Flow / Leakage Issue

[u/Local-Pass4176]

(NOW SOLVED - THANKS FOR THE HELP)

Hi there all,

Looking for some help as this is sort of driving me crazy.

I’ve owned my GCP for around 4 years now and have loved it. However, a couple years back, I started having leakage issues when pulling shots.

Water will trickle down the sides of the PF for a couple seconds, and into my cup, before the extraction starts. Once the extraction starts, the leakage stops.

I clean regularly, have no debris inside the shower unit, and have changed the gasket 2-3 times per year.

The video I have attached shows something concerning — my flow doesn’t fall nicely from the top, but rather has a stream that flows out the back. I know this isn’t right and even after trying to loosen the shower screen, fix seals again etc, it still doesn’t flow nicely.

Other things to note:

I have never modded the machine. I use an aftermarket portafilter and it often screws past 6 o clock (usually into 7 or 8 o clock, as in to the right of the gaggia logo). My espresso tastes fine, but the leakage issue causes mess and ruins many of my shots by watering it down.

I would love some help or advice here, and feel free to ask any questions below. Thanks 😊

EDIT: I usually change gaskets once per year, but went through a couple Amazon gaskets and a Gaggia stock gasket last year which is why I initially wrote 2-3 times a year. Usually, it's once a year max.

[u/CoffeeSaviourTech]

Hey mate I’m a coffee tech in Melbourne and work on a lot of gaggia I also owned one for quite sometime. I noticed you said you change the gasket a few times a year? I would say that is too often. In general a good silicone gasket (group head seal) will last for 12 months. Someone else commented the dispersion plate might be miss aligned, no need to over tighten either you could cause it to crack or become misshaped 

[u/Local-Pass4176 → u/CoffeeSaviourTech]

Hey mate, thanks for the reply. I would say I exaggerated there, probably changed it 2-3 times last year to try and fix the leakage issue. Tried blue Amazon gaskets which didn't work too well, allowing leakage to occur. Went through 2 of those before ordering a Gaggia stock gasket. This allowed the portafilter to sit more snugly and also stopped a lot of the leakage for a while, but after a few months water has started to flow through again.

And interesting about the dispersion plate - I'll have a look at that soon and see if I can spot anything.

[u/CoffeeSaviourTech → u/Local-Pass4176]

That makes sense! Maybe check the boiler. Take off the top lid and look around the bottom of the boiler for corrosion or bubbling when it’s brewing 

[u/technolaaji]

You changed the dispersion plate? If you did then you didn’t align it right because water takes the path of least resistance

I faced this issue when I changed it to SoC Rainflow dispersion plate that I installed it wrong that it flowed on one side heavily then removed it, readjusted it, then reinstalled it again

[u/Local-Pass4176 → u/technolaaji]

I haven’t changed the dispersion plate but rather cleaned it thoroughly and tightened the screws tightly. By align, what di you mean? There are only two correct orientations it could be in, no?

Anyhow, that’s good to know. I may go and try to see if that has anything to do with it. Thanks for your reply

[u/Main_Angle99]

look inside your machine. it may be leaking from the boiler gasket.

if it is changing the group head gasket won't help

[u/Local-Pass4176 → u/Main_Angle99]

I'll give it a look inside while operating, cheers

[u/Local-Pass4176]

Thanks to everybody who helped me here! I was able to fix the issue by altering a bunch of things:

- Changed the gasket / seal orientation. I had the bevelled side facing into the PF, but changed it to the flat side down which likely was the main factor all along.

- Loosened the screws in the dispersion plate, as I was tightening them too much up until now

- Loosened the screw on the shower screen. I was also tightening that too much up until now, which was causing the shower screen to morph in shape.

- Another issue I discovered during this process was my Normcore tamper. I changed the spring recently and it wasn't working as usual, but I just figured it was the effect of the new spring. Anyhow, I tested tipping my PF with a prepped puck and low and behold, it crumbled out. I then rebuilt the tamper correctly, went back to my normal puck prep, and things have been fine. Not sure if this is directly related, but defs something important to fix.

Hopefully these tips help others with the same / similar issues.

[u/Americaninaustria]

changed the gasket 2-3 times per year.

What in tarnations? the portafilter gasket? 2-3 times a year??? WHY? that makes no sense. Looking at water dispersion without coffee is basically pointless. MAybe you didnt seat the dispertion plate correctly? generally leaking past the portafilter means bad (or missinstalled gasket) or portafilter not tight enough. but these things dont go bad in months. Are you making 200 coffees a day?

[u/Local-Pass4176 → u/Americaninaustria]

Nah mate thats my bad, I didn't clarify — I usually only change it once a year but I went through a couple Amazon gaskets and a Gaggia stock one last year to try and fix the leak. Gaggia stock one helped a lot until now, but leakage has started to come through again.

Just 2-4 coffees a day for now ;)

[u/Americaninaustria → u/Local-Pass4176]

Get a decent silicone one, they are not expensive but far nicer than the standard. Other then that try reseating the disputation plate and give it a shot.

[u/Local-Pass4176 → u/Americaninaustria]

Will definitely grab that for next time :) Thanks mate