Today, I'm announcing a new project that I received on January 20, 2024.
Roberts, from first look to last shot
Bruce Pappas rebuilt Emilia and Ryan’s 1982 La Pavoni Pro — a machine Emilia’s father brought home from Italy — and filmed the work as a numbered series spoken to them. Every Roberts video is on this page (#1 through #176). Tap a thumbnail to play it.
176 videos on one page, playlist order #1–#176
I started by opening the base to see what we had underneath this 1980's La Pavoni Pro.
Roberts video #3 - reposted in horizontal mode. 1st of 4 inspection videos today.
2nd of 4 inspection videos today. This one shows the portafilter & baskets.
Roberts video #5 - reposted in horizontal mode. 3rd of 4 inspection videos today.
4th of 4 inspection videos today. First firing up of the Roberts' LP.
While I was waiting for the machine to cool down, I removed the grouphead & steam valve shaft. This gave me the opportunity to inspect both.
1st of 2 inspection videos today. I removed the steam valve shaft in the previous video.
2nd of 2 inspection videos today.
1st of 2 inspection videos today. I removed the safety valve today to inspect it.
2nd of 2 inspection videos today. Removing the sight glass can be a pain, especially if you try to remove it without breaking it.
Oh, well. Some days, you take steps back.
Moving ahead with inspection videos.
1st of 2 videos today. Quick examination of the portafilter after an overnight soak in coffee detergent.
2nd of 2 videos today. I put everything back on the machine, so I could descale the boiler.
Evaluating the boiler & base. I want to make sure that the boiler is in good condition and also that the base can be salvaged.
1st of 3 videos today. Let's take a look inside the boiler while we're performing a descale of the boiler element.
2nd of 3 videos today. I top off the boiler with descaling solution.
3rd of 3 videos today. I examine the bottom of the inverted grouphead.
I come face-to-face with the prospect that we have a 220-volt European heating element.
I'm exploring ways of salvaging the base, given it's not in the best condition.
1st of 3 inspection videos today. Looking into the boiler after a full boiler descale.
2nd of 3 inspection videos today. Checking out the condition of the original 49mm double-spouted portafilter and its handle.
3rd of 3 inspection videos today. Inspection of the bottom of the grouphead, after the grouphead gasket has been removed.
I show how I plan to connect the machine to a 220v electrical breaker without changing the plug on the cord.
Now that we are certain that we have a 110v 1000w heating element, let's move on.
I remove the pressurestat. Has anyone seen one of this vintage?
I can't clean the pstat tube in place because it's seriously clogged, so it needs to be removed.
I have removed the steam wand, pressurestat, pstat tube, and fill tube. Now to clean the steam wand by hand.
While the pressurestat & pstat tube soak in descaling solution, I install a "test" pressure gauge from my inventory.
More descaling and more cleaning. Today, I unclog the pstat tube (finally) and continue descaling the pressurestat itself.
Big day today. I put the old pstat tube and old pressurestat back in the machine.
1st of 2 videos today. Waiting for the new parts to arrive from Tudor of Coffee Sensor, I take apart the old pressurestat to see how it works.
2nd of 2 videos today. Parts arrived from Romania from Tudor at Coffee Sensor.
I give an overview of the next steps to refurbing this machine. I remove the piston from an inverted grouphead.
Okay, now that we've established the scope of work, I take off the grouphead, safety valve & steam valve shaft (again).
I remove the sight glass (finally), which is the next step in stripping down the boiler.
I take out the piston shaft washer. Soak the grouphead.
I take off the pressurestat & pstat tube (again). And remove the electrical.
1st of 2 videos today. The boiler element has been stripped down.
2nd of 2 videos today. I put descale in the grouphead and soaked the piston in descale, both overnight.
Here are my first attempts to remove the boiler flange. Frankly, this step is typically easy, or at least, much easier than this.
I try everything I know to remove this stubborn boiler flange. Applying heat.
BONUS. VERY SHORT.
1st of 3 videos today. I explain the three threat penetrating solvents (links below) that I try on the boiler flange.
2nd of 3 videos today. We wait for the penetrating solvent to work on the boiler threads.
3rd of 3 videos today. We continue to wait for the penetrating solvent to work on the boiler threads.
1st of 2 videos today. I purchased a 1/2" pneumatic impact wrench (link below) to power Stefano's tool.
2nd of 2 videos today. Quick summary of ALL my failed attempts (to-date) to remove this stubborn boiler flange.
After sleeping on my failures over a few nights, I have this brainstorm that I can remove the boiler gaskets from the top and bottom of the base.
Can you believe this!?! Here's the plan.
1st of 2 videos today. The day has finally come.
2nd of 2 videos today. I'm this far, so I might as well go ahead and remove ALL the base to get better access to the flange.
This is the day. Kinda anticlimactic.
