It is now going on seven years since this video was produced. Every Gaggia Classic owner should watch this. I first watched this a few years ago when I got my Gaggia Classic Pro. Interesting now that anytime I do maintenance on it or pull a shot how my mind is thinking about how my machine processes the water from the tank, up through the boiler, back down through the group, out through the steam wand, or down the solenoid valve to make coffee. Thanks guys!
8 years old and counting, and STILL an awesome video! I'm prepping for a Gaggiuino build, and this gives me so much more confidence in taking the machine apart. Not to mention, you can see the quality and serviceability of the machine :D thanks so much guys!
Having watched this video, I am finally convinced, that the Gaggia classic is the machine for me. The simplicity and quality of the components is astounding.
Hey mm, Thanks for sharing your thoughts! If you go with GCEP: www.wholelattelove.com/collections/the-gaggia-classic-evo-pro Be sure and bookmark our support site for the machine here: support.wholelattelove.com/hc/en-us/sections/1500000384362-Gaggia-Classic-Pro
Great unit if you want to drink teflon or whatever BS flakes from the defective boiler. Thanks Gaggia for exposing me and the wife to this garbage for an entire year and never notifying anyone. Recall every Evo with the coated boiler immediately you retards.
Can confirm, two years ago I did exactly what's shown in this video and saved/repaired my beautiful Gaggia Classic with it. The best video out there by far. Back today to repeat the process because the boiler is cluttered again.
Really glad I watched this. Bought a second hand classic the seller had told me had been cleaned and descaled. Cracked open the boiler and found it was completely crusted over inside. Shower screen and backing plate were pretty horrendous as well. Got it all cleaned up and looking much better. Thanks for the vid, lads!
Hi KW, You are welcome for the video and thanks for your comment. I'm always wary of second hand gear. Sure the seller may have descaled it before sale. But was it descaled on schedule for the entire time they had it prior to that? As you found out the only way to know for sure is to have a look inside the boiler and other components. Thankfully the Gaggia Classic is built to last and relatively easy to rebuild if neglected. Marc
This is a superb film. It allowed me to successfully take my classic to bits, clean and re-build .... it now works as if it were brand new again. Thank you to all who made this.
Older video but it keeps on giving! Thank you so much - I was able to fix my Classic (solenoid issue) and descale the boiler, and, most importantly, get my hands dirty becoming familiar with the machine. Nothing I can't fix on this thing now. My one note is that folks shouldn't expect the boiler to be spotless after descaling. I used the solution several times and brushed -- a lot comes off, but there is still some left, it won't look pristine. I was surprised by how much scale the gasket took on. I don't think the shower head (?) had EVER been cleaned, it was caked with coffee crud, and the gasket was impossible to take out. Espresso is tasting so much better! If you're watching this video and have never taken the machine apart to clean - do it!
Great video for us novices. I lost pressure following an overdue descale and this is the only step by step video that has given me the confidence to take the entire dismantle on AND hey presto my machine now works! Only thing I would add is the need to let all components dry completely before reassembling. I didn't and when I plugged it in it blew the RCD on the fusebox. I spent ages checking the wiring before a friend told me it would be dampness causing a short. I left the machine to dry overnight and it was fine next day. Thank you so much for your help. Graham, Sheffield, UK
Over three years since this was posted and it's still a brilliant video. Just took apart and serviced my Classic Gaggia using this video and it is brilliant every step of the way. Great work to all involved over there at WLL! :)
You're welcome! May I suggest a video on getting a drier puck from the Classic Gaggia? I've done everything I can think of and mine are still coming out watery (coffee tastes great though).
Ditto!!! Thanks to WLL for this terrific video. It restored my Gaggia Classic to like new performance. It only took about an hour or so to do. If you take the pump out you can access the 3 way solenoid without removing the boiler and group-head of the machine. Thanks for all of your great resources WLL!!!
Thank you so much Whole Latte Love for this wonderful and very detailed video. I finally fix my Gaggia Classic (stuck selenoid valve). It's tricky but not so much with this video. This is your contribution to the millions of coffee and Gaggia lovers around the world.
Thanks, Todd. Not only did this resolve my problem (VERY slow brewing), but was excellent instruction on all of the functions of this espresso machine. I was able to do a complete tear down and cleaning (found massive scale buildup in the boiler) which resulted in the great espresso shots which I just enjoyed. I did have a repeat of the problem in my second brew and I was preparing to repeat the teardown (yuch), but it resolved itself and the machine has given me several additional trouble free brewing sessions. I suspect that I had not completely removed the scale from the brew path and a piece of debris temporarily lodged itself but cleared in the next brew cycle. I continue to be a satisfied Whole Latte Love customer and props for your great support.
Hey Windy, Thanks for the feedback and we're happy to help! If you had a lot of scale buildup I recommend treating your brew water to prevent future problems. Check out BWT products like their Bestsave pad filter: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestsave-s-anti-scale-filter Bestcup in reservoir mountable filter: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package or Penquin pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher All 3 use patented ion-exchange technology which replaces much of the calcium in water with magnesium. This prevents scale yet leaves you with mineral level needed to avoid over-extraction and support flavor.
Great video many thanks! My solenoid valve clogged repeatedly so today I felt the need to carry out this procedure on my 2-year-old Gaggia Classic. The video was extremely useful - my boiler looked just like the really bad one in the video. I fitted to new boiler gasket just to be on the safe side. I'll be descaling monthly from now on!
Hi G88, Thanks for the comment! Sounds like your source water is rather hard if getting that much scale! You might consider treating your water to reduce calcium to control scale formation. We like BWT products which do calcium to magnesium ion-exchange for that purpose. Here are 3 BWT options for that: Bestsave in-reservoir pad filters: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestsave-s-anti-scale-filter BWT Bestcup in reservoir plumbed: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package BWT Penguin pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher
Excellent video. I just fixed my Gaggia Classic. The brew group head was clogged. So I removed and opened the boiler and cleaned it as per instruction on this video. All good. You were right the boiler had a lot of debris and was clogging the solenoid valve (I had the solenoid valve cleaned twice in one week). Thanks again.
You dudes are great! Watched the video about 17 times, but hey, I actually fixed the machine, descaled, selenoid not bad at all. "Dribbling stream valve" (earlier comment), replaced with a new one. Took about 4 days, but wow, done with your cool camera angles and straight talk. Was dreaming the insides of Gaggia for several nights. Oh my.
Thanks for the video. Helped me rebuild mine, Boiler was just too bad to use but ordered a new one and a new pump and washers. All up was under $200 delivered and now works like new.
