Group gasket for Gaggia Classic

the beer revolu

Anyone have any recommendations for where to get a gasket for my Classic.
I'm based in Cork so will need to purchase online - happy to support Irish business if price is reasonable.
Thanks in advance.

donnacha

Watermark.ie have a range of gaggia parts - they are based in Citywest, Dublin :

http://www.watermark.ie/proddetail.php?prod=GGS&Gaggia-Group-Seal-/-Gasket-For-Gaggia-Classic-&-New-Baby&cat=7

Might be worthwhile getting a replacement shower disc also while you are at it: http://www.watermark.ie/proddetail.php?prod=GSDCB&Gaggia-Shower-Disc&cat=7

Oh and if you don't have one already make sure you get a blind filter for backflushing:
http://www.watermark.ie/proddetail.php?prod=GSS2CFB&Gaggia-Stainless-Steel-Cleaning-Basket-/-Blind-filter&cat=7

Gran Hermano

Gaggia.ie/watermark.ie are showing it on their website:
http://www.watermark.ie/proddetail.php?prod=GGS&Gaggia-Group-Seal-/-Gasket-For-Gaggia-Classic-&-New-Baby&cat=7

I've used coffeehit.co.uk in the past for gaskets.
(shipping can be pricey so parcel motel via NI may make it more reasonable).

donnacha

p.s. some great videos online showing you how to replace:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO7ttCmXlx8

the beer revolu

Thanks for suggestions.
The shower screen seems fine - no blockages.
Is there a particular reason to replace it?

Gran Hermano

If you over tighten the screw when reassembling the machine you can damage the shower screen.
Some people find they need to replace the shower screen when replacing the gasket - may be more
the case if you have hard water. (Could always soak in cleaner).

Screen is pretty cheap so no harm in having a spare.

donnacha

the beer revolu wrote: »

Thanks for suggestions.
The shower screen seems fine - no blockages.
Is there a particular reason to replace it?

Probably not - I just remember the shower screen on my Silvia was terrible - mesh in parts and very easily got damaged - though the classic one seems a lot more solid. I tend to be a bit of a hoarder so like to have spares of everything.

Gran Hermano

Like Donnacha, when ordering from coffeehit I ordered several gaskets, screens and screws. It made sense when shipping was the highest cost.

PPC

I order mine from ebay normally, you can pick them up pretty cheap.

Coffeehit can be a bit expensive for delivery, but Parcel Motel might help to bring the cost down.
I used it to get some parts from http://www.espressoservices.co.uk/index.html and saved about 25 quid on delivery.

the beer revolu

Thank's for all the suggestions.
That video is very helpful (and comes up when you search Gaggia gasket).
I ended up getting the gasket from a local friendly coffee engineer for nout!:D
The difference in inserting the porta filter now is huge - no more brute force called for!!

I'm amazed at how long the original gasket lasted without too much bother - reckon it must be 7 years old!:eek:
I put it down to:

1 Moderate use - machine only used typically twice a day making a total of about 3 coffees.
2 I periodically remove the shower screen and shower holding plate and give a good clean.
3 As well as the above, for half the machine's life, I periodically back flushed the machine.
4 We never, ever, leave coffee grounds on the rim of the porta filter.
5 We always flush and wipe the group head after every coffee.

But, man, was that seven year old hard and brittle mother difficult to get out!! (possibly should have let the machine cool first:o)

Happy Classic again!