My Breville Infuser BES840XL is 5 years 10 months old. Two days ago, first morning espresso and... no flow! (I said 3 yrs old in the video. Wrong. Time just flies by at my age.) Read more below...
I could get water from the hot water dispenser and from the steam wand, but nothing at all from the brew head. I found two videos that walked me through a repair, and the machine is now working again. I am posting this video, with comments, to aid other Infuser owners with the same problem.
In short, the problem was two small clogged valves, as suggested by online comments. To YouTuber “R Brown” I extend thanks for clear recordings that allowed me to do my own repair. I could not make videos as good as his, so this post directs you to his videos to do a repair.
But note: R Brown worked on a Breville Barista BES870XL. Mine is the discontinued Breville Infuser BES840XL. They are similar. (One difference is that the Infuser 840 (mine) does not have a grinder and hopper, which the 870 does have.)
Here are the basics to remove, isolate and clean a solenoid valve assembly block:
REMOVAL:
1. Remove the top and back of the machine.
2. Isolate the solenoid valve assembly block.
3. Remove that solenoid block.
CLEANING
4. Disassemble the solenoid block assembly to free the two small valves.
5. Take the valves apart and soak in descaler or vinegar overnight.
6. Reasssemble, and maybe yours will work, too.
Here are some general tips, followed by a few changes from his video that apply to the Infuser 840 model:
1. CAREFULLY make notes of every step, so you can work backward through them to reassemble it later. Essential! You may think you'll remember which way something goes, but later it can confound you!
2. Watch for small 0-rings (4 or 5). They are red on the 840. Don't lose them. Note all their locations.
3. Watch for some plastic washers which have a channel on one side, but not the other. Note the way they go. (Tip: The channel always goes away from the metal valve.)
4. Using a magnetized Philips head is helpful.
REMOVAL – Watch this video: [ Ссылка ]
The times below refer to HIS video, not mine. (Maybe print these comments to have them handy.)
at 00:25 and 00:45– Brief views of the part you want to remove (the solenoid valve assembly block).
at 01:25 – You will remove eight screws to free the top and back panels. Seven are similar to the 870 model. Two are in deep holes, pointing upward, on the underside of the top part of the machine. Five are at the top of the back panel. But the 840 has only one at the base of the back panel, under a small round plastic hole filler that must be pried up. (The 870 has three.)
at 03:00 – The 840 does not have a built-in grinder. Ignore comments about the hopper. Removal of the back panel is similar for both: a firm, somewhat forceful, tug is needed to pull the back panel away from the two sides. It is held on by small clips that will release. (The 840 has three clips on each side, while the 870 has only two each side.)
at 03:15 – On the 840 the small hose connected to the water tank valve can simply be pulled off. (On mine there was no zip tie or spring clamp holding it tight.) The 870 required unscrewing the underside of the reservoir valve.
at 04:20 – Here begins the steps to isolate the solenoid block to allow its removal. The instructions given for the 870 worked for me with the 840. The wires and tubing all look similar, in color, length and location.
When taking apart the removed solenoid block, watch for the beige plastic washers. They are not reversible. The channel on one side of each washer always goes away from the metal valves' threaded holes.
at 07:40 – I did not insert a new solenoid block as he did, but rather disassembled and soaked my valves in vinegar, as explained next.
CLEANING – This second video explains the cleaning of the solenoid block valves:
[ Ссылка ]
I followed it closely for the cleaning, but did not do any electrical testing. The parts from my 840 looked identical. I soaked my parts in white vinegar overnight, changing it after three hours before I went to bed. (Vinegar was generic from Walmart, 5.5% acetic acid by volume.)
Success! The next day, the vinegar did have some dark particulate matter in the jar. Upon rinsing and then reassembly, the 840 sounded better and had restored water flow through the brew head.
After reassembly, I found another video by YouTuber Chris who describes some additional disassembly steps he took for one of the valves. I wish I had done those:
[ Ссылка ]
YouTuber R Brown has also posted one describing the water flow inside his 870. It may interest you: [ Ссылка ]
That's a wrap. Now, does anyone know how to get the auto shutoff timer working again?
