Can't get expobar office lever to start pumping water into boiler

Descale the boiler with citric acid.

1. Turn off the machine and let it get cool
2. Dissolve about a tablespoon of citric acid in the water reservoir.
3. Turn on the machine and then pump about a cup of solution out of the boiler vent using the hot water switch.
4. Turn off the switch. Close the vent
5. Let the boiler heat up for about 5 minutes.
6. Shut off the machine. Let the acid work for about 30 minutes.
7. Check the level in the reservoir.
8. Turn on the machine and then pump about a cup of solution out of the grouphead using the brew switch.
9. Turn off the brew switch.
10. Repeat steps 5,6, 7, 8, and 9 until the water runs clear.
11. Wash out the reservoir.
12. Turn the machine on. Pump a full reservoir water out the grouphead using the brew switch.
13. Refill the reservoir.
14. Have some coffee

Hi
If its pumping water its not the thermal fuse. Its probably the heating element. If it starts to build pressure but stops, its your vacuum breaker. It could also be your CPU is bad. Need a little more information to get a better handle on it.

My cheater method involves a lint free cotton sock. Cover cycle with plastic and old towel to protect the paint and plastic.Remove the master reservoir cover and carefully put the sock into the reservoir to soak up all the fluid (Be Careful not to pump the lever at all or air will get into the master). Remove the sock full of fluid and dispose of properly. Refill the reservoir with DOT 3/4 brake fluid. Put a small clear tube on to the slave cylinder bleeder nipple and place the other end in a pan or container. Now loosen the nipple and pump the old fluid out of the system till you see new clean fluid and retighten the nipple. Be careful not to run the reservoir out of fluid (top up as needed) or you will have to start all over). If you do not have pressure at the master cylinder you can bleed the master by loosening the banjo bolt holding the brake hose on and pumping the lever once or twice till the air is out and the unit is pushing fluid. Now bleed the system at the slave cylinder nipple.

barista.com/levers/wiring-pressurestat-and-gicar-on-gaggia-gx-lever-t15976.html">http://www.home-barista.com/levers/wiring-pressurestat-and-gicar-on-gaggia-gx-lever-t15976.html

Please follow the instruction in this page.

Most likely you have developed a leak where the pump joins with the boiler. If you put descale chemicals in the reservoir then they may have been baked into the boiler and the backpressure has either ruptured or unseated the tube that leads into the boiler.

This is not a repair for amateurs.

Graham Leach

Many posibilities for your problem. The two main posibilities are:
1. The boiler water level sensor it might be dirty or full of scale, need to be removed and cleaned.
2. The water in solenoid valve might be blocked from dirt or scale so must be cleaned

Water is not being drawn from reservoir into boiler. The valve at the base of the boiler seems to function properly. After repeated attempts, I am unable to prime pump and fill boiler with water.

Expansion valve, coffee grind might be too fine.

You will need a food grade, high temperature epoxy. Different types are available at the big hardware stores. Don't use low temp or non food grade, you could end up in the hospitel. Don't use any type of silicon.

There are a bunch of appliance parts websites that heve the sealant you need. Just look under Espresso Machine parts. The brand isn't critical.

You need to get the pump "primed" with water going through it.

If the machine is new or has not been used in a long time, the plastic feed tube(s) in the reservoir will be dry. You have to get the water to slowly creep up these tubes until it hits the pump inside, then the water/steam will come out the head and will keep coming out each time you use it until it dries out again.

I've had to re-prime my Via Veneto several times, and each time it seems like I'm doing it wrong and the machine is broken. But follow these steps and you'll get there.

1. Fill the reservoir with water and put the two tubes in it.
2. Turn on the boiler button (left-most of the two narrow ones)
3. Don't put the portafilter on, just leave the head bare.
4. Turn on the pump and let it run. Watch the water level in the plastic tubes. Understand that at this point, the pump is just pumping air, which it is not designed to do efficiently. As it pumps the air it slowly draws water up the tubes. Really slowly.
5. You can speed this up by putting a cup under the steam tube and opening the steam valve. This is while the brewing pump is still on. You will have hot water squirting out of the steam tube. You may see the water moving more quickly up the tubes.
6. The pump may have to run for several minutes. You'll get impatient and scared something is wrong, but just let it run. You'll see the water creep up the tube and go into the unit. Soon afterward pressurized water will start spraying out of the head.

Now, keep it primed for months by keeping water in the reservoir. If you use it only infrequently, run the pump and at least get some water moving every week or so.

I've tried silly things like holding the tubes upside down, trying to get water forced up into them, but in the end, just let the pump do the work and be patient.