Thank you so much. Total loss of water pressure in my Gaggia Classic. Steam was ok, but couldn't make coffee. Stripped and cleaned the insides as instructed, problems remained. Changed the coil on the solenoid valve and now works perfectly again. This could be done without taking the boiler out which was a bonus having stripped, cleaned and rebuilt the machine. I wouldn't have had the confidence to do this without this video, cheers
This is a very helpful video - thank you for posting! My late 1990's pre-solenoid valve era Gaggia is back in action, appreciate you including that older style boiler in the video.
Had a leaky boiler, so had to replace the o-ring. Despite already installing some mods into my Gaggia this video really helped with some details. Thank you so much for this valuable content!!!!
Thank you so much for this video. The tip about numering the electrical connections with a marker was superb. Tons of other useful insight about the machine and what sort of maintenance to expect with it. I got a used Evolution for free that had been used for 5 years and NEVER descaled. Disassembling the whole machine, soaking almost all the boiler parts in descaler and brushing them clean was all that was needed to get it back up and running like new. Actually better than new, since i installed an adjustable OPV from a classic and plugged the SPV while i had it disassembled.
Hi Arttu, You are welcome! It's amazing how many machines we get into the shop which have never been descaled. We've had Gaggia boiler come in 3/4 full of scale deposits.
Even though the video is 5 years old it is still up to date, I already thought my Gaggia Classic is completely done and I have to replace it, but this video helped me dis- and reassembling it to clean all the parts. Now it is working perfectly again. Thank you so much!
Great work guys, I had damaged the thread on the group body and your video helped me strip it down and repair it rather than chalk it up to experience and fork out £400 for a new one. Much kudos
Thank you so much! I had to use this process to get our Classic Gaggia working again. Stuck solenoid and this video made it so simple. Not going to lie, I was nervous about doing it as I am not the handiest person I know, but this video was perfect and made it easy!
I just finished going by this video to deep clean my Gaggia Classic and I was REALLY skeptical that it would fix my problem. I am pretty diligent about descaling. And I am NOT a very handy person but I was desperate. I played the video a piece at a time having to back track numerous times but only took me about an hour (if that) to take down the machine and descale it. It was pretty clean when I opened it up so again I was skeptical. I reassembled reversing the video in a sense and was blown away that it worked and worked GREAT when all was said and done! (Only issue was I broke the steam knob removing it and am waiting for the new one.) Well done guys!
PB Cripe hi, thanks for the comment! Sounds like you were a little outside you comfort zone doing this. We do our best to provide clear instruction in our how to videos so even if it’s not your thing you can be successful! Cheers! Marc
Great video, thanks. Water pressure in my machine had started to trickle off due to my lack of descaling on the regular and only by cracking the boiler open could I see the extent of the gnarliness that was my boiler. There was a nice collection of mineral 'sand' on the bottom that was clogging the bore from the boiler to the solenoid valve (which was surprisingly clean when disassembled). After some soaking and steel wool, my classic has returned to proper working order. Thanks again!
You got me all inspired disassembling and cleaning my ol' thrustworthy friend the Classic. Thanks to you I found myself a new hobby; The numbering of the connectors is a great tip. Awsome guide!
I dont have the same model but this video help very much with taking apart everything. The machine wasn't pouring any water at all. After opening it all up I found what I am guessing years of scaling and other gunk. Thanks
Great video, as always! I would also recommend removing the shower screen when descaling the machine so the gunk can freely flow out without beeing trapped behind it and you be just moving dirt around.
Actually, you should flush the machine through the steam wand rather than the group. This will avoid the risk of blocking the solenoid valve while descaling
Thanks very much. My machine had stopped working so I stripped the boiler for the first time in six years - it was seriously clogged up. Then it leaked so I ordered new gaskets...then it would not flow through the brew head. But after four assemblies and dis-assemblies it's now working perfectly - I think a bit of crud had got stuck in the solenoid so I used compressed air to clean it out. This video was very helpful. Cheers!
Woo hoo!...thank you so much Todd, great vid! You gave me the confidence to do the work myself. Superb! My classic works beautifully now and I have gained an understanding of how she works... You've made a UK man (and his wife) very happy...all the best...Mark😊
Awesome, thanks so much! I had no flow at all through the group head and hemmed and hawed for a bit because I was intimidated. After finding this video, I took it apart and got it back up and running!
Hi Todd and the WLL team, I had been facing poor water flow (droplets) of water like the pump was in full operation though flow seemed restricted. I also noticed coffee grinds coming out of the solenoid valve duct after brewing and switching off the brew button. I have a Gaggia Classic pro (2019) and was thinking the worse if I had to pull the machine apart without instructions. Thanks to your great video I had removed the 3 port solenoid valve (submerged in descale solution) then performed the same for the boiler. Once the machine was cleaned and switched back on, flow is restored to normal and flowing sufficiently. Great work guys! Keep up the descaling yihaaaa!
It always looks easier in videos than it is. In the real world most work is done with little to no counter space and people working around you. Oh the joy of service work.
Thanks so much for this - following these excellent instructions I was able to get my precious Gaggia Classic up and running again... good times! You guys rock!
Thanks for the video! Finally got my Gaggia Classic back to life. Had to do it twice, though, as the magnetic valve was stuck. 1hr in citric acid, after removing all the rubber sealings, did the trick. Runs again, just had my first espresso. :D
Hi Stefan, You are welcome! Happy to hear your Classic is back in action. The solenoid valve is one of the common areas needing attention on well used machines. A weekly backflush with a product like Cafiza can help keep that solenoid valve a little cleaner. Also regular descaling.
Many thanks to you sir for your beautiful & simple tutorials , I have been able to rebuild my 8yrs old Gaggia and save a lot of money I took it apart following your guidance , changed parts and all good , its working like new . Regards.
Many thanks for this excellent video. I had to de-scale mine several times (never been done in 3 years [I know, I know!]) and particular attention was needed. The small hole at the base of the solenoid fitment was the main culprit. Your video gave me the confidence to attempt this. Many sketches and pics were taken - just in case. Once again, many thanks.
Great video! Following this, I revived a freebee Coffee Gaggia someone tossed at me. Including the non-solenoid group head here saved me a lot of time and money.
Hey CC, Thanks for the comment - glad the video helped!
6 ปีที่แล้ว +1
Thanks a lot. Just bought Gaggia Classic and it was quite messy (I couldnt even disamble the shower holding plate). After tear down like you showed here the machine is almost like new :) Thank you very much.