1st of 3 videos today. While I have the deconstructed base in front of me, I remove the original La Pavoni badge for use on the new base.
2nd of 3 videos today. Let's get back to the boiler.
3rd of 3 videos today. While I have the boiler out and most of the stuff hanging off of it off, I polish it.
1st of 2 videos today. Not glamorous, but necessary.
2nd of 2 videos today.
I start putting the boiler back together in prep for another descale, starting with the steam knob, shaft, & wand.
I install the new sightglass and gaskets. I layout what the parts I'm going to install.
I install the new pressure gauge.
I install the safety valve after cleaning parts. It's easy, but...
1st of 2 videos today. After using thread penetrant on the boiler flange, I need to clean/descale the boiler - AGAIN!
2nd of 2 videos today. With the new flange in hand, I explain why and how I drill & tap the new flange to accept ground screws.
With the new flange in hand, I drill & tap the new flange to accept ground screws.
Now that the flange is drilled & tapped for ground screws, let's move onto the element base.
Before drilling & tapping the element for a new thermal fuse, I clean it up.
I drill & tap the base element for the new thermal fuse (link below). Then I fit it.
In the last video, I realized that I need to locate the thermal fuse (link below) tight to the element base, so that it can sense when the boiler…
Last of series of drilling & tapping the element base. Four holes.
1st of 3 videos today. I review the gaskets that come in Tudor Coffee-Sensor kit for LP Professionals.
2nd of 3 videos today. Finally, let's start putting this machine back together.
3rd of 3 videos today. I test 3 different flanges on the boiler.
1st of 2 videos today. I slept overnight on the flange problem.
2nd of 2 videos today. Let's play a game.
1st of 4 videos today. Let's talk about how I intend to use the four holes that I've drilled & tapped in the boiler flange.
2nd of 4 videos today. I fix one of the problems with La Pavoni bases: rust on the underside through the years.
3rd of 4 videos today. The brass element base has a slot for inserting the gasket.
4th of 4 videos today. The retro 152° thermal fuse does not fit tight to the brass element base.
1st of 2 videos today. La Pavoni bases are notorious for loose bases that rotate over time.
2nd of 2 videos today. It's so much fun to finally attach the boiler to the base so that it won't rotate.
1st of 2 videos today. I fit the gasket to the brass element base.
2nd of 2 videos today. I align the pressurestat so that it's pointing in the right direction on the element base.
1st of 3 videos today. I install the pressurestat tube with Teflon tape (link below).
2nd of 3 videos today. I re-install the original heating element on the boiler.
3rd of 3 videos today. I wrap the pressurestat with Teflon tape (link below).
I install the new adjustable pressurestat. And the new thermal fuse with thermal paste (links below).
Finally, I start updating the electrical! This is a 110v machine for use in the USA.
I show how I make up electrical connections. Strip the wire.
I'm done (I think) with the wiring. I'm quite proud of this.
1st of 4 videos today. 30-seconds long.
2nd of 4 videos today. I install the shaft gasket, the brass washer with holes, and the large c-clip (retaining ring).
3rd of 4 videos today. I install the new silicone piston "V" gaskets.
4th of 4 videos today. I lube up the piston gaskets, rubbing Molykote silicone grease only on the outside of the piston gaskets.
1st of 4 videos today. I determine which portafilter gasket fits the 49mm Gen2 (PreMillennium) grouphead.
2nd of 4 videos today. I determine which of the two gaskets goes on the neck of the grouphead where it attaches to the boiler.
3rd of 4 videos today. I install the grouphead on the boiler.
4th of 4 videos today. I set the piston throw.
1st of 2 videos today. I clean & prep the lever.
2nd of 2 videos today.
I struggle to remove the boiler cap O-ring, if it could be called that. It's flat, hard, and stubborn.
The boiler cap where it meets the boiler is chipped and uneven. I file off the chipped area and smooth it down to expose the brass threaded insert.
I prep the steam wand. Secure the boiler cap.
I fire up the refurbished machine for the first time. All is going well until the light on the green power switch turns off.
I explore a few leaks: sightglass nuts, steam wand tip, and steam knob shaft, and under the base. We'll get to the bottom of these leaks soon...
1st of 2 videos today. I show the underbelly of the machine and how I solved the thermal fuse issue.
2nd of 2 videos today. I tighten the three screws attaching the heating element base to the boiler with a 5mm hex driver.
I pull the first test shot. It tastes pretty good for a first shot.
1st of 2 videos. I install the retainer spring in the portafilter to hold the basket in place.
2nd of 2 videos today. I snug up the steam assembly nut, as well as the sightglass nuts.
1st video of 2 today. The safety valve is still letting off steam and not closing when under pressure.
2nd video of 2 today. I re-install the steam wand and discuss its adjustment.
I show how to adjust the pressurestat (Ma-ter ECHO). I first turn the adjustment screw clockwise, which raises the pressure.
