Gaggia Classic: stuck!

Clinker

Hi, I was cleaning my Gaggia Classic after having left it far too long. I was able to remove the shower plate, but the shower plate assembly underneath is firmly stuck. The first time I did it the assembly just dropped off once the Allen bolts which hole it were undone. I live in Dun Laoghaire and the water is very soft -- I get very little limescale in the kettle -- but I could see some limescale on the Alen bolts. Is that what's sticking it on? I haven't descaled in a very long time, as I thought it wasn't really necessary!

Any suggestions? I'd really like to get the filter plate assemble/rose assembly off so that I can replace the gasket. The filter plate assembly is brass, I think, anyway, vigorous attempts to shift it have left little dents in it.

I did need coffee at lunch, though, so I reassembled the machine and it worked fine, but I'd really like to replace the gasket!

zagmund

I've had similar problems with mine, due primarily to leaving it waaaaaay too long between cleans. The first few times the head just dropped when the allen bolts were removed. The last time I gave up like you and put it back together and had a coffee instead. Then I forgot about it for another couple of months, so it got worse again. I can't remember what I had to do in the end, but I think it involved one of those small hammers with the pointy heads, screw drivers, leverage and much huffing & puffing. There was damage to the gasket, but I was replacing that anyway, so it didn't matter too much.

z

Clinker

Thanks zagmund! I'll try descaling and see if that helps. Then out with the scary tools. Followed perhaps by being forced into the long-planned upgrade!

sarahn11

I recently had this problem, what I did was to leave the machine turned on for about 30 mins with a small amount of cafiza in the blind basket after back-flushing it a few times. The heat and the cafiza allowed me to work the gasket out with a needle nosed pliers and a bread knife!
Next time i wont be leaving it so long.

:cool:

Clinker

Thanks Sarahn11. I'll try descaling soon, and then I'll try disassembly while it's still hot too see if that helps. I'm expecting burnt fingers at the very least!

eddied96

I used a screwdriver to lever it down, you feel like youre damaging it but dont worry it should just pop down

Gran Hermano

This is my usual method
http://www.bluebox.com.au/jcrayon/gaggia/

Clinker

Thanks, Gran Hermano! That's a helpful page. I see it was "Last Updated: 28 Nov 2003", so no wonder the links don't work, but the page is nonetheless very useful.

Gran Hermano

Clinker wrote: »

Thanks, Gran Hermano! That's a helpful page. I see it was "Last Updated: 28 Nov 2003", so no wonder the links don't work, but the page is nonetheless very useful.

The screws and pliers make it easy to remove an old baked in gasket.