My 5 year-old Syncrony Logic stopped working for the first time today. The water would not flow, not through the steamer, not through the brew group. I had previously thoroughly cleaned the brew group screens, steamer wand, water dispenser filter, etc. Still no water flow. I could hear the pump working but no flow.
I only use distilled water in the unit, so I've never had a scale problem (distilled water has no minerals, thus nothing to create scale). After downloading a parts schematic from
here, I dug into the case. By the way, I suggest you don't proceed unless you have at least some mechanical ability and are not afraid to break something in the process. Be sure to unplug from the wall first, unless you really like electricity A LOT.
After removing the drip tray, grinds bin, water tub, and coffee hopper, I removed the gray top. To do this: from the top remove 2 screws under the water tub, 2 screw under the coffee hopper. And from below the control panel: 4 screws from the under-side along the front and behind the brew group cover. Once the screws are out lift the cover at the back and pivot off the front.
2 things are attached to this cover: the power switch and water hose. The power switch easily slides off the top cover. The water hose runs from the water dispenser fitting and into a little white gizmo with another hose running out of it and into the pump. The little gizmo is a flow meter that ensures water is flowing. Remove the hose from the tank and flow meter in order to clean it.
The top of this flow meter easily comes off by slightly twisting the top counter-clockwise about 10 degrees, lining up 3 tabs with slots and lifting it off. Its a little snug coming off due to an o-ring seal. You'll see the little turbine wheel inside. In the top is the input and output ports in the flow meter turbine chamber.
The input opening into the flow meter turbine is TINY. It was clogged with a bit of gooey fluff. I poked it out with a small pipe-cleaner, then made sure the hose from the tank was clean, and the opening into the turbine was gunk-free.
After I put it all back together it ran like a champ again. I love this espresso maker. First problem in 5 years of flawless operation.
Bill