Thanks for this. I took my 2005 Gaggia Classic completely apart, not knowing what was wrong (little to no flow). I discovered a fairly calcified boiler but not excessively so. It turned out I had a small bit clogging the solenoid valve. A bit of a soak in vinegar water, a reassembly that went amazingly well (No spare parts!) and the machine is working perfectly.
You are welcome Dave! Hey love your profile pic! Do you SCUBA? I do! Anyway the clogging of valves like that is fairly common. Glad you found the problem and were able to fix. Bonus: Here's me pouring some coffee underwater: th-cam.com/video/SLBASxIuRIY/w-d-xo.html That clip got picked up by a Discovery Channel show Amazing Acts of Science
Dave Pierce Water was stirred up a bit after a couple rough days on the lake. Cloudy but not bad. Regularly see 50'+ visibilty in Lake Ontario. And, best viz I've ever had anywhere was in that lake below the thermocline. Easy 100'+. One of the coolest things ever to be diving in 75 water with 25' viz then invert and stick your head down into water in the 40's with nearly endless viz.
You sir are a steely eyed missile man! This is exactly what I was looking for. I have 2 of these Gaggia Classic devices that I rotate every other month for maintenance. They've been used for several times per day for about 10 years and it's about time for me to crack these bad boys and do some serious maintenance.
Hi, this is the perfect video. My baby twin has been losing pressure over the years (me not keeping up with descaling, but will do from now on). But I still need to clean out the entire boiler. Thanks again!!!
Such a great video - really good - could be an amazing series of teardowns. Love all the helpful hints and just very detailed, it's what the internet was built for! Sharing knowledge. Thanks!
Excellent video. I had a blockage in my grouphead and had never cleaned out the boiler. I followed this last night and easily fixed the issue. Boiler was disgusting! I probably need to order a new one but this will keep me going for a while.
Perfect video guys! Our machine was driving me nuts and we didn’t use it for months. Used a 1:20 citric acid mixture to descale which seemed to do the trick. Awesome!
Thanks for doing this guys, it made the process of removing and cleaning out my boiler and 3 way solenoid a doddle. My machine’s working better than ever.
Brilliant video - very helpful, thank you. Managed to get my slow running Gaggia Baby Twin back to normal! Also purchased a set of new o rings etc. from eBay before hand whilst it was apart.
Want to thank you for this video. I was discouraged by all other efforts to get my machine to produce water. Your tech people at WLL directed me to this video. Your directions were so helpful and I did find considerable buildup in the boiler. I cleaned that machine well and in the end, held my breath and turned it on: SUCCESS! Water flowing strong. Great instructional video. Thank you again. Do you have a recommendation for a grinder to go with this machine? I have a poorly performing Caprezza.
Hi Rob, That's awesome - so happy we could help you out! A few grinders you might consider: Breville Smart Grinder Pro, Gaggia MDF, Rancilio Rocky Doserless and Baratza Vario. I personally prefer doserless grinders. If you do a few shots a day then the lower cost grinders should be sufficient unless you like darker roasts or beans with oily surface. If you grind for other brewing methods stay away from dosing grinders and espresso specialist like the MDF and Rocky. Here's a link to grinders: www.wholelattelove.com/grinders/burr
Not sure if this was mentioned but a very important piece of advice. If you are going to open up the boiler to clean it, then do also remove the steam valve as well to give it a quick clean. Otherwise if in the near future you need to remove it, all accumulated minerals will just drop right back into the boiler. Make sure you have an o-ring handy though or use the existing one by placing it upside down.
"Just kinda crack em loose", he said. Managed one after 45 minutes, it was stuck and rusty. Then I came back to the video. "There's 4 of em" he said. Suggestions?
Hi, You are welcome for the video. I know what you mean about the rusty bolts! Another of my hobbies is restoration work on classic (old) cars. So many rusty bolts! Some things that help: Heat, shock and proper tools. Careful use of a torch to get stuck connectors really hot. I usually try and heat the bolt head which causes the connector to expand ever so slightly and breaks the connection as it cools and contracts. Have to be careful not to damage other components with heat. Shock - a good whack with a harmonic distorter (hammer) can help. Again, be careful of other components. Proper tools - use the right tool for the job. One that fits snug and extend the lever action of the tool to apply more force.
I learned my lesson. I've been backflushing regularly, but have never descaled the year-old machine. What a mistake! The boiler was so clogged up. After re-assembling, I still didn't have water running properly through the grouphead. I almost gave up, then did a thorough backflush. Still nothing, so I reminded myself how to prime the pump, and I just had the best espresso shot in months. I was somewhat intimidated about tearing the machine apart, but you really demystified the process. I'm proud to say that I bought my Classic from Whole Latte Love...your videos take customer service to the next level.
thank you so much for this wonderful video, i was looking forward for it. i appreciate your effort so much and make a very informative,useful,easy to understand and enjoyble video!
Thanks for the great video! My interest rates have gone way up so this probably saved me about AU$300 - AND - I have a new found respect for descaling which I would not have unless I personally saw the amount of crud inside my boiler. YIKES!
Hi ra, You are welcome! If lot's of scale maybe consider more frequent descaling or filtering water to prevent scale in first place. For that purpose we highly recommend one of these BWT solutions. They all use calcium to magnesium ion-exchange to produce water that will not cause scale deposits yet gives a mineral level needed for best flavor. Bestsave in reservoir pad filter: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestsave-s-anti-scale-filter Penguin Pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher Bestcup in reservoir plumbed filter: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package
Appreciate your video, Todd! Gave me valuable support yesterday while picking my Gaggia apart in very many pieces ... Have to change some spare parts ordered fram eBay today, and then - hopefully - it will be able to make good espresso for some more years!
Great help, got my machine up and running smoothly again. One advice however, see 15:55. I couldn’t get de disk free with the force of a screw driver or a pair of tongs. It came off easily when I put and M5 bolt in the center hole and tightened it gently.
Really good video Thanks. I have an old Classic that I refuse to write off, but suffer repeated fuse board trips which I have begun to attribute to limescale blocking the solenoid. Its actually therapeutic to sit for a few hours and strip every nut and bolt, soak them, and reassemble.
Great video. What if I've gone through all these steps (no visible scaling on solenoid, but cleaned it anyways!), and there is still no water flow to the grouphead?