Probably the most awesome discovery of this project. I'm tired of all the NON-fixes for steam assembly leaks.
I examine the safety valve that won't close. I ream the safety valve assembly, using the same tool that I used for the steam assembly.
Roberts video 117. While I wait for the machine to come up to temperature, I reinstall the original La Pavoni black badge.
1st of 2 videos today. I explore safety valve springs.
2nd of 2 videos today. I discuss what I did with the steam wand.
I review the Bong Isolator parts.
I install the second grouphead screw to hold the thermometer bracket, the Bong Isolator, and the grouphead. I tighten the bolts.
1st of 2 videos today. First, I bring the boiler up to temperature and test the pressurestat, safety valve & steam assembly.
2nd of 2 videos today. I install the new safety valve mushroom/spring from Stefano (link below).
Roberts video #124 . I damaged the new OEM LP pressurestat when I tried to adjust it.
1st of 2 videos today. I discuss the performance of the new spring + mushroom safety valve.
2nd of 2 videos today. While I wait for the machine to cool down, I prep the new base cover.
I make up a cover for the extra electrical terminal on the pressurestat. Install it.
I prep the machine for a descale. First, I remove the piston and clean the shower screen.
1st of 3 videos today. I start the first part of my descale procedure (link below) with a good soak of the heating element, using sulfamic acid.
2nd of 3 videos today.
3rd of 3 videos today. After filling the boiler to the top, a leak appears at the top of the sightglass.
1st of 2 videos today.
2nd of 2 videos today.
1st of 3 videos today. I empty the boiler after it cools down.
2nd of 3 videos today. I turn the machine upside down to get rid of any lingering descale in the boiler.
3rd of 3 videos today. I test the pressurestat adjustment.
1st of 4 videos today. I adjust the new pstat down 1/4 turn.
2nd of 4 videos today. I rinse the boiler again, this time doing a cold flush.
3rd of 4 videos today. I tighten the sightglass nuts again, this time while the machine is cold.
4th of 4 videos today. I remove the base.
I lubricate the grouphead for the last time (I hope).
1st of 2 videos today. I perform a final machine flush.
2nd of 2 videos today. I have a leak from the top sightglass fitting.
I install a new sightglass & its parts in the right order this time. I'm starting to find the best way to do this, though I still struggle a bit.
Deep sigh. I discover that the top sightglass fitting is at a slight angle.
Awaiting the new safety glass, I examine several boiler caps and calculate what I need to do to drill a safety hole in the Roberts boiler cap.
1st of 4 videos today. Previously, I intentionally broke the bottom of the sight glass to get it out.
2nd of 4 videos today. I like this procedure of installing all sight glass parts BEFORE inserting the sight glass.
3rd of 4 videos today. A friend has a red mark on the back of the sight glass on his Olympus, so I thought I'd try it on a La Pavoni.
4th of 4 videos today. I install the pressure gauge on this machine for the last time (I hope).
I adjust the pstat down. Now it's topping off at 7.
1st of 3 videos today. Quick video to show how well the safety hole in the boiler cap works.
2nd of 3 videos today. I don't like the red line that I experimented with on the back of the LP sight glass.
3rd of 3 videos today. I have broken a second sight glass.
1st of 4 videos today. This is it!
2nd of 4 videos today. Stefano is making a new sight glass cover used on Gen1 and Gen2 machines (link below).
3rd of 4 videos today. I compare the old sight glass to a new one.
4th of 4 videos today. I install the old sight glass into the top & bottom holders, based on what I've learned and after I reamed out the top holder.
1st of 3 videos today. There is a sense of relief (again) in my voice.
2nd of 3 videos today. Before I close up the base, I apply dielectric grease (link below) to the exposed connections under the boiler.
3rd of 3 videos today. I examine the boiler & boiler element to determine if reconditioning is needed?
1st of 2 videos today. I install the base cover.
2nd of 2 videos today. Tudor's digital temp thermometer & bracket (links below) are great.
1st of 2 videos today. After an acid descale, it's best to recondition the boiler by performing an alkaline shock with baking soda.
2nd of 2 videos today.
1st of 3 videos today. I pull the 1st test shot.
2nd of 3 videos today. I pull a 2nd test shot.
3rd of 3 videos today. I pull a 3rd test shot.
1st of 4 videos today. I realize that I have not touched the drip tray.
2nd of 4 videos today. I also realize that the original power cord looks awful.
3rd of 4 videos today. One final job.
4th of 4 videos today. Now that the refurb is done, I need to decide which parts to throw away and which parts to return to Emilia.
1st of 2 videos today. I packed up the machine to send back to Emilia.
2nd of 2 videos today. I made a composite video of how to reassemble the machine once it's delivered.
LAST VIDEO IN THIS SERIES! Today is a big day.
The last video was supposed to be the last. Will I be getting this machine back for repair due to damage during shipment?