the filter. I do hear an unusual noise by where the brew buttons are. I'm suspecting it's the OPV valve gone bad based from watching your video but wanted to ask if you have seen an over pressure problem before? Thank you.
Actually. I solved the problem. It turned out I forgot to remove the black rubber insert after the cleaning process. Geeze, I feel a nut. LOL.
Not likely the OPV. Sounds like you have a blockage. The pump and OPV are working since you're getting pressure reading on your gauge. I suspect either a blocked line or a blockage in the solenoid valve. Before you buy anything try removing the solenoid valve, clean all internal parts and re-assemble.
@@322816 my machine usually produces way too much pressure in general and then this morning, my portafilter came off loose while brewing and created a complete mess. After that, I hear a funny - almost like a rattle noise when the pressure guage needle hits the maximum pressure. Also the needle goes quite shaky. Do you assume it might be an obstruction in the solenoid ???
From where I can get it??
I bought from ereplacementparts.com but I'm not sure if they still sell them. Keep Goggling and checkout the replies on comments to my vids as folks have found parts via ebay and other sources. Good luck.
Great video! Where to buy the parts? I'm in Australia and the Solenoid Valve costs A$140 + postage from a parts warehouse... I'd be better off taking it in to get serviced but I'd like to do it myself.
I bought everything from ereplacementparts.
Thanks for the videos about the BES900XL. I have one too. I have low pressure (3 bar) on brewing. Can I have a conversation?
If I understand correctly - you are achieving 9 Bars when you plug the filter basket, but only 3 Bars when you're extracting a shot. In this case, the problem is the coffee. I also suspect that you're extracting 2oz in much less than 25-20 seconds? If so, you are either not grinding fine enough (the most likely problem) or you're not putting a full 18 grams in the double filter. Get a digital scale and confirm that you're filling the double filter basket to 18 grams. If that still doesn't get you to at least 8 Bars while extracting then adjust your grind finer and finer until you hit at least 8 Bars during extraction and it takes 25-20sec to produce 2oz of espresso (start counting as soon as you see the first drops come out of the spout). What grinder are you using?
Assuming you adjust your grind and achieve 8 Bars during extraction, then you might want to consider adjusting your OPV so that you can achieve 10-11 Bars when you plug the filter basket. As your machine is currently set (maxed out at 9 BARs when plugging the filter basket) you will not be able to achieve 9 Bars during extraction (at best you'll get to about 8 Bars). Don't mess around with the OPV until you've solved the bigger problem of only getting 3 Bars during extraction.
Would love to see a video on the pump replacement
Hi Joe, great video. Did you get your parts from Breville or are they generically available?
Breville doesn't sell parts directly to consumers. I bought everything I needed from ereplacementparts.com
Thx I try there and they are discontinued thx all the same
Thank you for the video! I'm wondering where you purchase your parts from, as I'm having a hard time finding a replacement solenoid.
I found all the replacement parts I needed at ereplacementparts.com and forumappliances.com
The valve is factory backorder with no date available, both sites
The solenoid valve that I can see there and in you clip is for the BES860XL. I have the BES860. Do you think it still works?
You can find them on eBay. See link here:
rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5575365330&toolid=10001&campid=5338246973&customid=&mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F184010084994
Where do you purchase the solenoid valve? Do you sell parts for Breville machines? I contacted Breville but they refused to sell me the solenoid valve and the pump. They asked to ship the machine to them for repair.
I’m hoping you can help.
I purchased the valve from ereplacementparts.com back in Dec 2017.You could try cleaning it if you're not able to buy new anymore. You could also clean/rebuild the pump but I think that model of ULKA (EFP5) is fairly common.
Joe K thank you Joe.
I tried eReplacement and they no longer have it in stock. I’ll try cleaning the valve. It’s hard to find internal parts for Breville machines.
Where are you buying the solenoid valve ? I called brevilled and they will not sell it, they require servicing of the machine for $500!
I can send you my issue with my breville