Hi Castles, Thanks for the comment. Here's our support section for Gaggia Classic with no water flow: support.wholelattelove.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500002841322--Gaggia-Classic-Pro-No-Water-Flow Go through steps there. If no solution and you're in US or Canada you can contact our tech support team here for additional assistance: support.wholelattelove.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=1500000236921
I was supposed to be doing yard work and laundry today but I'm thinking I now have other plans. Besides, you can't do house work without caffeine. thanks for the video
Thank you so much! Was going to through the Gaggia in the bin but after cleaning it worked like a clock. Before cleaning it was not used for 3-4 years and it didn’t look pretty inside.
Thanks for this - it was incredibly helpful when my Gaggia Classic stopped working. I was able to take it apart and put it back together and get it working again.
Soweit Sobitter commented that there was a problem of shorting when the work was completed. I had this problem too and it turned out to be the elements surrounding the boiler getting damp/wet due to the cleaning fluids or water. The elements have a porous heat resistant powder packed around the actual elements. This is what is causing the machine to trip the fuse (unfortunately in the case of 'new' wiring regs, the earth leakage necessary to trigger an RCD is VERY small). SOLUTION - but I have to say here there is 'some' risk but if you are sensible, it works. When you are ready to fire up the machine after cleaning/de-scaling, disconnect the machine from the mains. Then disconnect the earth lead to the boiler casing (and the top lid earth if it has one). Plug your machine back into the mains and switch the Gaggia on as normal; as if you were brewing a coffee. 30 seconds or so should be enough. This heats the boiler elements and evaporates the dampness around the powder insulation. Switch the Gaggia off and disconnect the Gaggia from the mains. Leave the machine for 30 minutes or so. Re-attach the earth/s and plug the machine back into the mains. Switch the Gaggia back on (so the boiler is heating) and all should be good. Once when I did this I had to repeat the process as the fuse triggered a second time. After repeating the earth disconnection, I left the boiler heating for about 1 minute (you can hear it heating up). Repeated the connection and starting up process and RESULT. A fully working Gaggia Classic. Thank you for your video. My machine was blocked by the tiniest particle of scale just where you said. ***** Chow from England.
Hi Richard, Thanks for detailing your process - brilliant! Thanks for mentioning the risk as there def is some. I'm not endorsing the procedure for liability reasons but - at your own risk.
Getting ready to do this as soon as my solenoid valve from Whole Latte Love arrives! Wondering if it's possible to put a list of tools used? I keep going through the video to check but I'm always feeling like I could miss something.
It is now going on seven years since this video was produced. Every Gaggia Classic owner should watch this. I first watched this a few years ago when I got my Gaggia Classic Pro. Interesting now that anytime I do maintenance on it or pull a shot how my mind is thinking about how my machine processes the water from the tank, up through the boiler, back down through the group, out through the steam wand, or down the solenoid valve to make coffee. Thanks guys!
Hey M, You're welcome. Does make you think!
@Whole Latte Love it does!
8 years old and counting, and STILL an awesome video! I'm prepping for a Gaggiuino build, and this gives me so much more confidence in taking the machine apart. Not to mention, you can see the quality and serviceability of the machine :D thanks so much guys!
Hey TS, Thanks for the comment!
same
🥺
Having watched this video, I am finally convinced, that the Gaggia classic is the machine for me. The simplicity and quality of the components is astounding.
Hey mm, Thanks for sharing your thoughts! If you go with GCEP: www.wholelattelove.com/collections/the-gaggia-classic-evo-pro
Be sure and bookmark our support site for the machine here: support.wholelattelove.com/hc/en-us/sections/1500000384362-Gaggia-Classic-Pro
Great unit if you want to drink teflon or whatever BS flakes from the defective boiler. Thanks Gaggia for exposing me and the wife to this garbage for an entire year and never notifying anyone. Recall every Evo with the coated boiler immediately you retards.
Can confirm, two years ago I did exactly what's shown in this video and saved/repaired my beautiful Gaggia Classic with it. The best video out there by far. Back today to repeat the process because the boiler is cluttered again.
Really glad I watched this. Bought a second hand classic the seller had told me had been cleaned and descaled. Cracked open the boiler and found it was completely crusted over inside. Shower screen and backing plate were pretty horrendous as well. Got it all cleaned up and looking much better. Thanks for the vid, lads!
Hi KW, You are welcome for the video and thanks for your comment. I'm always wary of second hand gear. Sure the seller may have descaled it before sale. But was it descaled on schedule for the entire time they had it prior to that? As you found out the only way to know for sure is to have a look inside the boiler and other components. Thankfully the Gaggia Classic is built to last and relatively easy to rebuild if neglected.
Marc
This is a superb film. It allowed me to successfully take my classic to bits, clean and re-build .... it now works as if it were brand new again. Thank you to all who made this.
Hi Richard, Thanks for your comment! Happy to hear we helped you out. It's comments like this that make Todd and Marc's day!
Older video but it keeps on giving! Thank you so much - I was able to fix my Classic (solenoid issue) and descale the boiler, and, most importantly, get my hands dirty becoming familiar with the machine. Nothing I can't fix on this thing now. My one note is that folks shouldn't expect the boiler to be spotless after descaling. I used the solution several times and brushed -- a lot comes off, but there is still some left, it won't look pristine. I was surprised by how much scale the gasket took on. I don't think the shower head (?) had EVER been cleaned, it was caked with coffee crud, and the gasket was impossible to take out. Espresso is tasting so much better! If you're watching this video and have never taken the machine apart to clean - do it!
Great video for us novices. I lost pressure following an overdue descale and this is the only step by step video that has given me the confidence to take the entire dismantle on AND hey presto my machine now works! Only thing I would add is the need to let all components dry completely before reassembling. I didn't and when I plugged it in it blew the RCD on the fusebox. I spent ages checking the wiring before a friend told me it would be dampness causing a short. I left the machine to dry overnight and it was fine next day. Thank you so much for your help. Graham, Sheffield, UK
Hi Graham, Thanks for the comment - happy to hear our video helped you out! And yes... the water and electricity do not play well together!
Over three years since this was posted and it's still a brilliant video. Just took apart and serviced my Classic Gaggia using this video and it is brilliant every step of the way. Great work to all involved over there at WLL! :)
Hi JPB, Thanks for the comment!
You're welcome! May I suggest a video on getting a drier puck from the Classic Gaggia? I've done everything I can think of and mine are still coming out watery (coffee tastes great though).
