Vanilla Installation Photos
The following photos show what's involved in installing the Vanilla Tamper to the Quaha or Imat machines. The photos are of the Napoletana / Mokita Combi, but techniques are similar for the Junior / Mokita variants, and no doubt the other similar machines on the market.
Note: This is not intended to be a detailed guide of every step involved in the process - the installation guides (in the main menu) provide that. This just shows what you can expect to see when undertaking the install yourself, and how you might be able to go about it.
Disclaimer: Perform this at your own risk. The operation listed below has been performed with no complications other than those described, and has yielded satisfactory results, however basic mechanical skills are required to do this. It should be simply a matter of following the instructions, but since manufacturers can change their specifications over time and since I can make no guarantee as to the skills of the person performing it, I can take no responsibility if your machine is damaged during the operation.
Preparation:
Tools required:
- Medium flat-head screwdriver (long-handled if possible)
- Philips head #1 screwdriver
- Long-handled #2 Philips screwdriver (magnetic if possible)
Photos
After
unplugging the machine and removing the water tank and cone filter, remove these
two screws. The whole top assembly comprosing the cup warmer and water tank receptacle
can then be lifted up and removed.
Eek!
This is what you're presented with on removing the lid! I almost gave up on the
idea of replacing the tamper when I saw the location of the screw I had to remove.
Buried
deep beneath switches, wires and hoses, lies a single screw which YOU have to
remove.
Getting
the screw out isn't actually as hard as it may seem, so long as you've got a
good flat head screwdriver. I found it easiest to hold the tamper with one hand
and the screwdriver with the other, and after loosening the screw, hold the screwdriver
firm and unscrew the tamper from the machine. Then remove the screw.
This
is the tricky bit. You now have to manouevre the new screw into position, along
with both washers. If your long Philips #2 is magnetic, this task will be easier,
otherwise a lump of blu-tack between the driver and the screw may help, or a
wrap around with some sticky tape. Super glue would be a last resort so long
as you can break the glue once the screw's in place! I ended up putting the washers
in position and then trying to get the screw in place. Whatever you try though,
the neighbouring wires and hoses have a nasty habit of reaching out and clutching the
screw from the driver head as you try to slip past unnoticed, so you may need some patience!
This
was the angle I ended up using.
A
closeup of the path of attack
With
the screw through on the other side and the screwdriver firmly in place, the
rest is pretty straightforward. Pushing firmly down on the screwdriver so the
screw doesn't move (don't want to go through that again!), spin the new tamper
onto the new screw and tighten firmly.
The
final view inside
The
finished product from the outside...
...
and a closeup of the fit.
A painful exercise, but one you only have to do once. If the tamper ever works a bit loose, you don't need to open it up again; you can pull down firmly on the tamper to pull the screw head against the floor of the machine and tighten the tamper by hand. Once the spring washer grabs, the head won't move and you can do the final tighten without pulling down.
