20 Most Recent Espresso RMI La Cimbali Espresso Machine Questions & Answers

Their are four posible reasons for above problem as follows.
First the Vibarating pump not creating pressure, usaly if here the sound it is pressing but not always. You can loose the pipe nut after the pump to see if you have any pressure after you press the coffee button. Be carefull with the water leaking.
Second the coffee solenoid valve that is on the grouphead might be stuck from dry coffee, it can be removed and cleaned with hot water and a wire brush.
Third the coffee group shower and inside round dish might also blocked from dry coffee, remove it and clean it.
Finnaly the more difficult problem might be that heat excanger that is bettween the headgroup and boiler is full off scale. So you must remove group and clean both group and heat excanger and the copper pipes to them.
This problem is the more difficult to be performed however is the most posible.
Good luck,
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hi. Im not sure excactly what is going on with your explaination about your machine, but I gather the the original mother board has died, and you have replaced it with a new one. It sounds like you have a water fill issue with your machine. If the boiler doesn't have enough water in it, then the pc board will shut the machine down. Ive never worked on a m39, but they are from the Faema corporation, and Faema/ La Cimbali electronics canbe very complicated. Dont now why they make such complicated electrics, cause there are hundreds of other brands with simple electrics. If your boiler was empty, then the water fill cycle might be a timed cycle, and is shuting down before the water level has reached the water level probe inside the boiler. If this is the case, then once it has stopped, turn the machine off, wait 10sec, then turn it back on again and let it start the fill cycle over. You may have to repeat this a number of times until it has reached the water level probe inside the boiler. Some machines are designed to have a slow water fill, because when you draw hot water from the boiler for making tea, fresh cold water is pumped back into the boiler to replace what you have taken out, and if it fills too quick, then your steam pressure drops. So by filling slower, the machine will maintain its steam pressure. Good idea in theroy, but its only good for cafes that do 300 coffees per hour.Im hoping that your machine is configered this way, cause it will probably just have to be turned on a few times until it has reached the water level probe as I explined in the begining. If you have a sight glass, you can check to see how high your water level is. If your level is correct, and its still not working right, then id recomend calling a repairer. There are number of things that could be wrong, causing your board to die. Faulty solenoids. switches, touch pads, pressure switches can cause main board issues. Hope all this helps with getting your machine working properly. Dazza Repairer

try to change date/time in my la cimbali m3, in settings/configuration/maintenance I push reset on/yes/off and message disappears :)

Need to do a proper set up. Dip 1 set up and follow instruct for jumper settings or dupe your old one.

If this machine has been in use for over 6 months then it will need servicing. The hot water system has calcified which will need cleaning or replacement. ukeboy57

The connection from the boiler to the pump is clogged, you can descale or remove connecting hose and clear.

1Check the inlet cable of electricity 2 Check the heating element and heating element controllers (thermostats).

Boiler may need descaling

The M-39 is a semi-automatic espresso machine. There are quite a few vids on you tube showing how to set up and operate. You will need it to be installed with the proper utilities; Electrical (240VAC), Water (plumbed in or from a 5 gal water jug). * requires potafilter, Basket inserts for; single, double shots, Back flush disk, Group cleaning brush. * Drain hose and someplace for the drainage to go (a floor drain, sink, or bucket.) * A solid strong table or counter with space enough for 1 or more coffee bean grinders (regular and De-cafe beans) But you can get pre-ground coffee to start with. * Review on line for Barista training or get a trained Barista to show you. Call your service provider as many have training classes. * Check with a local coffee shop and check how they do things. People love to talk about their coffee. Aloha, ukeboy57 (youtube)

You should be able to get a gasket from your vendor or at least from Cimbali (Italy), or nearby Cimbali rep. (I'm assuming you have tried to do this since it's now 2018.) If you haven't located a part or it's not available anymore then check with Amazon.com as they carry many similar parts. But if your really stuck then you might try a "High Temperature Gasket maker" We use this on the coffee roaster which is heated well beyond the boiling water temperatures found in a boiler. You should be able to get a tube or cartridge from NAPA or any car supply store as they use it for the engine block seal. It's silicone based so okay to use on a boiler. Just clean area and apply a continuous bead around the rim. Sure to surround the bolt (studs) area and continue till you connect with the beginning bead. Carefully lower the cover plate and hand tighten to seal and press some of the chalking flat. But DON'T tighten it all the way down as you want about a 1/16th spacing between the rim and plate. Allow the gasket to dry (cure) for the recommended time then once cured tighten down the cover . You should not see any gasket material oozing out, which means the gasket has not cured. Stop and let it continue to cure (next day) Tighten again and test for leaks. * You can also try to use a gasket sheet. Plce the cover plate on sheet and draw outline of plate on sheet. Cut out and use a hole punch for the studs. (this is probably the fastest and cleanest method. But you must have steady hands to cut the gasket to fit. Aloha, ukeboy57 (yourtube)

You need to contact your vendor as these are similar to your car suggesting you need service. For the Cimnbali (especially the super automatics) there is usually a warning given during the day or just at the morning start. It's usually for cleaning the requires the activation of the cleaning cycle which can take from 8 to 12 mins depending on the model. Some units won't allow a brew unless cleaned. there is a maintenance warning at a certain date or # of days passed. Some will lock out the brewer if not performed in a certain time period. * Call your vendor for service as most of these lock outs must be cleared by a qualified tech. Some need a special key to reset. Aloha, ukeboy57

Group head leaks can be caused by group gasket, portafilter basket (cup), valve, pipe fittings. Call back your service tech. * Check group gasket and position of portafiler handle when pulling shot. The handle needs to point directly at you (your chest) if it points to your left shoulder or pops off the group then the gasket is worn, not correct size, missing spacer. * If the handle points to the right shoulder then the gasket is, too thick, too many spacers, or it was installed without removing the old coffee (crud) from the group head and is stuck under the gasket. Remove and check group gasket and spacers. * If the handle points directly at you but portafilter still leaks then check the basket (cup) insert. Many Barista's smash the portafilter on a bumper. If the bumper is worn and the metal bar is exposed then the basket insert will have a flat or dented lip. Check all your inserts for damage and replace worn bumper (a piece of water hose cut to size works) * Still leaking? Remove cup tray above group and check group head for leaks around the pipes and fittings. Note: water discharge from bottom of group valve is normal DURING the pulling of a shot. It should not continue to drip water after pulling the shot. * Still leaking? The group head needs to be checked. * Pump, water lines, Water by-pass, Economiser, Hot water wand, and all the water fittings. Aloha, ukeboy57 (youtube)

One thing to check... Have you switched to 100% reverse-osmosis or distilled water recently? I read that the water level probe needs conductive ions (e.g. calcium) in the water for it to detect that water has risen to the probe's level. So, water with too few ions will not register on the gauge, and the tank will continue to fill.

Maybe the machine needs a cleaning. White vinegar usually works pretty well.

Replace vacuum valve.

Machine might have calling for a clean cycle for a while, if it does not get one it lock up until cleaned.

The price for the m29 select new is about 5500 to 6000. So for one of 4-5 years you can give about 2500-3000. However I sugest to open the machine and check if their are rusting points or any leaking points which propably be white points from calcium color. Also ask if their were any water filter like everpure or and a water softener conected to water supply of machine during the operation of the machines.
If you see minor points as above and the water was treated before entering the machine then your machine can work for minimum another 10 years.
Water calcium (scale) is the biger enemy of the machine.
Good Luck

check cimbali.com for current contacts. youtube; ukeboy57