And 7 years later still as good
Ditto!!! Thanks to WLL for this terrific video. It restored my Gaggia Classic to like new performance. It only took about an hour or so to do. If you take the pump out you can access the 3 way solenoid without removing the boiler and group-head of the machine. Thanks for all of your great resources WLL!!!
this video is the gift that keeps giving, saved my back plenty of times, thanks a lot
Thank you so much Whole Latte Love for this wonderful and very detailed video. I finally fix my Gaggia Classic (stuck selenoid valve). It's tricky but not so much with this video. This is your contribution to the millions of coffee and Gaggia lovers around the world.
Glad it helped! Thanks for the comment!
Marc
Thanks, Todd. Not only did this resolve my problem (VERY slow brewing), but was excellent instruction on all of the functions of this espresso machine. I was able to do a complete tear down and cleaning (found massive scale buildup in the boiler) which resulted in the great espresso shots which I just enjoyed.
I did have a repeat of the problem in my second brew and I was preparing to repeat the teardown (yuch), but it resolved itself and the machine has given me several additional trouble free brewing sessions. I suspect that I had not completely removed the scale from the brew path and a piece of debris temporarily lodged itself but cleared in the next brew cycle.
I continue to be a satisfied Whole Latte Love customer and props for your great support.
Hey Windy, Thanks for the feedback and we're happy to help! If you had a lot of scale buildup I recommend treating your brew water to prevent future problems. Check out BWT products like their Bestsave pad filter: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestsave-s-anti-scale-filter
Bestcup in reservoir mountable filter: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package
or Penquin pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher
All 3 use patented ion-exchange technology which replaces much of the calcium in water with magnesium. This prevents scale yet leaves you with mineral level needed to avoid over-extraction and support flavor.
Great video many thanks! My solenoid valve clogged repeatedly so today I felt the need to carry out this procedure on my 2-year-old Gaggia Classic. The video was extremely useful - my boiler looked just like the really bad one in the video. I fitted to new boiler gasket just to be on the safe side. I'll be descaling monthly from now on!
Hi G88, Thanks for the comment! Sounds like your source water is rather hard if getting that much scale! You might consider treating your water to reduce calcium to control scale formation. We like BWT products which do calcium to magnesium ion-exchange for that purpose. Here are 3 BWT options for that:
Bestsave in-reservoir pad filters: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestsave-s-anti-scale-filter
BWT Bestcup in reservoir plumbed: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package
BWT Penguin pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher
Excellent video. I just fixed my Gaggia Classic. The brew group head was clogged. So I removed and opened the boiler and cleaned it as per instruction on this video. All good. You were right the boiler had a lot of debris and was clogging the solenoid valve (I had the solenoid valve cleaned twice in one week). Thanks again.
You dudes are great! Watched the video about 17 times, but hey, I actually fixed the machine, descaled, selenoid not bad at all. "Dribbling stream valve" (earlier comment), replaced with a new one. Took about 4 days, but wow, done with your cool camera angles and straight talk. Was dreaming the insides of Gaggia for several nights. Oh my.
Hi John, Wow, Gaggia internal dreams! Happy to hear our video helped you fix your machine. Thanks so much for the comment!!!
Thanks for the video. Helped me rebuild mine, Boiler was just too bad to use but ordered a new one and a new pump and washers. All up was under $200 delivered and now works like new.
Hi Troy, You're welcome! The Gaggia Classic is easy to rebuild to like new.
Thank you so much. Total loss of water pressure in my Gaggia Classic. Steam was ok, but couldn't make coffee. Stripped and cleaned the insides as instructed, problems remained. Changed the coil on the solenoid valve and now works perfectly again. This could be done without taking the boiler out which was a bonus having stripped, cleaned and rebuilt the machine. I wouldn't have had the confidence to do this without this video, cheers
Hi Liz, You are welcome and thanks a bunch for sharing your experience!
Cannot thank Todd & WLL love for this video. Everything was explained so well. My 6 year old Gaggia is now working like a dream! Thanks guys!!!
Hi AOK, You are welcome and thanks a whole latte for taking the time to leave a comment - it's appreciated!!!
Marc
Excellent movie. I followed the instructions to rescue my ancient Classic. Cannot thank you enough.
Hey SJ N, You're welcome - happy to help and thanks for the comment!
New solenoid valve on order. Boiler all fully serviced and ready to go thanks to this video.
Glad it helped!
Thank you guys, for enabling owners to carry out essential preventative maintenance. We owe you.
Hey brian, you are welcome and thanks for the comment!
This is a very helpful video - thank you for posting! My late 1990's pre-solenoid valve era Gaggia is back in action, appreciate you including that older style boiler in the video.
Hey Brent, you're welcome and thank you for the comment!
This has saved another coffee machine from landfill. Thank you so much! ❤
You are so welcome! Thanks for the comment!!!
Had a leaky boiler, so had to replace the o-ring. Despite already installing some mods into my Gaggia this video really helped with some details. Thank you so much for this valuable content!!!!
Glad it helped!
Thank you so much for this video. The tip about numering the electrical connections with a marker was superb. Tons of other useful insight about the machine and what sort of maintenance to expect with it. I got a used Evolution for free that had been used for 5 years and NEVER descaled. Disassembling the whole machine, soaking almost all the boiler parts in descaler and brushing them clean was all that was needed to get it back up and running like new. Actually better than new, since i installed an adjustable OPV from a classic and plugged the SPV while i had it disassembled.
Hi Arttu, You are welcome! It's amazing how many machines we get into the shop which have never been descaled. We've had Gaggia boiler come in 3/4 full of scale deposits.
That is such a good video. I usually number the cables then take a photo rather than drawing it.
Even though the video is 5 years old it is still up to date, I already thought my Gaggia Classic is completely done and I have to replace it, but this video helped me dis- and reassembling it to clean all the parts. Now it is working perfectly again. Thank you so much!
Hi JA, That's awesome - happy to help! thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Marc
Great work guys, I had damaged the thread on the group body and your video helped me strip it down and repair it rather than chalk it up to experience and fork out £400 for a new one. Much kudos
+shynebox Awesome! Glad to help you save some money.
Thank you so much! I had to use this process to get our Classic Gaggia working again. Stuck solenoid and this video made it so simple. Not going to lie, I was nervous about doing it as I am not the handiest person I know, but this video was perfect and made it easy!
Great to hear!
I just finished going by this video to deep clean my Gaggia Classic and I was REALLY skeptical that it would fix my problem. I am pretty diligent about descaling. And I am NOT a very handy person but I was desperate. I played the video a piece at a time having to back track numerous times but only took me about an hour (if that) to take down the machine and descale it. It was pretty clean when I opened it up so again I was skeptical. I reassembled reversing the video in a sense and was blown away that it worked and worked GREAT when all was said and done! (Only issue was I broke the steam knob removing it and am waiting for the new one.) Well done guys!
