The 3-way solenoid within the Classic (and other Gaggia models with a solenoid valve) has an internal flow restrictor, that being a small hole that is only around 1.5mm diameter.  Any small scale particles, or other foreign objects, in the brew water can easily and quickly block or partially block this small hole - resulting in your machine having no (or very little) water flow through the shower screen.  This issue is one of the most common problems with a Classic.

Resolving it usually involves removing the solenoid valve, stripping it down into component parts, and clearing this small hole of whatever scale/aluminium oxide/aluminium happens to have blocked it.  It's a cumbersome task, that takes time, and when you reassemble you often find that (where there was one piece of scale in the water path, there's often two or three) the hole becomes blocked again soon after and you have to repeat the process.

We wanted to find a way to stop this happening - or significantly lengthen the duration between you having these blockages and having to remove the solenoid valve at all.

So we have designed and produced a small 0.2mm thick stainless steel filter, that has a grid of filtration holes that are small enough to block any particles coming from the boiler that would otherwise block this internal hole.  We've called it the "Solenoid Saver" as the most you should ever need to do is remove the solenoid valve and swap the filter for a clean one; whilst then cleaning/descaling the removed one ready for the next time.  Doing so is much quicker and easier than stripping down the valve, cleaning the blocked hole, and reassembling/fitting it.

Whilst, over time, it's possible for all of the holes within the (approx 6mm wide) Solenoid Saver filter grid to become blocked, and prevent water flow, it should take much much longer for this to happen than it takes to block the small 1.5mm wide hole within the valve itself.

We provide the Solenoid Saver filter screens as a pair, so that you can have one installed and one ready-to-use, and (although usually not required) we also include two new silicone o-rings for the solenoid valve too.

This is suitable for any Classic with a 3-way solenoid valve, including:

• Original Classic IRI8181 / RI9303)
• Classic Pro / Classic 2019 (RI9380 / RI9480)
• Classic Evo / Classic 2023 (RI9381 / RI9481)
• Classic E24 (RI9381 / RI9481)
• Classic GT

NOTE:  This can also be used on machines that have the Shades brew pressure adaptor / gauge kit installed.

INSTALLATION GUIDE can be found here

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