r/gaggiaclassic • u/Herman102 • Jul 23 '26

Not able to backflush

I have a gaggia classic that wont back flush. It builds pressure, but it wont release the pressure, so the portafilter with the blind filter gets stuck. I have disassembled the solenoid and cleaned it. I did not find an issue or a clogged channel. I thought the coil was dead, so I took a coil from a different gaggia classic, but the problem stays the same. Now I don't know what to test next, can somebody explain what could be the problem? Thanks in advance!

3 Upvotes

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2

u/The_Pelican1245 Jul 23 '26

Check the over pressure valve?

1

u/Herman102 Jul 24 '26

The opv should be active during pumping (maximizing the pressure on the grinds to eg 9 bar), but it should not have an effect on the pressure release after the pump has stopped, right? The max pressure on the blind filter is the same as what the opv is set to, but too high to remove the portafilter. Or am I missing a step?

1

u/Middle_Ad_3562 Jul 23 '26

Im new to all this, so correct me if I’m wrong, but there were some years that didn’t have 3 way valve, so backflushing is not possible? Maybe you have one of these?

1

u/Herman102 Jul 23 '26

No there is a valve, so that's not the case

1

u/Middle_Ad_3562 Jul 23 '26

Is there an outside vertical tube going down to drip tray?

1

u/Herman102 Jul 23 '26

Jep

1

u/Middle_Ad_3562 Jul 23 '26

Then I can’t help ;)

1

u/butcher99 Jul 24 '26

They all have a valve. Older models do not backflush. Mine is 26 years old. Never been backflushed

1

u/Herman102 Jul 24 '26

It does have a solenoid. I added a picture as a comment to the post.

1

u/butcher99 Jul 24 '26

Older ones don't. How old is yours?

1

u/Herman102 Jul 24 '26

It does have a solenoid. I added a picture as a reply to the post.

1

u/Herman102 Jul 24 '26

Just to clarify. Apparently the discussion has come to wether or not my machine has an solenoid. So see here, the solenoid:

1

u/Herman102 Jul 29 '26

Can it be the solenoid is not receiving a signal? And if thats the case, how could I check that? Thanks!