PB Cripe hi, thanks for the comment! Sounds like you were a little outside you comfort zone doing this. We do our best to provide clear instruction in our how to videos so even if it’s not your thing you can be successful! Cheers! Marc
Great video, thanks. Water pressure in my machine had started to trickle off due to my lack of descaling on the regular and only by cracking the boiler open could I see the extent of the gnarliness that was my boiler. There was a nice collection of mineral 'sand' on the bottom that was clogging the bore from the boiler to the solenoid valve (which was surprisingly clean when disassembled). After some soaking and steel wool, my classic has returned to proper working order. Thanks again!
Hi Andrew, You are welcome and thanks for the comment!
You got me all inspired disassembling and cleaning my ol' thrustworthy friend the Classic. Thanks to you I found myself a new hobby; The numbering of the connectors is a great tip. Awsome guide!
Happy to inspire! Always good to show your trustworthy friends a whole latte love!!!
I dont have the same model but this video help very much with taking apart everything. The machine wasn't pouring any water at all. After opening it all up I found what I am guessing years of scaling and other gunk. Thanks
Great video, as always!
I would also recommend removing the shower screen when descaling the machine so the gunk can freely flow out without beeing trapped behind it and you be just moving dirt around.
Hi MV, Thanks for the comment and additional advice.
Oh yes, you definitely have to do that!
Actually, you should flush the machine through the steam wand rather than the group. This will avoid the risk of blocking the solenoid valve while descaling
Thanks very much. My machine had stopped working so I stripped the boiler for the first time in six years - it was seriously clogged up. Then it leaked so I ordered new gaskets...then it would not flow through the brew head. But after four assemblies and dis-assemblies it's now working perfectly - I think a bit of crud had got stuck in the solenoid so I used compressed air to clean it out. This video was very helpful. Cheers!
Hi FW, Solenoid valve clogs are a common problem. Be sure and use good water and keep up on descaling!
You guys are the reason I love my Gaggia again! Didn't dare to tear it down on my own. Thank you so much!
Torsten Bülow You're welcome. Glad to help!
Woo hoo!...thank you so much Todd, great vid! You gave me the confidence to do the work myself. Superb! My classic works beautifully now and I have gained an understanding of how she works... You've made a UK man (and his wife) very happy...all the best...Mark😊
+mook ielagoo Hi Mark, Great to hear we helped you out. Cheers!
Great video! I followed all steps and managed to get my Gaggia back up running like a brand new one.thanks for recording and uploading!
Hi CS, Happy to help and thanks for the comment!
Awesome, thanks so much! I had no flow at all through the group head and hemmed and hawed for a bit because I was intimidated. After finding this video, I took it apart and got it back up and running!
Hi David, That's awesome! Happy to hear we helped you out!!!
Hi Todd and the WLL team, I had been facing poor water flow (droplets) of water like the pump was in full operation though flow seemed restricted. I also noticed coffee grinds coming out of the solenoid valve duct after brewing and switching off the brew button.
I have a Gaggia Classic pro (2019) and was thinking the worse if I had to pull the machine apart without instructions. Thanks to your great video I had removed the 3 port solenoid valve (submerged in descale solution) then performed the same for the boiler.
Once the machine was cleaned and switched back on, flow is restored to normal and flowing sufficiently.
Great work guys! Keep up the descaling yihaaaa!
Hi JG, Happy to help and thanks for the comment!
It always looks easier in videos than it is. In the real world most work is done with little to no counter space and people working around you. Oh the joy of service work.
Excellent guide! I managed to disassemble, descale and fix my blocked machine. Wouldn't have been possible without this. Thanks!
+Jonathan Green Hi Jonathan, You are welcome! Happy the video helped you get your machine going.
Thanks so much for this - following these excellent instructions I was able to get my precious Gaggia Classic up and running again... good times! You guys rock!
Hi Matthew, That's awesome! You rock as well for commenting and letting us know!
Just want to say thankyou for this video. I rebuilt my Baby Dose and fixed a dodgy boiler gasket with the help of this.
Hi RG, You are welcome and thank you for taking a moment to leave a comment!
Thanks for the video! Finally got my Gaggia Classic back to life. Had to do it twice, though, as the magnetic valve was stuck. 1hr in citric acid, after removing all the rubber sealings, did the trick. Runs again, just had my first espresso. :D
Hi Stefan, You are welcome! Happy to hear your Classic is back in action. The solenoid valve is one of the common areas needing attention on well used machines. A weekly backflush with a product like Cafiza can help keep that solenoid valve a little cleaner. Also regular descaling.
Amazing video! Not only I know now how to clean the boiler, but it also helped me understand how my Gaggia Classic works. Many thanks.
+Gplus sucks big You are welcome. A little maintenance goes a long way!
Many thanks to you sir for your beautiful & simple tutorials , I have been able to rebuild my 8yrs old Gaggia and save a lot of money I took it apart following your guidance , changed parts and all good , its working like new . Regards.
Hi Yomi, That's awesome! Thanks for taking a moment to leave your comment - it's appreciated!
I am getting ready to buy a second hand machine and do all of this. This video is getting me all excited.
Have fun! Be sure and see our support section for more: support.wholelattelove.com/hc/en-us/categories/4409471510291-Gaggia
Many thanks for this excellent video. I had to de-scale mine several times (never been done in 3 years [I know, I know!]) and particular attention was needed. The small hole at the base of the solenoid fitment was the main culprit. Your video gave me the confidence to attempt this. Many sketches and pics were taken - just in case.
Once again, many thanks.
+Brian McCulloch Hi Brian, You are welcome! Glad to help.
Great video! Following this, I revived a freebee Coffee Gaggia someone tossed at me. Including the non-solenoid group head here saved me a lot of time and money.
Hey CC, Thanks for the comment - glad the video helped!
Thanks a lot. Just bought Gaggia Classic and it was quite messy (I couldnt even disamble the shower holding plate). After tear down like you showed here the machine is almost like new :) Thank you very much.
David Švehla you’re Welcome! Thanks for the comment!
Excellent video! Saved our 23 years old Gaggia classic!
Glad to hear that!
Thanks for this. I took my 2005 Gaggia Classic completely apart, not knowing what was wrong (little to no flow). I discovered a fairly calcified boiler but not excessively so. It turned out I had a small bit clogging the solenoid valve. A bit of a soak in vinegar water, a reassembly that went amazingly well (No spare parts!) and the machine is working perfectly.
