DISCONTINUED VBM Domobar Super Vibration Pump HX Espresso Machine – Tank

This is expected as many people know the E61 groupheads do run hot and require cooling flushes. If not steaming mil, than the machine be left as is. However, if steaming, the pressurstat needs to be raised and a cooling flush is needed.

Either wire in internally broken, brain unit is bad, or probe is bad.

Sorry for the delay. Unfortunately, when machines get older, there are scenarios that require a professional to determine the multiple issues that may be going on and these scenarios are beyond the scope of free Q&A technical support.

Position I does not always engage the pump to refill the boiler as it depends upon how much water evaporated. When removing the wire on the refill probe, of course the boiler will overfill and take a lot of water out of the reservoir.

All available diagrams are on our web site. It seems like a bad pump, but it can be the OPV or a leaking HX. Considering the age, sometimes it is better to let a professional evaluate the machine.

Sorry or the delay as our system lost a bunch of these requests and we were able to find them.

Please find the diagrams on our web site and search for the part number on our web site.

Yes, it should fit. However, it "may" need some plumbers tape if it leaks without plumbers tape on the first try.

Currently, for your age machine, we have both single and double.

Sounds like a grinder or preparation issue. Use a blind filter and test the same way. If the blind filter shows consistency, then we know it is not the machine. Remember, HX machines need a cooling flush to get out the steam built up in the heat exchange tubes.

With machine cold, remove the top nut on the grouphead. Inside there is an orifice (nut with a single hole) that is removed with a 7mm socket wrench. Once removed, descale the orifice and make sure the pin hole is clear. To put back, tighten gently with a socket and then only 1/8th turn to tighten. If you over tighten, there is a high chance the entire grouphead needs to be replaced. Reassemble and test.

Sorry, there may be compounding issues here beyond the scope of our free service. Problem areas: limescale in machine, vacuum breaker valve sticking, loose or bad wire, brain unit starting to become defective, or bad indicator lights.

The wires under the reservoir need to be checked, and the pump wires need to be checked.

4 ounces of hot water should be removed from the water wand every day. Milk can siphon back to the boiler after steaming on any espresso machine.

Steam will always look clean because the steam exits from the top of the boiler, and hot water exits from the bottom of the boiler where the contamination lands.

The water for the grouphead comes from a separate pipe that runs through the boiler on this heat exchanger espresso machine.

Please purchase a SCACE device to properly diagnose temperature. Sorry, Instaread thermometers capture ambient temperature and there is no restriction of water flow when tested in this fashion. Unfortunately, without a SCACE device, increased water flow increases the drop in temperature. Without the SCACE, we have seen temperature drops as low as 160 d F.

Sorry, what is a pd? The machine did not come with any accessories for double espresso pods, unless you were using one of the baskets that came with the machine.

Please unplug the machine from the outlet and let the machine fully cool.

Remove the top cover and reservoir, remove the 3 screws on each side of the body panel, remove the 2 screws found on the top and bottom of the reservoir platform. Remove the tank spring platform. Take pictures of the 3 wires on the switch under the reservoir. Loosen the nut on top of the reservoir platform holding the switch. Usually 2-3 revolutions. Tighten the nut under neath closest to the platform. 

Re-assemble. Test. Repeat if necessary. The tank should shut off with a minimum water level of 25%. The reason is that if there is an optional water softener attached, the pump can suck in air and other damage can occur.

Please find the correct diagram. After finding the switch, please search it on our web site and then match the description and picture of the part you need.

Sorry, we can not offer a direct link because there can be one of three switches under the platform over the years. The above procedure will help you order the correct switch.

Thanks for the inquiry. Although great to hear that your machine has had some great use, we are sorry to hear about the current issue. First, as the call center advised, technical support inquiries for equipment outside of warranty need to be asked here as a machine purchase years ago, nor a parts purchase, can no longer support a technician on staff today, We also want to build a knowledge base because today's issues may happen tomorrow or in the future.

Second, as far as your issue, do you really mean the power switch in position 2? The lever on the group is not numbered. If the power switch, yes there can be a delay or even normal is no pump action at all. It all depends how much water your boiler lost when it cooled down.

If you are referring to the lever on the grouphead, then there should be no delay on the pump. This can be a pump, brain unit, or lever switch issue. A mulimeter would be needed. However, considering the age of the machine, a professional may be needed to evaluate it. The brain would need to be replaced to see if it was the brain.

When referring to the brew pressure changes, this is usually a coffee grinder issue on a newer machine. On an older espresso machine, it can be the coffee grind, the pump, or the OPV. To test the pump, put a blind filter in the portafilter and see if it goes to 8-9 bar. If it does not, then there is prolly an issue with the pump as long as no water is coming out of the OPV. If the OPV has water coming out before 8-9 bar, then it may be leaking. 

As you can see, you may have compounded issues, and this is why we recommend a service professional to evaluate the machine.

(1) The Brew Pressure gauge shows the result of the grind in your puck and the OPV seems to be set at 12.5. The pressurstat needs to be adjusted for the steam as it is too high.

(2) Normal on some years.

(3) The brew pressure should only be read during extraction. Outside f extraction, it should not go past 12 br. This means you have underlying issues from too much scale, a damaged heating element, or a damaged pressurstat. The machine should be evaluated by a professional when this many potential issues.

4) Part number F15 and F277 should be puchased on our web site

I guess the group head would need to be rebuilt?? I would like to know if you can suggest a parts "package" with all of the typical parts needed for this?