You are welcome Dave! Hey love your profile pic! Do you SCUBA? I do! Anyway the clogging of valves like that is fairly common. Glad you found the problem and were able to fix. Bonus: Here's me pouring some coffee underwater: th-cam.com/video/SLBASxIuRIY/w-d-xo.html That clip got picked up by a Discovery Channel show Amazing Acts of Science
I AM a scuba diver. Love your video! I hope you didn't really try to drink any of it, the water looked really skanky!
Dave Pierce
Water was stirred up a bit after a couple rough days on the lake. Cloudy but not bad. Regularly see 50'+ visibilty in Lake Ontario. And, best viz I've ever had anywhere was in that lake below the thermocline. Easy 100'+. One of the coolest things ever to be diving in 75 water with 25' viz then invert and stick your head down into water in the 40's with nearly endless viz.
Looking at it 6 yrs down the line, and it's still useful...not too many differences in the build...!
Yes it is!
You sir are a steely eyed missile man! This is exactly what I was looking for. I have 2 of these Gaggia Classic devices that I rotate every other month for maintenance. They've been used for several times per day for about 10 years and it's about time for me to crack these bad boys and do some serious maintenance.
With good care and maybe some occasional component replacement you should get another 10 years!
Omg, the machine is working again - I'm crying! Thank you so much for this helpful Video ♥!
Hi k, You are welcome! Happy to help and to hear your machine is working again. Thanks for the comment.
@@Wholelattelovepage I've never repaired something myself with electricity involvded, you were really a good guide for me!
Great video. Thank you! My 14-year-old Classic is back to life.
Hi NR, That's awesome - thanks for the comment!
Hi, this is the perfect video. My baby twin has been losing pressure over the years (me not keeping up with descaling, but will do from now on). But I still need to clean out the entire boiler. Thanks again!!!
Hi EL, Thanks for the comment and your welcome!
Back again! No earth wire was on the terminal perpendicular to other terminals! Thanks for sticking with me !
So you solved problem? Connected the ground wire and all is well?
Excellent video, thank you! I was able to get my Classic sorted out thanks to you guys.
+Scott Gill Hey, that's awesome! Glad we could help you out.
Top video. saved my classic from the dump! Now works a dream. Thanks guys.
Really appreciate this video! Just updated all my washers o rings etc as my machine is now 10 years old.
Hey matt, That awesome!
Such a great video - really good - could be an amazing series of teardowns. Love all the helpful hints and just very detailed, it's what the internet was built for! Sharing knowledge. Thanks!
bibberdy You are welcome! We're always working on more videos in our tech series. Thank you for the comment!
Excellent video. I had a blockage in my grouphead and had never cleaned out the boiler. I followed this last night and easily fixed the issue. Boiler was disgusting! I probably need to order a new one but this will keep me going for a while.
Just a fantastic video. Cant believe we got the baby working again!
Hi Denise, That's great! It's a very serviceable machine. Thank you for taking theitme to leave your comment - it's appreciated!
Perfect video guys! Our machine was driving me nuts and we didn’t use it for months. Used a 1:20 citric acid mixture to descale which seemed to do the trick. Awesome!
Very nice instructional video,with very important details.
Hi lO, thanks for the comment!
Very good instructions and spot on camera :)) Thank you very much for the good video content
You're very welcome!
Just went through the cleaning and was able to restore water flow to both the group head and steamer. Thanks for the great video!!
Hey IM, You are welcome and thaks for yoour comment!
Thanks for doing this guys, it made the process of removing and cleaning out my boiler and 3 way solenoid a doddle. My machine’s working better than ever.
Hi PT, You are welcome and thank you for taking a moment to leave a comment!
Marc
Brilliant video - very helpful, thank you. Managed to get my slow running Gaggia Baby Twin back to normal! Also purchased a set of new o rings etc. from eBay before hand whilst it was apart.
Great video! Made my Gaggia work properly again with Todd's help :)
Hi RO, That's fabulous! Thanks for the comment letting us know the video helped you out!
Want to thank you for this video. I was discouraged by all other efforts to get my machine to produce water. Your tech people at WLL directed me to this video. Your directions were so helpful and I did find considerable buildup in the boiler. I cleaned that machine well and in the end, held my breath and turned it on: SUCCESS! Water flowing strong. Great instructional video. Thank you again.
Do you have a recommendation for a grinder to go with this machine? I have a poorly performing Caprezza.
Hi Rob, That's awesome - so happy we could help you out! A few grinders you might consider: Breville Smart Grinder Pro, Gaggia MDF, Rancilio Rocky Doserless and Baratza Vario. I personally prefer doserless grinders. If you do a few shots a day then the lower cost grinders should be sufficient unless you like darker roasts or beans with oily surface. If you grind for other brewing methods stay away from dosing grinders and espresso specialist like the MDF and Rocky. Here's a link to grinders: www.wholelattelove.com/grinders/burr
This morning i had a non-operational Gaggia (no water thru the group head?) Thanks to the perfect explanation it’s working again. Thanks a lot!
Fantastic!
Not sure if this was mentioned but a very important piece of advice. If you are going to open up the boiler to clean it, then do also remove the steam valve as well to give it a quick clean. Otherwise if in the near future you need to remove it, all accumulated minerals will just drop right back into the boiler. Make sure you have an o-ring handy though or use the existing one by placing it upside down.
Thank you for this video! Managed to get my valve assembly all cleaned up on my Gaggia Evolution and it's flowing nicely again.
Hi Joe, You are welcome! Happy to help and thanks for the comment letting us and other know it worked!
Thank you very much. I could clean the solenoid valve by doing exact to your video. Now it is working again. Thanks.
Hi PM, You are welcome and thank you for the comment!
"Just kinda crack em loose", he said. Managed one after 45 minutes, it was stuck and rusty. Then I came back to the video.
"There's 4 of em" he said.
Suggestions?
The above is my bad attempt at a sense of humor - Thanks for the super useful video. I'm serious about the rusty bolts though.
Hi, You are welcome for the video. I know what you mean about the rusty bolts! Another of my hobbies is restoration work on classic (old) cars. So many rusty bolts! Some things that help: Heat, shock and proper tools. Careful use of a torch to get stuck connectors really hot. I usually try and heat the bolt head which causes the connector to expand ever so slightly and breaks the connection as it cools and contracts. Have to be careful not to damage other components with heat. Shock - a good whack with a harmonic distorter (hammer) can help. Again, be careful of other components. Proper tools - use the right tool for the job. One that fits snug and extend the lever action of the tool to apply more force.
This was incredibly helpful! Thank you for helping me get my machine to work again.
Hi Armin, Happy to hear it worked out for you and thanks for letting us know!!!
I learned my lesson. I've been backflushing regularly, but have never descaled the year-old machine. What a mistake! The boiler was so clogged up. After re-assembling, I still didn't have water running properly through the grouphead. I almost gave up, then did a thorough backflush. Still nothing, so I reminded myself how to prime the pump, and I just had the best espresso shot in months. I was somewhat intimidated about tearing the machine apart, but you really demystified the process. I'm proud to say that I bought my Classic from Whole Latte Love...your videos take customer service to the next level.
Armin Heurich
Thanks for the comment! Glad to hear your machine is back in business. We're proud to have you as a customer!!!
thank you so much for this wonderful video, i was looking forward for it. i appreciate your effort so much and make a very informative,useful,easy to understand and enjoyble video!
Hi AA, You are welcome and thanks for your kind comment - it's appreciated!!!
A very in-depth video.
Much appreciated
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the great video! My interest rates have gone way up so this probably saved me about AU$300 - AND - I have a new found respect for descaling which I would not have unless I personally saw the amount of crud inside my boiler. YIKES!
Hi ra, You are welcome! If lot's of scale maybe consider more frequent descaling or filtering water to prevent scale in first place. For that purpose we highly recommend one of these BWT solutions. They all use calcium to magnesium ion-exchange to produce water that will not cause scale deposits yet gives a mineral level needed for best flavor.
Bestsave in reservoir pad filter: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestsave-s-anti-scale-filter
Penguin Pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher
Bestcup in reservoir plumbed filter: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package
Really the best Technic of Gaggia.
Thank you so much🙏🏻 You saved my Gaggia Classic☕️
Hi Felix, You are welcome and thank you for taking a moment to leave your comment!
Hey there thankyou so much for this video, I followed the instruction and only managed to fix my machine. 😊
Well hey there Stuart! You are very welcome!!! Thanks for the comment letting us know the video helped.
Appreciate your video, Todd! Gave me valuable support yesterday while picking my Gaggia apart in very many pieces ... Have to change some spare parts ordered fram eBay today, and then - hopefully - it will be able to make good espresso for some more years!
+Anders Bayer Awesome. Todd is an incredible resource for these machines!
Great help, got my machine up and running smoothly again.
One advice however, see 15:55. I couldn’t get de disk free with the force of a screw driver or a pair of tongs.
It came off easily when I put and M5 bolt in the center hole and tightened it gently.
Hi R, Thanks for the comment and advice. The disk can be stubborn!
Amazing! This video gave me the courage to open up my machine :) thanks a lot!
Hi simonpra, You are welcome - not so hard right! Thanks for the comment.
Gaggia has one of the best insides ..i love it
Hi SN, Thanks for the comment! You must be referring to how the are machines and not built like an appliance!
🎉Amazing!!! Excellent video, great help!!! You are a rock star. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Cheers!!!
You're welcome!
Really good video Thanks.
I have an old Classic that I refuse to write off, but suffer repeated fuse board trips which I have begun to attribute to limescale blocking the solenoid. Its actually therapeutic to sit for a few hours and strip every nut and bolt, soak them, and reassemble.
Hi gs, You are welcome and thank you for the comment!
Cleaned again, thanking you for this video
Any time!
Great video. What if I've gone through all these steps (no visible scaling on solenoid, but cleaned it anyways!), and there is still no water flow to the grouphead?
Hi Castles, Thanks for the comment. Here's our support section for Gaggia Classic with no water flow: support.wholelattelove.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500002841322--Gaggia-Classic-Pro-No-Water-Flow
Go through steps there. If no solution and you're in US or Canada you can contact our tech support team here for additional assistance: support.wholelattelove.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=1500000236921
I was supposed to be doing yard work and laundry today but I'm thinking I now have other plans. Besides, you can't do house work without caffeine.
thanks for the video
Hi Jake, Rebuilding your Gaggia will be way more fun than laundry and yard work!
Absolutely great video, guys. Thanks a lot!
+Marc Palmer Hi Marc, Glad you liked and thanks for the comment/feedback!
Congratulations for your skills! Best regards from Greece.
Thanks for your comment!
Thank you so much! Was going to through the Gaggia in the bin but after cleaning it worked like a clock. Before cleaning it was not used for 3-4 years and it didn’t look pretty inside.
Thanks for this - it was incredibly helpful when my Gaggia Classic stopped working. I was able to take it apart and put it back together and get it working again.
Hi Jeff, That's awesome! Thanks for leaving the comment.
Soweit Sobitter commented that there was a problem of shorting when the work was completed.
I had this problem too and it turned out to be the elements surrounding the boiler getting damp/wet due to the cleaning fluids or water. The elements have a porous heat resistant powder packed around the actual elements. This is what is causing the machine to trip the fuse (unfortunately in the case of 'new' wiring regs, the earth leakage necessary to trigger an RCD is VERY small).
SOLUTION - but I have to say here there is 'some' risk but if you are sensible, it works.
When you are ready to fire up the machine after cleaning/de-scaling, disconnect the machine from the mains. Then disconnect the earth lead to the boiler casing (and the top lid earth if it has one). Plug your machine back into the mains and switch the Gaggia on as normal; as if you were brewing a coffee. 30 seconds or so should be enough. This heats the boiler elements and evaporates the dampness around the powder insulation. Switch the Gaggia off and disconnect the Gaggia from the mains. Leave the machine for 30 minutes or so. Re-attach the earth/s and plug the machine back into the mains.
Switch the Gaggia back on (so the boiler is heating) and all should be good.
Once when I did this I had to repeat the process as the fuse triggered a second time. After repeating the earth disconnection, I left the boiler heating for about 1 minute (you can hear it heating up). Repeated the connection and starting up process and RESULT. A fully working Gaggia Classic.
Thank you for your video. My machine was blocked by the tiniest particle of scale just where you said. *****
Chow from England.
Hi Richard, Thanks for detailing your process - brilliant!
Thanks for mentioning the risk as there def is some. I'm not endorsing the procedure for liability reasons but - at your own risk.
Getting ready to do this as soon as my solenoid valve from Whole Latte Love arrives! Wondering if it's possible to put a list of tools used? I keep going through the video to check but I'm always feeling like I could miss something.