***Please use the appropriate diagram under the parts link on the top of our web site.

The coil's resistance should be in an acceptable range of 8 to 16 ohms. We have seen some operate correctly as low as 6 ohms and high as 20 ohms.

For the part, it is always best to check the Vibiemme parts diagram, back out to a page with a search field, and then search by part number on the diagram. Please note we try to update our diagrams when the manufacturers alert us, but sometimes they do not alert us in a change of the part (look, description, or picture), the part numbers, or other stuff. Hence it is best to look at the pictures of the part on our web site to confirm it is exactly what is in your machine. For example, sometimes a manufacturer may change the posts of the heating element and not say anything.

It is best to use a socket wrench with an extension to remove the heating element.

Inside the top nut (mushroom) on top of the grouphead, there is a gicleur (with a pinhole) that is probably clogged and needs clearance. Witht he machine cold, remove the mushroom and check inside for the gliclear (usually 8mm socket wrench with extension bar needed to remove) for deep descaling and cleaning.

Here is a link to the correct heating element: ELETRESSM1811

We are sorry to hear this. The problem could be bad wiring, a bad heating element, a bad power switch, a bad brain unit, or a bad safety thermostat. Most of these parts (exception brain unit) will need to be checked with a multi-meter for continuity without the wires connected. Of course, the machine needs to be unplugged from the electrical power outlet before any testing.

Unplug the machine. Check your water level. Check the switch under the water tank platform for any burned wires. Press down on the platform for the reservoir and listen for the click of the switch. Check wires by heating element and throughout the machine for any burned wires.

If you know how to use a multimeter, check the ohms on the heating element with the wires unplugged. It should be between 8 and 20. If you are very experienced and assume all responsibility for any and all damages as well as personal injury to any person, you can check voltage to the element. If you do not have knowledge on how to do this, we advise to never check voltage.

Other than this, the board or power switch may need to be replaced. Sorry, these are more complicated procedures and out of the scope of our good will and free support.

Thanks for letting us know how long your Vibiemme espresso machine is lasting. We always see very good track records with the Super HX models.

As for your issue, there may be scale build up at the hot water valve pipe connection at the boiler. With the machine unplugged from the outlet and the water reservoir removed, take off the 6 screws to remove the body, then tilt the machine so the left side (facing front) is laying down on a towel.

Follow the pipe from the hot water valve, and loosen the holding nut at the boiler. Then with a crescent wrench holding the outside of the valve by the knob, loosen the inner pipe connection on the inside wall of the valve. Do hot allow the pipe to twist. Inspect the pipe for clear pass through. Next check the inside of the boiler through the open port hole - changes you have some crud or limescale that needs to be cleared.

At this point, you 'can' pour some descaling solution into the boiler through the port hole and re-connect the pipe in reverse of removal. Check for leaks. We would suggest removing the tip on the hot water wand when descaling in this scenario as we want to avoid big chunks of limescale damaging the screen inside the tip.

This is a single boiler unit with a heat exchanger inside. The heat exchanger does allow on demand steam.

The Vibiemme double boiler is a different espresso machine model.

We suggest running a descaler through the grouphead without the blind filter and then with the blind filter to see if the problem resolves. 3 cycles of 30 seconds for each above, then 3 cycles of same for rinse.

When a pump reaches over 10 bar, we usually consider this normal operating condition, and it is normal for a vibration pump to hum when the pressure gets high. Typically, when pumps fail, they have no pressure at all. Hence, it can be the OPV. Try the descaling and see if there is an improvement. If still an issue after, please email us the purchase information.

Please review JavaJim's video on solving and correcting this issue for self-repair.

This is the Reinforced Valve

Sorry, it can be any of those parts, and the machine, at this point would need to be evaluated by a profession, or you can start  with a pump replacement first, then OPV.

Since you seem to have the electronic model with the 5 push buttons (as this one has the green light) you may also have a bad flowmeter, as well. The only way to determine a correction is by parts replacement as there is no test for the flow meter or the wire or this one.

The average lifespan of a vibration pump is about 5 years. To test, put in the blind filter into the portafilter, lock the portafilter into the grouphead, and engage the pump by lifting the lever up.

If it reaches over 8 bar consistently after the initial 10 seconds, then the pump is ok. If not, it could be a bad pump, or the OPV is blocked in the open position, or the grouphead has a blockage. Once these are clear, you can test the pump again with the blind to confirm it is defective.

AT this point, with the blind, run a descaler with the blind for 30 seconds, then let sit for 20 minutes, then repeat twice. This descaling

Thank you for selecting 1st-line for your machine. This sounds like the gicleur in the mushroom located in the top of the grouphead is clogged - usually clogs on any E61 grouphead that sits for more than 2 weeks or the water is hardened with magesium or calcium.

Steam boiler turn off. We suggest running a descaler only for 3 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes and try again twice. If it clears, then rinse for 3 minutes on and 3 minutes off.

If this does not work, please review grouphead diagram and then the mushroom needs to be removed and the gicleur needs to be removed and cleaned manually.

We are sorry to hear about this. Usually, a surge in the electrical current or water can cause this. Sometimes, if the machine is older, this can happen.

We are sorry to hear about this. The machine would need to be unplugged from the electrical outlet. Then the body panel removed, and finally a multimeter would need to be used to test the different electrical components for the fault. An inspection of all wiring and components is in order, as well.

We are sorry, but we do not offer any training on multimeter usage. Hence, if one does not have this knowledge, it is better to check with someone who has or hire a professional for the diagnosis and repair.